5 minutes with… Vollie Co-Founder, Matt Boyd.
Corporate social responsibility is getting a facelift with online volunteering platform, Vollie. Founded by Matt Boyd and Tanya Dontas, Vollie connects skilled people to non-profits and charities for skills-based online volunteering. In just over 3 years, the platform has generated over $630,000 in volunteer value for charities and non-profits around the world.
While individuals can access their platform on their own, Vollie is quickly building its connections with corporations like CBRE and Princes Trust Australia, that want to make a more meaningful impact with their CSR programs and drive engagement with their employees.
I think skilled volunteering has the power to…
…change the world. People can use their unique skills to positively impact the causes that matter most to them
Big corporates need to reassess their CSR programs…
…because right now, they are falling way short of the potential social impact they can generate.
Right now there’s not enough…
…connection between the skills of modern day professionals and the needs of charities.
How do you usually start your day?
By not looking at technology for at least the first 30 mins. I try to do yoga most mornings as soon as I wake up, then grab a coffee before attacking the day.
Any rules for meetings?
Be prepared, over research the person/company you’re meeting with, and be honest and genuine.
How do you find inspiration?
Learning from the success and failures of others. This can be in the form of personal interactions, books, podcasts, documentaries and movies.
Last eureka moment?
The opportunity for Vollie to start working with universities. Students are desperate for real-world experience during their studies yet the majority of them struggle to apply their skills. They also wanna change the world more than any generation before. Vollie can work with universities to amplify their students impact, allow them to apply what they are learning, and get them ready for their first career role.
Something you do every day
Exercise
I cannot recommend highly enough...
Surrounding yourself with brilliant people — in business and life.
How to stay motivated
Keep your eyes on the big picture, and remember that it’s all about incremental growth (one day at a time).
Best thing that happened during the Skalata program
The people (Skalata staff, the other teams, the coaches, the connections we made)
What are you reading at the moment?
Shoe Dog: A memoir by the creator of Nike. Phil Knight
Vollie is a Skalata Ventures portfolio company. For more information please visit vollie.com.au.
