An Inspired Chat with Matt Svetlak of Online

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Matt Svetlak. Check out our conversation below.

Matt, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
That’s a good question, thanks! The thing is, I restructured my daily routine a couple of months ago to boost my productivity and overall energy. These days, I usually wake up around 5:45 AM. My alarm doesn’t just go off. It also gradually brightens the lights in my bedroom, which makes getting up a bit easier and more pleasant. Right after that, I use a daylight therapy lamp with a 10,000-lumen brightness, which has become a game changer for my mornings. Then I head for a walk and do some exercise outdoors. When I’m back, I take a lukewarm shower, have breakfast, and by 8:00 AM, I’m ready to dive into work.

On workdays, my time is usually packed with online meetings. There are also quite a few strategic and operational decisions to make. Evenings after work are more relaxed. I usually do some yoga and meditation. After dinner, I like to go for a short walk to wind down. And actually, this year I started learning Spanish, so I try to squeeze in a bit of practice when I can.

To sum it up, I try to keep the working day as active and high-energy as possible, and then slow things down a bit. This helps me sleep better and stay consistently productive. No more need to rely on caffeine all the time!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure, with pleasure! I’m the Product Director of iScanner at BP Mobile (AIBY Group).

iScanner is an AI-powered document management and scanning tool created to help people get clean, professional-looking scans wherever they are. The app lets users scan everything from a handwritten note to multipage documents, convert them into any popular format, edit, e-sign, and even turn images into fully editable, searchable text. All you need is your smartphone.

We’re especially proud of our smart features. With the app, users can erase fingers from scans if they accidentally appear there, deblur text, fix distortions, straighten scans, summarize content, or even proofread documents, all with the power of AI. People often scan documents in tough conditions, like poor lighting, wrinkled paper, or odd angles. We’ve developed AI tools that not only handle those situations and improve the quality of scans but actually make the documents look better than the original.

In other words, we help people digitize and organize their documents quickly, securely, and with high quality. Whether you’re a small business owner managing invoices, a teacher preparing study materials, or someone just trying to renew a passport, iScanner can help you.

Believe me, this isn’t just marketing. iScanner has been downloaded over 125 million times and has won two prestigious awards: the Webby People’s Voice Award and Lovie Gold for Best Productivity App.

As for our current plans, we’re focused on expanding iScanner into a full-cycle document platform and exploring how AI can ease the burden of paperwork—one scan at a time.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Back in school, I was really into biology, but I didn’t see any clear or exciting ways to apply that interest in the real world. Economics and management seemed more promising and practical, so I chose to study those fields at university. While studying, a friend and I got into web development and started creating websites for clients. It was our first taste of entrepreneurship. However, our business didn’t bring in regular income, so eventually we wrapped it up. But that experience turned out to be a turning point for me.

It made me realize that what really interested me was the quality of the product. That curiosity led me to explore mobile app testing, and I spent two years working as a QA specialist. From the start, I was diving into areas that broadened my understanding of product quality and prepared the ground for a future in product management. I plunged into UX, user research, and the basics of analytics to deepen my knowledge in these fields.

Over time, I became a Product Manager at iScanner. I’d say a mix of curiosity, learning, and yes, a bit of luck all played a role. Whether I was doing QA, starting a business, or working as a Product Manager, I’ve always been motivated by a desire to improve things.

As iScanner kept growing, it became clear that we needed someone to take on a more strategic role, so I stepped into the Product Director position. I’m still very much involved in the day-to-day details and making sure everything’s running smoothly, but now a big part of my focus is on the bigger picture. That means shaping the product’s long-term strategy and creating the right conditions to bring that vision to life.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Honestly, I feel proud of the path I’ve taken from a student developing websites to becoming a Product Director at one of the most successful apps in its niche. Sure, there were challenges as well when I had to adapt quickly and find new directions. But looking back, it was all manageable. So, I’d probably just give myself a bit of encouragement and motivate myself to try new things while searching for your path in life. I’d say: “Don’t worry so much about choosing ‘the right’ path. Stay kind, especially to yourself. Trust your instincts, don’t overthink what others expect from you, and just keep doing your best.”

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Today, everybody wants to be productive. And that’s perfectly fine. Without this quality, you can’t become a leader, entrepreneur, or simply a successful specialist. But here’s one important thing: you shouldn’t confuse being productive with just doing more. So many brilliant people burn out chasing efficiency, while the real secret is focusing on what truly matters and cutting out everything else without hesitation. Being busy isn’t a badge of honor. Give yourself some space to think, to rest, to listen deeply… And you’ll see the magic.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
You know, it’s quite difficult these days to find a moment and a place to feel calm and reconciled. News, notifications, and ads popping out on every corner create this constant background noise that makes it easy to lose focus.

As for me, evening strolls work great. Usually, I put my phone away, turn off the music, and just try to be present, catch the sensations around me, feel the air, notice the shifting light, and that quiet sense that the day is coming to an end. It’s especially meaningful when I’ve solved something important earlier in the day, like a tricky product challenge or had a conversation that helped move the team forward. That mix of movement, simplicity, and closure brings me a deep sense of peace.

Image Credits
by iScanner