Matt Gjertsen: From Air Force cockpits to coaching managers — a story of freedom, fit, and finding your game

Development Nerds with Candice Mitchell

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Everyday Studios and former Air Force pilot turned SpaceX training leader, to dive deep into what it really takes to love your work and build a career that fits the life you want.

We talk about:

✅ Matt’s journey from yard work as a teen to the Air Force Academy and pilot training.

✅ How becoming an instructor pilot led to running training at SpaceX for 7,500+ employees.

✅ Why frontline managers hold the key to engagement, retention, and productivity—and what most companies miss.

✅ The messy reality of entrepreneurship: sales, scaling, and becoming someone you’ve never been before.

✅ The overlooked questions we should be asking about career fit, culture, and how life choices shape our work.

Whether you're an L&D professional, a new manager, or someone craving a career that energizes you, Matt’s story is proof that structure, pressure, and persistence can create incredible outcomes.

🎧 Listen in for actionable insights, candid career lessons, and a real conversation about why hitting a "home run" in the wrong game never counts.

Connect with Matt:

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewgjertsen/

Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com