For Matelier Numbi, leadership starts with a refusal to accept limits.
An MBA student at Southern Utah University (SUU), Numbi is making his mark at the crossroads of technology, national security, and business. His recent co-authored research paper on critical infrastructure earned approval from the International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS), a milestone that reflects both his technical depth and his drive to tackle problems that matter.
Critical infrastructure refers to the systems a society depends on to function, things like energy grids, water treatment, transportation networks, financial services, and communications. As these systems grow more connected and more reliant on digital technology, protecting them has become a pressing concern for governments and businesses alike. It's exactly the kind of high-stakes, real-world challenge Numbi has set his sights on.
Slated to graduate in fall 2026, Numbi credits SUU's Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business with shaping how he approaches that work, fostering a mindset rooted in learning and critical thinking.
Placing a paper into a competitive academic journal is no small feat, and Numbi points to a specific combination of abilities that made it possible.
"Getting accepted into a highly refereed journal… required me to develop academic writing, technical competence, and strategic value mapping," he says.
That blend of skills reflects his background as a graduate of electrical engineering technology, paired with the business acumen he's built through his MBA. A former engineer turned strategist, Numbi has positioned himself to translate complex technical ideas into insights that organizations can actually use.
Numbi's research extends well beyond a single paper. Alongside SUU alumnus Gaston Elongha, he co-authored a study exploring how artificial intelligence can sharpen decision-making in the corporate world.
That paper, "Leveraging AI in Managerial Decision-Making: Driving Innovation and Growth in Business Management," was presented at the 65th IACIS Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida. The work makes the case that businesses need to adopt AI tools to strengthen human intelligence and productivity, while taking the ethical dimensions of the technology seriously.
Numbi has carried that same conversation to the stage. He recently delivered a TEDxSUU talk titled "The Invisible Layoff," digging into how AI is reshaping the workforce and what that means for the people affected by it. Across his research and his speaking, a clear throughline emerges: technology should expand human potential, not erase it.
When asked which leader he admires most, Numbi resists naming just one.
"I admire various leaders because leadership is a mosaic," he says. "You cannot find every ideal trait in just one person."
At the heart of Numbi's leadership philosophy is a belief that leadership is fundamentally about other people.
"To be a true leader is to inspire, protect, and uplift others," he says. "It means being the protector of the weak, the reason why people believe, and the reason why others never give up."
That conviction shapes how he measures his own success, less by titles and more by the impact he has on those around him.
"To me, leadership is not about personal accolades; it is about cultivating an environment where individuals can unlock their highest potential," he says. "I measure my own success by the growth, resilience, and forward momentum of the people I lead."
It's a vision Numbi traces in part to advice that pushed him past his own hesitation. "Be bold enough to pursue a vision that scares you, because true growth lives outside your comfort zone."
RELATED: UNLOCKING YOUR POTENTIAL
Numbi's long-term goals are ambitious, and they don't stop at the C-suite.
"My ultimate vision is to serve as a CEO, leading purpose-driven organizations that transform lives and restore hope," he says.
But he sees an executive title as just one marker along the way. His deeper aspiration is to reach people directly through the written word.
"An executive title is a milestone millions can achieve, but my ultimate dream is to write a book that transforms human perspective from the inside out," he says.
That mission is where his admiration for bold thinking meets his own sense of purpose. Numbi wants to take that same fearless energy and aim it at something larger than himself.
"My mission is to take that same boundary-breaking energy and use it to heal families, uplift nations, and ignite hope in the hearts of millions," he says.
Numbi credits the NSLS leadership development program with broadening both his thinking and his network during a formative stretch of his journey. The Speaker Broadcasts, in particular, connected him to leaders he might never have encountered otherwise.
"The Speaker Broadcasts gave me the unique opportunity to learn from extraordinary leaders across diverse industries," he says. "Their stories taught me to be bold, to believe unconditionally in my dreams, and to embrace the mindset that the sky is the limit."
Just as valuable were the people right beside him. As fundraiser chair for SUU's NSLS chapter, Numbi found that collaboration sharpened his perspective.
"Collaborating with the talented peers in my chapter opened my eyes to entirely new perspectives, helping me grow into a more well-rounded leader," he says.
For all his focus on big visions and bold moves, Numbi's advice for aspiring leaders comes back to something steady and simple: continuous learning.
"Life is a process of learning and growing," he says. "Keep moving forward, and believe in your dreams."
Through his goal of publishing a book, he wants to encourage this advice for as many people as he can reach.
"I want my words to be the spark that reminds people worldwide: you are born to be bold, to grow, and to realize that your dreams are never too big."
It's a philosophy that runs through everything he does, from the research labs and conference stages to the book he is excited to write. For Numbi, leadership isn't a destination. It's the daily choice to grow, to stay bold, and to lift others as he climbs.
From the Marine Corps to the frontlines of cybersecurity, Ryan Stoddard has spent his career closing the gaps that put people's data at risk. Meet the threat-management leader next.