Chief Learning Partner
Matt Gates is a highly experienced Leadership Development Specialist and ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with more than 16 years dedicated to helping leaders and organizations thrive. His career spans healthcare, retail, telecommunications, and technology, where he has designed, facilitated, and coached leaders at every level to unlock their potential.
At Vancouver Coastal Health, Matt has played a vital role in building leadership capacity for one of Canada’s largest health organizations, delivering programs that strengthen values-based leadership and prepare managers for the complex realities of leading in high-stakes environments. Prior to that, at Best Buy Canada and Yellow Pages, he designed and rolled out leadership development programs that combined coaching, emotional intelligence, and communication skills to improve both individual and organizational performance. His early career in telecommunications gave him a solid foundation in training, facilitation, and people development, which continues to inform his practical, results-driven approach today.
Matt is known for creating engaging learning environments where leaders feel both challenged and supported. His expertise includes emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, psychological safety, and coaching using the GROW model. He has facilitated programs across North America, consistently helping leaders develop the confidence and clarity to navigate change, manage conflict, and lead with authenticity.
As the founder of Peak Potential, Matt brings a passion for continuous growth and a belief that leadership is a skill anyone can learn. His coaching and workshops are rooted in evidence-based frameworks but delivered with warmth, curiosity, and a commitment to making learning stick. Whether one-on-one or with entire leadership teams, his focus is simple: helping people become the very best version of themselves.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattygates
Partner - Lead Learning Consultant
Jay Vergara is a seasoned Learning and Development professional with over a decade of experience shaping the way organizations grow their people. His career spans global companies including Indeed, Rakuten, TELUS, and Yellow Pages, where he drove high-impact training initiatives that reached thousands of employees across North America and Asia.
At Indeed, Jay spearheaded programs that transformed how employees and managers built skills, from large-scale onboarding redesigns to regional leadership development initiatives. At Rakuten, he played a central role in creating culture and leadership training that engaged more than 20,000 employees across Japan, APAC, and EMEA, strengthening inclusion, values alignment, and leadership capability. Earlier in his career with TELUS and Yellow Pages, Jay established himself as a trusted partner to senior leaders, delivering national training strategies, onboarding frameworks, and performance enablement programs that elevated both employee engagement and business outcomes.
What sets Jay apart is his ability to translate strategy into action. He is recognized for designing blended learning solutions — combining workshops, e-learning, and digital media — that not only engage employees but also deliver measurable results. He has a proven track record of improving team performance, building leadership capacity, and supporting organizations through complex transitions.
As co-founder of Peak Potential, Jay brings this wealth of corporate experience to clients seeking practical, human-centered solutions for today’s workplace challenges. Currently pursuing his MBA at GLOBIS University in Tokyo, he combines academic insight with hands-on expertise to help organizations unlock their people’s potential and achieve sustainable growth.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/vergarajay