How an MBA grad is helping people get their lives back on track, one device at a time
The University of Queensland (UQ) Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate Matt Granfield is on a mission to give vulnerable people access to much-needed technology via his not-for-profit organisation Spare Keys.
While working as an executive, Matt saw the number of corporations that discarded perfectly good computers and devices at the end of their lifecycle. Having witnessed a family member experience homelessness in the past, and with a personal mission statement of helping those in need, Matt wondered how these resources could be made available to people who were going through a tough time.
“It seemed like such a waste to see potentially life-changing devices go to waste,” says Matt.
After experiencing some resistance to his idea, Matt set out on his own to build a platform and connect with people who could bring his vision to life. This culminated in the launch of Spare Keys, a registered charity that unlocks spare resources for people experiencing tough times and provides them access to technology devices.
Spare Keys works in the following ways:
- Finding corporations to donate technology resources that would otherwise go to waste and using them to help solve issues faced by vulnerable people.
- Seeking donations from individuals who have spare devices, such as mobile phones or laptops, that can go to people in need.
We asked Matt to reflect on the challenges he experienced while establishing this game-changing business, what motivates him to create change and the tools he tapped into to make it such a success. Here’s what he said.
What are some of the challenges you faced during the early stages of setting up Spare Keys and how did you deal with these?
The biggest challenge was changing the common perception that people in crisis all fit the media’s stereotype of a homeless person.
A huge proportion of Australia’s homeless population are middle-class women fleeing domestic and family violence situations. Often, they have a partner who controls the family finances, so even if they have a job, they might not have access to a bank account for some time. Changing societal perceptions of homelessness is an important part of the puzzle.
The average homeless person in Western society is 25-35 and one in every 200 people in most international cities experience homelessness.
What impact is Spare Keys making in the community?
Ultimately, our goal is that people experiencing domestic and family violence know there are resources available to help them. If people know that, they will be more likely to leave a bad situation and begin a new life for themselves and their family. That’s when cycles of violence are broken, and new opportunities open up.
“If you see something that needs changing, make it happen.”
What tools, education and experiences enabled you to start this venture, and to make it a success?
I apply a lot of what I learned during my MBA from UQ to help me run Spare Keys, especially from a strategy and operations perspective. The MBA helped me think about how to map processes and get people out of bad situations. It’s given me an empathetic ear for the partners we work with who are out in the community on the front line, from both an operations and HR perspective.
How has Spare Keys grown in the last few years?
When we looked for what value we could unlock, it became clear there were a lot of spare computers going to waste, and a strong need for those devices among Australia's most vulnerable people. As a result, our main purpose moved toward providing life-changing devices and technology resources.
We’ve had more organisations eager to get involved and donate a variety of spare devices. UQ’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law has donated unused computers to Spare Keys, which helps us help people in crisis get back on their feet.
Why does Spare Keys seek donations for computers and laptops?
When people find themselves in a vulnerable situation, whether due to violence, natural disasters, financial circumstances, or health issues, they’re often on their own with nothing but the clothes on their back and the contents of their pockets.
In today’s society, computers and internet connections aren’t far behind food and shelter as basic necessities. It’s quite difficult to create a resume, open a bank account, seek financial support or apply for a job with only a phone. And without Wi-Fi, you might as well be on a desert island. That’s where Spare Keys come in.
“If you’ve ever left your laptop at home and tried to do a bit of proper work on your phone, you’re about 1% of the way to understanding what it’s like to find yourself homeless and unable to sort your life out without a keyboard.”
What keeps you motivated to continue working towards making a difference in the community?
Whenever we check in to see how people are doing, the answer is always that their life has changed for the better. You don’t need any more motivation than that!
What’s your advice for others wanting to influence change in the world?
There is literally nothing stopping you. If you see something that needs changing, make it happen. If you’re a hairdresser, give free haircuts to people in need. If you’re in a coffee shop, encourage people to pay it forward. If you own a bakery, get people into buying a bagel for someone who is hungry. You don’t have to commit your entire life to charity work.
"If we all spent five minutes more a week changing the world, we’ll actually change the world."
Spare Keys has always been run on that principle. We put our energy into efficiently transferring unused economic value from one entity to another, whether it’s furnishing women’s refuges with cost-effective printers or finding a good home for a hundred spare corporate computers.
The principles of finding purpose, operating efficiently, unlocking economic value and innovating in response to the market were all things I learned during the UQ MBA and have stayed with me in the years since.
Inspired by Matt’s story and wondering what the next step in your journey to creating change should be?
Learn more about the UQ MBA
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