Building Better Systems: Leadership, Supervision, and Culture with Liz Matthews (Part 2)
In Part 1 of our conversation, Liz Matthews opened up about burnout, motherhood, identity, and how she found her way back to behavior analysis. In Part 2, we go behind the scenes to see what that evolution looks like inside her company.
Liz is the CEO of EMG Consulting, a company that’s earned statewide recognition for being one of the best employers in Virginia.
We talked about what it means to lead with intention, to hire with care, and to hold high standards while staying flexible. This is a conversation about values, systems, and the often-unseen decisions behind sustainable leadership in ABA.
Hiring for Alignment, Not Just Experience
At EMG, hiring is a thoughtful, collaborative process. Liz’s team uses structured interviews with behavior-based questions designed to pull for values, not just qualifications.
“I’m not trying to build capacity all the time. I’m trying to build trusting, collaborative relationships.”
They don’t rush to fill roles. Instead, they focus on finding people who want to be there—and who understand the expectations that come with that.
The Tradeoff of Flexibility and Accountability
It’s clear throughout the conversation: Liz has created a flexible workplace. But it’s not a free-for-all. Expectations are clear. Data is used. Feedback is consistent. The systems are built to support autonomy, but they’re not loose.
“We’re not here to motivate you to come to work. We’re going to evaluate what you do and give you feedback, but you have to want to be here.”
That balance—of flexibility with structure, and autonomy with accountability—is something many leaders are still trying to figure out.
Rethinking Supervision (and When It’s Not the Right Fit)
One of the most striking parts of the episode was Liz’s honesty about supervision—not just what it looks like when it goes well, but what it looks like when it doesn’t.
“I’ve had to tell people, I don’t think this is for you. That’s hard. But sometimes it’s true.”
She shared what it means to support trainees with care, while also being honest when the science doesn’t click. When motivation is external. When someone’s being pushed through a pipeline that’s not really right for them.
We also talked about how that pressure starts with organizations pushing RBTs toward becoming BCBAs—often because of funding, not fit.
Practice Drives Policy
If there’s a thread that runs through the whole episode, it’s this: systems should serve people, not the other way around.
Liz doesn’t build policies and hope they work. She tries things, gathers feedback, and adjusts based on what’s actually happening on the ground.
“Practice drives policy. You can mourn the loss of your beautiful plan. But if it doesn’t work, change it.”
That’s the kind of leadership more of us need in this field—and it’s what makes this episode so worth listening to.
💬 LinkedIn: Elizabeth Matthews
📸 Instagram: @emg_consulting
Ready to challenge the status quo and explore what’s possible with your BCBA®?
Listen to the full episode now →
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Amazon Music