Having tough, pointed conversations on a business level can be difficult. It’s important to be firm yet remain professional—a tightrope that is essential to master. Matt Bull has certainly experienced one such engagement that tested his mettle. The result wasn’t quite what he expected, but it certainly reinforced his approach.
Currently the director, technical program services at Toshiba America Business Solutions, Bull’s professional epiphany occurred early in his career, when he was serving as the IT manager for a radio paging company. He was monitoring the integration of the first Bell South gateway, converting text to short messaging service (SMS). There was one major obstacle: the gateway was unreliable. This prompted Bull to phone the CEO of the software manufacturer and emphatically declare that his company refused to pay for the product.
Fast forward to the end of the day. While strolling out of work, Bull received a phone call from the same CEO he had admonished earlier. “He said, ‘Thanks for the challenge. You are the type of person I want on my team,’” said Bull, a 2026 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “Opportunity comes to those who take risks and push boundaries.”
Toshiba didn’t wait long to put Bull through the paces, courtesy of Bill Melo, the company’s vice president of marketing and strategic business development. He was tasked by Melo with delivering a presentation on the company’s Encompass tool a mere two weeks into his employment. The energy/excitement Bull felt from the dealers and staff was nothing short of amazing, which confirmed he’d found his career destination.
Puzzle Pieces
That feeling of belonging became even more apparent when Toshiba execs Scott Robinson, Tim O’Neil and Chris Martusewicz asked Bull to join them as director of operations for the company’s managed print as a service (MPaaS) platform. He also assembled the current MPaaS team at Toshiba.
“It was an incredible honor to be a part of that team,” he added. “Throughout those years, the support, advice and guidance received was nothing short of amazing. Surround yourself with great people.”
Learning ranks high on Bull’s list, but it’s by no means a solo effort. Not long ago, he created a small chat group, dubbed “Slice of AI,” to help support Toshiba’s staff in its learning journey with the technology. He notes the group continues to grow, and it allows him to test his skills, share them with others and listen to business needs.
Bull is certainly testing his limits by learning the Japanese language, which is critical for collaborating with Toshiba’s team in Japan. The goal is fostering the translation of business needs more efficiently.
Kiwi Flavor
A proud New Zealander, Bull and his wife of 17 years have two children—one born in his native country, the other in the States. “I like to say I am a first-generation Kiwi, having grown up in New Zealand and my mum is from England,” he said. “I am passionate about where I am from, while so blessed to live in the United States.”
The Bulls enjoy spending time at the family beach house in Pauanui on the Coromandel, New Zealand. His father, a civil engineer, designed the community, where every house has a walkway to the beach. Both of his children swim, which prompted Bull to become a USA Swimming referee. The entire family embraces an active lifestyle that includes running and walking in addition to swimming.
