Positively Leverage Career Challenges

Sergeant Major Matthew R. Drayton grew up in an underprivileged neighborhood in Georgia. Now retired from the service, Matt joined to leave his environment and become financially independent–and his military career spanned nearly three decades. He spent 20+ years in the US Army, sixteen of those years working with elite Special Operations forces. He is a decorated combat veteran who has led and mentored hundreds of people. Today, he is an author, corporate speaker, consultant, voice actor, certified personal trainer, and leadership expert with business experience in government and commercial commerce.

Matt has been a senior analyst for the Northrop Grumman Corporation and an on-air personality and station manager at radio station WFSS in North Carolina. He also has worked as a senior Department of Defense civilian for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. 

As a national speaker and consultant on leadership and productivity, Matt has been employed by commercial businesses, academic institutions, law enforcement and other government agencies. He has also served as an executive director and board member of multiple youth non-profit organizations.

He is the founder of Drayton Communications, where he shares his life story, experiences, and leadership knowledge with others. He is a contributor to Newsweek and has been featured on HuffPost and the Los Angeles Times. Matt is a member of the National Speakers Association.

Leading While Black is Drayton’s second book. He is also the author of Succeeding While Black.

Leading While Black: Leadership Strategies and Lessons for Today's Black Professional by Matthew R Drayton (2021)

Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath (2020)

Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage by Laura Huang (2020)

The Empowerment Paradox: Seven Vital Virtues to Turn Struggle Into Strength by Ben Woodward (2020)

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz (2018)

Conquering the Seven Summits of Sales: From Everest to Every Business, Achieving Peak Performance by Susan Ershler and John Waechter (2014)

The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie Norton (2013)

The Leader’s Pocket Guide: 101 Indispensable Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Any Situation by John Baldoni (2012)

The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like by Michelle Tillis Lederman (2011)

Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life by John Calipari (2010)

Comebacks: Powerful Lessons from Leaders Who Endured Setbacks and Recaptured Success on Their Terms by Andrea Redmond and Patricia Crisafulli (2010)

The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor (2010)

Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It by Marshall Goldsmith (2010)

Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss by Martha I. Finney (2009)

Firing Back: How Great Leaders Rebound After Career Disasters by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward (2007)

Career Comeback: Eight Steps to Getting Back on Your Feet When You’re Fired, Laid Off, or Your Business Venture Has Failed—And Finding More Job Satisfaction Than Ever Before by Bradley Richardson (2004)