Backyard Dreams, Mentorship, and Persistence in Building a Theme Park Career - Matthew Miller

 "When you live your life in a way that stands out and you're really good at something, that success will come to you."

Key Moments

01:07 Imagining theme park, building contraptions, childhood fun.

05:13 Benefits of technology to access mentors

08:39 Struggled in college, found mentors in career.

10:00 Soft skills are crucial for success in life.

14:47 Committed, aware, and growing beyond traditional education.

17:16 Apple store, new device, prototype in park.

21:04 Lasting impact of a mentor that listens and actively contributes.

22:50 Life after Universal opened the door for speaking opportunities.

27:46 Professor motivates student despite failing mechanical engineering class.

31:36 Exciting opportunities and mentoring in parallel universes.

37:26 Graduating without clear path to success.

39:44 Persistence, resilience, humility, and self-reflection matter.

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As a kid Matthew Miller spent his days transforming his backyard into imaginary theme parks and tinkering with RC cars. Those moments sparked a lifelong love for innovation and technology, especially in theme parks. Today, Matthew is the Senior Director of Technology & Business Development at Orlando Informer. Miller is a world-renowned theme park senior executive and innovation catalyst who has crafted extraordinary guest experiences millions of tourists enjoy annually.

Over the years Matthew has helped create world-class attractions for both Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative. Spending most of the past decade at Universal Destinations & Experiences, Miller helped develop attractions for the theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Beijing, and Osaka. His work can be found in many theme parks today, as he helped deliver iconic attractions such as Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Transformers: The Ride 3D, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo World.

The conversation was full of valuable insights, personal anecdotes, and lessons learned along the way. Here are some key takeaways:

• Persistence and Resilience are Key: Despite setbacks and discouragement, it's essential to stay committed to your vision. Matthew's determination to introduce mobile payments at theme parks led to an unexpected turnaround, from near termination to leading a groundbreaking project.
• Value of Mentorship: Surround yourself with supportive mentors and leaders. Matthew's longtime mentor, Ben, has guided him for over 15 years, providing invaluable support and perspective. This mentorship has been crucial in navigating my career in the theme park industry.
• Soft Skills are Crucial: Beyond technical expertise, developing soft skills like genuine engagement and connection can significantly impact your career. Embracing curiosity, grit, and humility has helped him overcome challenges and foster innovation in his projects.

While he has an incredible history as a theme park technologist and roller coaster designer, it didn't happen overnight. Throughout his early years he has a number of setbacks and like many people, felt incredibly uncertain of his career path. He found support in family and friends who often encouraged him to stay the course. 

This conversation with Matthew is a must listen, especially for those with kids that don’t seem to jive with the traditional approach in education. Here’s to the creatives, dreamers, and theme park lovers and the mentors that see their passion and guide them to a career where they can live their purpose.

Matthew and his wife have two daughters; the family resides in the greater Orlando area.