Today’s HRTechnology Top Voice is Matthew Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Together
Matthew: My journey to founding Together Software really began at the Boston Consulting Group, where I advised some of the world’s leading organizations on how to use technology to enhance workforce performance and decision-making. Those years taught me how complex human systems operate — and how often, despite powerful tools and data, organizations struggled to foster genuine connection and mentorship. While at BCG, I met Nathan Goldstein, who would become my co-founder and Head of Product. Together, we recognized a consistent pattern: companies were investing heavily in training platforms but lacked the infrastructure to cultivate the kind of human relationships that accelerate learning and growth. That realization inspired us to leave consulting and build Together Software in 2018, with a mission to make mentorship accessible, measurable, and scalable.
What started as a simple idea has evolved into a global enterprise platform used by leading organizations to strengthen connection, engagement, and professional development. The rise of remote and hybrid work only reinforced how vital structured mentorship is to culture and performance — and Together quickly became a trusted solution for enabling that at scale. In 2024, we joined forces with Absorb Software, combining our mentorship expertise with Absorb’s AI-powered learning ecosystem to advance a shared vision of strategic learning and workforce transformation. It’s been an incredible journey — one rooted in the belief that when people connect, they grow, and when they grow, organizations thrive.
Matthew: The integration of Together into Absorb Software represents a defining moment in the evolution of workplace learning. By embedding mentorship directly into Absorb LMS, we’ve created a unified learning ecosystem that blends coaching, formal learning, and real-time feedback in one strategic system. For years, mentorship was treated as an informal or standalone initiative — valuable but difficult to scale. Now, with mentorship built natively into the learning experience, organizations can design structured, measurable programs that connect employees across geographies, roles, and experience levels. It’s introducing an entirely new learning modality that empowers companies to operationalize human connection — something that’s been especially challenging in increasingly hybrid and dispersed work environments.
Mentorship has become a key pillar of upskilling because it mirrors how people actually learn and grow. Employees develop most effectively when they combine structured learning with real-world experience and support from others. While most upskilling programs deliver content and curriculum, they often miss the human element that turns knowledge into capability. Mentorship fills that gap — it gives people a safe space to apply skills, reflect, and learn through dialogue. And beyond skill development, it strengthens engagement, retention, and connection — the very foundations of a resilient, high-performing workforce.
Matthew: Together, integrated within Absorb LMS, plays a central role in a modern HR technology stack by bridging the gap between formal learning, skills development, and human connection. Today’s HR leaders need systems that not only deliver learning content but also drive behavior change and measurable business outcomes. Absorb’s platform does exactly that — combining AI-powered learning paths, real-time feedback, and now structured mentorship in one unified experience. This allows organizations to move beyond fragmented tools and data silos to create a continuous learning journey that’s personalized, adaptive, and connected across the employee lifecycle.
What truly differentiates us is our ability to bring the human element of learning into an intelligent, scalable system. Unlike other LMS providers, Absorb doesn’t treat mentorship or coaching as an external add-on — it’s embedded directly within the platform experience. Our AI technology automates matching, engagement tracking, and skills alignment, enabling HR and L&D teams to scale programs effortlessly. The result is a platform that not only accelerates upskilling and reskilling but also strengthens engagement, retention, and performance — helping organizations transform learning from a compliance exercise into a strategic driver of workforce growth.
Matthew: Only 8% of organizations have formal mentorship programs, and according to Absorb Software’s 2025 State of Upskilling, 44% say they have no plans to start one. That’s largely because mentorship has long been viewed as difficult to scale — reliant on manual matching, scheduling, and administration. At the same time, L&D teams have struggled to find technology that automates and enables mentorship as part of a broader learning strategy.
AI changes that equation. With intelligent matching, automated scheduling, and personalized agendas, AI removes the logistical barriers that once made mentorship feel exclusive or unmanageable. What used to take weeks of coordination can now happen instantly — allowing HR and L&D teams to deliver structured, data-driven mentorship programs that are scalable, measurable, and accessible across global, hybrid teams.
Matthew: Using Together’s customizable algorithm, Absorb LMS automatically matches mentors and mentees based on factors such as skills, goals, experience, and even work styles — achieving a 98% match satisfaction rate. Once paired, AI handles the logistics: sending calendar invites, setting shared agendas, and tracking goals. This removes the administrative burden from HR teams while keeping participants focused on growth and connection.
The experience is also deeply personalized. AI tailors each session’s discussion topics and development paths to the learner’s needs, ensuring that every interaction feels relevant and impactful. On the backend, dashboards provide real-time visibility into participation, engagement, and goal completion, while built-in surveys measure the program’s business impact. This gives HR leaders clear insights into what’s working — and where they can optimize over time.
Matthew: While skill alignment is important, great mentorship depends on chemistry and shared intent. Our algorithm goes beyond technical matching to consider softer elements like personal interests, communication styles, and long-term growth aspirations. Organizations can customize criteria — from job roles and development focus areas to leadership goals and learning preferences.
