Today on The Career Flipper, host Jenny Dempsey is chatting with Michael Mattson, whose career journey is a perfect example of how small, intentional shifts can lead to massive transformations. Michael started out as a mail carrier, delivering letters door to door—and yes, getting to pet all the dogs along the way! But beyond the friendly pups, he saw firsthand the importance of both customer and employee experience, which set him on a path of discovery and career growth.

With a high-empathy mindset, Michael made small leaps that took him from the frontlines of the postal service into a corporate customer experience role, and eventually across the country to become the Manager of Customer Experience for a global organization. He now also serves on advisory boards for multiple CX organizations, helping shape the future of the field.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The power of mentorship and why you shouldn’t be afraid to lean on your network
• Why employee experience matters just as much as customer experience
• The importance of finding the right workplace culture for long-term happiness
• How small, calculated risks can open unexpected doors
• The delicate balance between career ambitions and personal passions—and why Michael chose to keep photography as a creative outlet rather than a job
• How embracing vulnerability at work can strengthen professional relationships

Michael’s story is a reminder that career changes don’t have to happen all at once—sometimes, it’s the little shifts that add up to something big.

Connect with Michael

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcmattson/ 

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Bonus: If you’re in customer experience or building your own business, check out my online courses. Before I started flipping my life and furniture, I led CX teams and created training that’s helped over 12,000 students worldwide. Learn more at thecareerflipper.com/courses.

🎵 Music Credits

Season 1: Intro & outro music by Audionautix.com

Season 2: Original music by yours truly, Jenny Dempsey, recorded in my home studio

And hey, remember my favorite question: What’s the best that could happen? 💫