Back to business: MBA kicks off 2022.
Reconnection and inspiration has dominated the MBA’s first event of the year.
Speaker Mat Bowtell of Free 3D Hands mesmerized guests with the story of how he went from retrenchment to running a global charity, starting with the production of a 3D-printed Iron Man prosthetic for a young boy. A home video of the boy unwrapping his new hand sent Mat on a mission to provide similar assistive devices around the world, all for free.
“That video changed my life forever,” Mat said.
MBA nominee Stephen Garofalo from cybersecurity company GMAN IT said Mat’s presentation couldn’t have come at a better time for him. Just last week, he received approval from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) to start a charity that will encourage businesses to donate unused, good quality laptops to people in need.
“Mat’s dedication to what he does for the kids is phenomenal and it inspires me to do a similar thing with my new charity,” he said. “It was great for me to be here and listen to what he’s achieved and see that, yes, it can be done.”
Stephen’s business was one of four nominees introduced at Thursday’s breakfast event. Also taking the stage was You First, First National Real Estate Clayton and My People Solutions.
Jane Hurt from My People solutions praised the MBA for bringing the Monash business community back together post pandemic.
“This is the first networking event I have been to in two years,” she said. “It’s the rebirth of networking face to face, of business reconnection, of recovering from COVID, of talking to people.”
Jane also praised the MBA for bringing Mat’s inspirational story to attention. She believed it would open people’s eyes to their potential to help others and prompt many to reassess their goals.
“There wasn’t one moment of noise,” Jane said. “He had everyone fully engaged. I’ve got to highly commend the MBA on the guest speaker. Congrats MBA. I will be back.”
The MBA’s next networking event will be on April 28 with guest speaker Adam Docking, President of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV).
