After losing her career and feeling completely lost, she slowly rebuilt herself, learning that slowing down isn't moving backward, and that she deserved the same kindness she gave everyone else.
Megan Matney · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Megan
Megan Matney has never followed a traditional career path, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She believes some of life's greatest opportunities come from being willing to embrace change, keep learning, and trust that every experience has something to teach us.
She began her career in financial services at just 17 years old, building a foundation in banking before moving into escrow, real estate, and mortgage lending. Along the way, she was encouraged to pursue real estate, where she earned recognition as a Top 10 REALTOR® in her first year. As her career continued to grow, she transitioned into mortgage operations, where she helped support multiple branches by improving processes, creating structure, onboarding employees, and developing systems that helped teams succeed.
In 2022, life had other plans. A season of unexpected change led Megan into the mining industry, where she found herself learning an entirely new field. While it wasn't a path she had envisioned, she embraced the opportunity with curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn. She's especially grateful to the many skilled tradespeople, mentors, and leaders who generously shared their knowledge and helped shape her career.
Today, Megan is an RMS Analyst with Sandvik, where she uses equipment data and predictive maintenance strategies to help customers improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime. She enjoys solving problems, finding practical solutions to complex challenges, and working alongside people whose experience continues to inspire her.
Throughout her career, Megan has found that no matter the industry, the same strengths continue to serve her well—analytical thinking, clear communication, adaptability, and a genuine desire to help others succeed. She enjoys bringing people together, improving processes, and finding better ways to do things, always believing that the best results come through teamwork and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
No matter where her career has taken her, one thing has remained the same: her belief that people matter most. Megan believes in approaching others with positive intent, treating everyone with kindness and respect, and remembering that everyone has a story. She strives to make people feel heard, valued, and encouraged because she knows firsthand how much a little compassion can mean.
She also believes that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. Throughout her career, she's learned that taking thoughtful risks often leads to the greatest opportunities. It's a mindset that's guided her through every chapter of her life and one she hopes continues to shape whatever comes next.
For Megan, success has never been about titles or recognition. It's about building trust, continuing to grow, and leaving every person and every place a little better than she found it. She hopes to be remembered not only for the work she accomplished, but for the way she made people feel.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Megan
01What do you attribute your success to?
I don't think success is something anyone achieves on their own. I've worked hard, but I've also been incredibly lucky to have people who believed in me, challenged me, and gave me opportunities to grow. Every role I've had has taught me something, and I've tried to carry those lessons with me.
I've always believed that how you treat people matters. Whether I'm working with a customer, a coworker, or someone I've just met, I try to be genuine, listen first, and help however I can. Building trust and strong relationships has opened more doors for me than I ever could have opened by myself.
I also think success comes from staying curious and never feeling like you've learned everything. I'm always looking for ways to improve, ask questions, and take on new challenges. At the end of the day, if people know they can count on me and I've made a positive impact, I consider that a success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is, “No guts, no glory.” It has reminded me that achieving success often requires courage, taking calculated risks, and being willing to step outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes, you have to take that leap of faith, embrace new challenges, and trust yourself to grow through the experience.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My biggest piece of advice is to stay curious and never stop learning. Some of the greatest lessons I've learned have come from experienced tradespeople and blue-collar workers who were willing to share their knowledge. Listen, ask questions, and don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something. People are usually happy to teach someone who genuinely wants to learn.
I also think it's important to be yourself. You don't have to change who you are to be successful. Be dependable, treat people with respect, and let your work speak for itself. Those qualities earn trust no matter what industry you're in.
Finally, don't be afraid to take on opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone. Every new challenge is a chance to grow, and sometimes the opportunities that seem the most intimidating end up being the ones that shape your career the most.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think one of the biggest challenges right now is making sure we don't lose the knowledge and experience of the people who have been doing this work for years. I've learned so much from skilled tradespeople who were willing to take the time to explain things and share what they've learned. That kind of knowledge is something we should never take for granted.
At the same time, our industry is changing. Technology is becoming a bigger part of what we do, and I think that's exciting. It gives us new tools and better ways of solving problems, but it doesn't replace the value of hands-on experience. The best results come when experience and innovation work together.
One thing I've learned since coming into mining is that the work itself is incredibly demanding. Safety, production, and reliability are always top of mind, so it's naturally a very focused environment. Coming from mortgage lending and real estate, where the day-to-day interactions were a little more social, that was an adjustment for me. But it's also reminded me how much a positive attitude can matter. I truly believe attitudes are contagious, and even something as simple as a smile, a kind word, or taking a genuine interest in the people you work with can make someone's day a little better.
That's one of the opportunities I see in our industry. We already have incredibly talented people doing important work. If we continue investing in learning, sharing knowledge, and building strong relationships, I think the future is very bright.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, kindness, and treating people with respect. I believe those are things you can choose every day, regardless of your role or circumstances.
Life has given me experiences that have shaped the way I see people. I've learned that everyone is carrying something you may know nothing about, and because of that, I try to lead with empathy instead of assumptions. A kind word, a little patience, or simply taking the time to listen can mean more than we realize.
I've also learned the importance of hard work, humility, and being willing to learn from others. Some of the greatest lessons in my life have come from people who took the time to teach me, encourage me, and believe in me. I'm incredibly grateful for that, and I hope I can have that same impact on someone else.
At the end of the day, success isn't what I hope people remember me for. I hope they remember that I treated them with kindness, made them feel valued, and left them a little better than I found them. If I can do that, then I feel like I've lived and worked with purpose.
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