This intentional blend of data-driven compatibility and human alignment creates stronger relationships, higher engagement, and more meaningful outcomes. It’s mentorship designed not just for efficiency, but for authenticity.
Matthew: The future of learning isn’t about choosing between digital and human experiences, it’s about integrating them. For too long, formal learning and people development existed in silos. With AI, we can now connect the two by personalizing mentorship and coaching at scale and embedding them directly into the learner’s flow of work.
AI takes care of the manual, time-consuming elements — surfacing the right courses, recommending discussion topics, and preparing mentorship agendas — freeing up learning leaders to focus on fostering connection and community. What we’re proving through Absorb is that AI doesn’t replace the human element of learning; it amplifies it, making connection and collaboration more intentional, accessible, and impactful than ever.
Matthew: While the mentorship integration has only recently launched, early results are already validating the model. A great example is CDM Smith, a full-service engineering and construction firm and 2025 Absorbie award winner.
Before implementing Together, their “Career Compass” mentorship program was entirely manual — managers were matching participants by hand, resulting in inconsistent experiences and limited visibility into outcomes. After transitioning to our algorithm-driven platform, CDM Smith saw immediate results. Within one year, program participation doubled, engagement reached 60%, and 96% of participants reported gains in confidence, responsibility, and leadership capability. Remarkably, 34% of mentees received promotions, and overall retention improved by 5%, saving the company $3.2 million in talent replacement costs. It’s a powerful example of how structured mentorship, when paired with formal learning, delivers tangible ROI.
Matthew: Learning can’t stop at content delivery. For development to stick, employees need structured learning reinforced by human connection. We often say that only 10% of learning comes from formal training — the other 90% happens through experience, application, and interaction. Mentorship bridges that gap by transforming knowledge into action through trusted relationships.
With mentorship, learning, and analytics unified in one system, HR leaders can finally measure how development drives tangible outcomes — from faster ramp times and improved internal mobility to higher retention and engagement. The value of learning no longer lives in course completions; it lives in business impact.
Matthew: Mentorship is about trust, so it’s essential that any AI used in that space enhances the human experience, but doesn't replace it. At Absorb, we’ve been deliberate about this. AI helps reduce friction: it suggests great mentorship pairings, proposes session agendas, and offers nudges based on context. It never makes the final call in isolation.
We also embed human checks and give users control, because responsible AI is transparent and flexible. This balance allows us to scale mentorship while preserving the personal element that makes it work. When learners see the system is helping instead of dictating, that’s when adoption and trust take off.
Matthew: As work becomes more digital and distributed, mentorship will be the connective tissue that keeps learning human-centered. AI will continue to evolve as a co-pilot for learning — surfacing insights, generating content, and streamlining processes — but human connection will remain the differentiator.
We’re not heading toward an AI-orchestrated ecosystem that replaces people; we’re building a strategic learning ecosystem where formal training, mentorship, and AI reinforce one another. The organizations that succeed will be those that use AI to amplify human growth, not sidestep it.
Matthew: You don’t need a massive tech stack to future-proof your learning strategy — you need clarity. Focus on the skills that matter most to your business and give your people structured opportunities to grow into them through both learning and mentorship.
If you’re only solving for content delivery, you’re missing half the equation. Real development happens when people learn together — through relationships, reflection, and experience. Build scalable mentorship and learning into your culture now, and you’ll be ready for whatever the future of work brings.
Matthew: Chery Yuran, CHRO, Absorb Software
Thanks for your answers, Matthew! We look forward to having you again at the Top Voice Series.
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About Matthew Reeves
An innovative entrepreneur and dedicated leader, Matthew Reeves thrives on creating technology that fosters meaningful connections. As CEO and Founder of Together, an Absorb company, Matthew brings his passion for collaboration and growth to drive the company’s mission forward. Matthew’s leadership style is rooted in empowerment and teamwork, ensuring that every team member feels valued and inspired to contribute their best ideas. Prior to joining Absorb, Matthew was the CEO and co-founder of Together, a pioneer in the mentorship software category. Under his guidance, Together became one of the leading providers of mentoring software to enterprises worldwide. Prior to founding Together, Matthew worked as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advised leading corporations on implementing technologies to improve human decision-making and processes. These projects contributed over one billion dollars in value
to his clients.
About Absorb Software
Absorb Software is the leading global AI-driven learning platform provider, helping organizations unlock the full potential of their workforce. With its innovative Strategic Learning Systems (SLS) approach, Absorb empowers businesses to align learning with strategic goals, driving measurable impact and workforce agility. The Absorb LMS platform delivers personalized, scalable, and engaging learning experiences for employees, customers, and partners worldwide. Trusted by over 3,500 organizations and 37 million users, Absorb is redefining the future of workplace learning through cutting-edge AI, seamless integrations, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Discover more at absorblms.com and explore mentoring solutions from Together at togetherplatform.com, and connect with HR and L&D professionals worldwide through The Mentorship Guild.
Sudipto Ghosh is the Director of Global Marketing at Intent Amplify, a leading AI-powered intent data company.