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Matt Watson is a serial entrepreneur, author, and the CEO of FullScale, a Kansas City–based company connecting high-growth U.S. tech firms with top development talent in the Philippines. He’s led two major exits: VIN Solutions, which sold to Cox Automotive for $150 million, and a recent strategic buyout of his co-founder at FullScale.
Watson spoke with CLARA CEO and Human Side Up podcast host Natasha Nuytten about how self-awareness shapes leadership, how ADHD can be both a challenge and a superpower, and why the best leaders know when to get out of their own way.
“Problem solver. Obsessed. ADHD.”
Those are the worlds Watson uses to describe himself.
“I’ve always had this tendency of working with a really high sense of urgency,” he says. “Even as a kid, I worked hard helping my dad at flea markets, always moving, always doing something. I didn’t realize I had ADHD until I was close to 40. I was watching TikTok videos like everyone else, and it just clicked. But when I told people, they were like, ‘You didn’t know?’”
That realization changed everything.
Now, Watson says, self-awareness isn’t just a personal revelation—it’s a leadership tool. “Most people are never self-aware,” he reflects. “Being realistic about who you are and how you operate is the real challenge.”
Working with your brain, instead of against it
One of the ways that self-awareness shows up for Watson is how he manages priorities bothat home and at work.
“My wife asked if I’d go through the kids’ backpacks every day. I used to say yes. Now I just say, ‘Nope. Not gonna happen.’”
It’s funny, but it’s also honest.
That same honesty shapes how he leads. “It’s knowing what to delegate,” he says. “I know I’m not the best person for everything, so I have to ask, ‘Who can I trust to own this?’”
In business, that means giving people ownership and accountability instead of pretending you can—or should—do it all yourself. Watson says it’s the same principle FullScale was built on: create an environment where people can thrive because they’re trusted to lead from their strengths.
ADHD as a superpower
Watson doesn’t shy away from the challenges of ADHD. But he’s also quick to recognize what it gives him: focus, drive, and fearlessness that many leaders spend years trying to cultivate.
“When you have ADHD, you can hyper-focus. If something grabs my interest, I’ll lock in completely. When I was writing my book, Product Driven, that’s all I did for four months. From a leadership perspective, if you give me a hard problem, I’m like a dog on a bone. Nothing will stop me until I solve it.”
That relentless focus, he says, is his edge. “It’s kind of a superpower,” he laughs. “It has all the downsides, but when it hits right—it’s powerful.”
He sees the same traits in his kids. “I’ve got five of them, and a few have ADHD. One of them, no punishment or consequence phases him. And you know what? I’m the same way. I’m not scared of any consequences. I think that’s part of what makes me a good entrepreneur. I’m not afraid to take risks or make decisions quickly. I’ll just figure it out as I go.”
Leadership as amplification
At FullScale, Watson’s role has evolved. It’s less about building every bridge himself and more about making sure others can cross them.
He sees his job as connecting great problems with great people—and then getting out of their way. “I just have a really high motor,” he says, “but I’ve learned it’s not about doing everything. It’s about amplifying the brilliance around you.”
To hear the rest of the conversation with Matt Watson, listen to the latest episode of Human Side Up.