Austin, Texas resident Matthew Thwaites serves as the director of analytics at Open Loot Studios. Since March 2024, he has led a team of eight engineers and a broader team of data scientists and analysts in growing the firm’s market share in user acquisition, retention, and conversion through data-informed models. Before the current post, Matthew Thwaites was a marketing and analytics manager at Big Time Studios, mainly focusing on end-to-end influencer partnerships. Although the team under his leadership was slightly smaller than the present firm, between 2022 and 2024, they managed to grow the user numbers by over 600,000, and in the process, generated over $20 million in revenue. The achievement earned them the 2023 Game of the Year award.
Matthew Thwaites served in the armed forces in multiple roles, including as a company commander and battalion officer, and spent two and a half years in special operations. He commanded and oversaw various operational processes, like medical supplies and logistics for 135 soldiers, and managed over $53 million in property. Besides work, he has been passionate about volunteering for community work his whole life. After high school, he volunteered in Kenya and Uganda in East Africa for a year, teaching English and working with children with cerebral palsy.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I wake up at 6:30 and go to Jiu-Jitsu class from 7:00 to 8:00. If I’m preparing for a competition, I focus on specific moves I want to incorporate into my game plan. After training, I head home, shower, and log into work at 8:30.
My workdays are structured. The Big Time team holds data-focused meetings Monday through Wednesday, where we answer business intelligence questions for the C-suite. Later in the week, we focus on company-wide data requests and long-term initiatives. Currently, I’m developing AI data science agents to monitor game and platform health. A combination of physical discipline and structured problem-solving keeps my days productive.
How do you bring ideas to life?
In programming, I start with the overall goal or question we’re trying to answer. I sketch out the simplest path to get there and begin coding. As challenges arise, I iterate and add complexity only when necessary. Over time, that original concept evolves into a working system. I believe simplicity first, refinement second.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Generative AI. We are in the middle of what feels like a new industrial revolution. The businesses that meaningfully incorporate AI into their operations will gain a major advantage. Those that ignore it risk falling behind. Its impact will extend across nearly every industry.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Working out every day. Fitness is one of the few things completely within my control. Even a 20-minute workout improves my mood and focus. The long-term health benefits also ensure sustained productivity over time.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Get into science and engineering earlier. I avoided those paths in college because I doubted my abilities. In hindsight, I placed unnecessary limits on myself. Pursuing difficult subjects builds resilience and opens unexpected opportunities.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Most meetings are unnecessary. I believe a well-written document or dashboard can replace the majority of recurring meetings. Deep work creates value; constant discussion about work often does not. If information is clear and accessible, people can operate more independently and efficiently.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Schedule uninterrupted focus blocks. Turning off notifications, blocking distracting apps, and committing to even 60 to 90 minutes of deep work can dramatically increase output quality. Consistency with focused time compounds over months and years.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a break without looking at a screen. A short walk or even one minute staring at a wall helps reset my thinking. Stepping away often reveals solutions that weren’t visible while stuck in the problem.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Working hard on projects I genuinely care about. When I believe in something, I go all-in. I often think about solutions outside traditional work hours. Purpose motivates sustained effort far more than money alone.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I hesitated to take on highly technical roles because I feared I wasn’t qualified enough. That hesitation limited my growth. I overcame it by deliberately choosing challenging projects and accepting temporary discomfort. The lesson: growth requires stepping into roles before you feel fully ready.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Partner with design school graduate students to commercialize their final projects. Many students create innovative, aesthetically strong products that never reach market. An entrepreneur with business acumen could collaborate with them to build a product line from overlooked talent.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
AppBlock. I use it to restrict distracting apps during work hours. I also physically leave my phone in another room. Reducing temptation improves output quality and shortens total work time.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Running shoes. Running requires minimal equipment and provides both physical and mental clarity. I rarely use music, which helps me stay present. The return on investment in mental and physical health is enormous.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear. It reinforced the power of small, consistent improvements over dramatic short-term changes. The idea that systems matter more than goals has influenced both my fitness and professional routines.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
“Fantastic Four: First Steps.” I’m a fan of the superhero genre, and this version combined strong casting with an engaging storyline. It felt fresh despite previous iterations of the franchise.
Key learnings
- Prioritize daily fitness and continuous learning.
- Use structured deep-work blocks to maximize productivity.
- Embrace discomfort and take on challenges even before feeling fully ready.
- Seek business opportunities in overlooked talent and emerging trends like AI.
- Limit distractions to produce higher-quality work in less time.