We’re excited to share that our founder, Matt Heywood, was featured on Work It, the University of Victoria’s career exploration podcast produced by UVic Co-op and Career Services. In the episode, “The Power of Switching Career Paths,” hosts Emma Ulveland and Katy DeCoste sat down with Matt to talk about his journey from mechanical engineering to founding Heywood Academies.
You can listen to the full episode here or watch it on YouTube. Here’s a look at what the conversation covered.
From the Machine Shop to Mechanical Engineering
Matt’s path into engineering wasn’t a straight line. He grew up in Mill Bay, worked as a custodian for a year after high school, then started the two-year mechanical engineering technologist diploma at Camosun College before bridging into third-year mechanical engineering at UVic.
On the podcast, he explained why that pathway appealed to him: a four-year degree felt like a huge commitment up front, but two years at Camosun was something he could fully commit to. Once he was in it, he knew engineering was the right fit and kept going. What drew him in was the mix of math and physics with hands-on building, something he grew up around with his carpenter dad’s wood shop.
Four Co-ops and a Lesson in Networking
A big chunk of the episode covered Matt’s four co-op terms: two at a refrigeration startup, one at BC Transit, and one in the UVic science machine shop. Each one taught him something different, but one story stuck out.
When he applied for his first co-op, he did everything “right,” tailoring his resume and cover letter for every position. He sent out 37 applications and got zero callbacks. What finally landed him a role was talking to people: he reached out to his Camosun instructors, and one of them connected him to the startup position. The lesson he shared on the show is one we’d pass on to any student: cover all your bases, and never underestimate your network.
The Pivot to Tutoring
The heart of the episode is how Matt found his way to tutoring. After graduating in 2021, he took a job in technical sales at a pump distributor while tutoring first-year UVic courses on the side.
Then came the moment that changed everything. One of his first students had failed his first physics test and was thinking about dropping out of engineering. After a few weeks of working together, the student aced his next test. Watching that turnaround, Matt was hooked. He realized that for a lot of students, the gap between passing and failing is small, and a bit of focused help at the right time can keep someone in their program.
Building Heywood Academies
Matt shared how the business grew from there, including running it online while traveling around Australia for a year. Today, Heywood Academies has worked with over 130 students, brought on UVic students and graduates as tutors, and expanded across the STEM courses: math, science, and engineering, plus high school math and physics.
He also talked about the part of entrepreneurship he didn’t expect to love, the business side: brainstorming new ideas, testing them, and keeping what works. And he shared his vision for the future: building a team that can cover the full range of STEM courses, from mechanical to electrical, civil, and computer science.
Listen to the Full Episode
We’re grateful to Emma, Katy, and the UVic Co-op and Career Services team for having Matt on the show. Whether you’re a student figuring out your own path or just curious about the story behind Heywood Academies, it’s worth a listen.
Listen to the Work It episode with Matt Heywood here, or watch it on YouTube.
If you’re a UVic engineering or STEM student who could use a hand with calculus, linear algebra, or physics, book a free consultation. Sessions are available in person around Greater Victoria and online anywhere in BC.
Want exam prep tips in your inbox? Join our newsletter.