Stories of Uncommon – Matthew McGovern, Global CIO, Candescent

Empathy is no longer a soft skill.

For leaders everywhere, empathy has morphed into a business metric, driving employee engagement, retention, and innovation. For Matthew McGovern, Global CIO of Candescent, it’s the very thing that sets him apart.

“In my case, I believe my uncommon trait is empathy. It is both a curse and a strength. On the positive side, empathy allows me to connect quickly with people. However, it also causes me to experience amplified emotions when making difficult decisions that impact others.”

This kind of self-awareness is what being “Uncommon on Purpose” is all about. True leaders don’t shut down emotion; they navigate it with intentionality and put others first. Empathy may be hard-earned, but it creates space for deeper connection, stronger teams, and more thoughtful decision-making.

At Retained, we’ve seen time and again that the most impactful tech leaders are the ones who lead with a people-first mindset, balancing business goals with the human experience.

That’s not common. And that’s exactly the point.