Meet the Team

With Meet The HARMAN Luxury Team, our goal is for you to get to know us better. In each edition we feature a different member of the team, and this month it's Matthew Corbett, Customer Service Supervisor, USA.

How would you describe what you do in your current role? 

Currently I run operations for customer service specifically in the USA and North America with assistance for our Latin America and South America representatives within Luxury Audio. I train and lead a group of Product Specialists in the USA as well as our Support Center in Manila PH. I handle day-to-day operations from customer contacts, dealer support, integrator support, and assist the sales team with Luxury products both in testing and development, with a host of troubleshooting and technical support.

What did you study in school? Did you always imagine yourself doing something like what you’re doing now or did the fates just take you in that direction?

I actually went to school for Performing Arts, specifically in Theater Directing, then a few years later I ended up going and getting a Humanities/Business Masters Degree from California State Northridge. Both the Performing Arts and Humanities degrees certainly helps with my role in Customer Service. I did not see myself ending up at HARMAN specifically, but with my many years in customer service, I am glad that the fates took me in the direction it did.

How did your career path lead you to HARMAN?

When I was living in Los Angeles, I was working in film and music. I am a composer in my spare time, and I have worked on quite a few films and TV shows throughout the years on the technical side. Films/TV  like "The Lone Ranger" and "Park and Recreation" to name a few notable ones that people have heard of. While I was doing that,  I was working for a large retail box running home theater sales and design, which is where HARMAN found me in 2019. The rest is history.

What is the most important thing you have learned over your career?

Customer service can be a challenging but rewarding career path and I can say that I am quite proud of where it has led me. I think being able to cultivate relationships build upon them and work with different minds towards a singular goal is the most important fundamental to me. In my day-to-day, working with teams, individuals and people from all over the world is critical to succeeding in  our operation.

Any other advice you would share with people just starting out in this industry?

Customer service is not for everyone, but I’d say those of us who enjoy working with people, enjoy solving problems and finding solutions, and enjoy working with the product or whatever it is you’re supporting is mandatory.  Our job no matter where it lies, is solely focused on providing a great experience for our customers and clients, if you hate working with people or find it unenjoyable, it will certainly show up in your day-to-day, and it mostly likely isn’t for you.

What are you most proud of in your life?

I think I’m most proud, and as simple as it might sound, moving away from Los Angeles to support my family. I figured I would live in LA forever and never move away, but as time moved on and quality of life started to dwindle in California, moving to Denver was one of the best decisions I have ever made. With working in film and TV and working in music production, to sideline it and move away from the mecca that is Los Angeles film and TV, music was incredibly difficult and at the time I didn’t think it would last. But my passion in service still outweighs and I am glad that I can do that for HARMAN even though I am farther away.  

When did you realize you had a passion for music or audio? Was there any one band, song, or movie that did it for you?

I was first a composer, the music I listen to is all artists who specialize in creating emotion and atmosphere for film and TV. As a young child I started playing the piano, and since then I have been writing and creating my own music for myself and side projects. This is where my love for all kinds of music came from. What started my film composing journey was hearing John William’s "Star Wars" scores and Howard Shore’s "The Lord of the Rings" music scores.

What current technology impresses you the most? 

I think for me personally, music production software that creates full symphonies at the touch of your hands is quite impressive. As young aspiring film composers, you no longer have to rely on 100-piece orchestras in a grand concert hall, but rather, you can use virtual instruments that were created from real musicians playing those instruments; all from a keyboard or controller. While some will say this technology is quite expensive, and it is, I believe you can’t put a price on that level of tech to fuel this passion.

Favorite music genre? 

Film Score and Instrumental

The desert island question, of course. If you were marooned for eternity & could listen to only 3 albums, what would they be?

Hans Zimmer’s "Live in Paris", Matias Frische, and Howard Shore’s "The Return of the King"