Season 4, Episode 117 : Matt Rickard

Will Richardson 00:02
Matt, welcome to the Green Element Podcast. Thank you so much for joining us today. You are CEO and founder of task.io. And we came across each other through a mutual contact, through the kind of purpose-driven network, I guess. And it'd be great to find out more about who you are and what Matt tasks.io is all about, please.

Matt Rickard 00:29
Cool, thanks. Well, good morning, or good afternoon from here. COO, by the way, COO I don't know my business. I don't think my business partner's job quite yet. But we're both founders, and COO, CEO and COO for myself, but, yeah, great to connect and look at task, we're a tech platform, we're all about engaging teams in activities that have a positive social or environmental impact. So we're used by managers of those teams to engage those teams, but also to collect the data so they can get more reporting transparency around the activities that are, you know, happening as an example, you know, we've got a UK based nonprofit that has teams in China, they're working with vets, veterinary departments, and they have no visibility for management reporting, or for updating donors, and what those teams of vets are doing. And, you know, they have to kind of send information over every couple of months over email. And so, you know, the app, the platform allows the guys in the UK, in this case, programme managers, to very easily engage those vets remotely, to be in the kind of one to one contact with them, to have them complete activities on the mobile app, they get the data, it's gamified, to create, you know, more kind of engagement at the team level, and, you know, creates more impact gets the reports. So that's one example. And another area we are exploring right now is around the UN Global Goals, you know, talking to businesses about engaging teams in activities that align to their, you know, mission around the goals and how they report on those, how they make sure teams are, you know, engaging in those activities that can report against their sustainability, environmental sustainability reports. So yeah, that's what we do. It's, it's fun. It's interesting. And we're a couple of years in and, you know, learning a lot as we go.

Will Richardson 02:35
It's such a person in the area at this very moment in time. And I mean, I know that you're actually, I mean, this is just how global we are now you're based in Thailand. And we're based in the UK, but your business is predominantly not belong in the UK, actually, is it? You are pretty worldwide.

Matt Rickard 02:58
Yeah, we, interesting for us, I mean, my business partner and I, both Brits, we live in Thailand, we were neighbours, like, years ago, when we were kids and reconnected here about eight years ago. We live here for lifestyle reasons. And actually, we've, for us, this kind of new norm of being virtual was how we run the business anyway. And we look at our territory is not really geographical, but as where we can help out. And we've got clients in Thailand, which is where we are, but we have clients in the UK, we've got, we've been doing stuff in the food bank space, we've got an animal food bank, in Canada, we've got clients in the US, we don't really, you know, apart from having to get some sleep, we don't really worry about the territory, we were very much kind of remote operating. And we look at the territory as where are the clients that we can work with and help solve problems for.

Will Richardson 03:56
It's brilliant, it's absolutely brilliant. And what I was what I wanted, sidetracked into kind of global working positions, but what I wanted, it's really personal now that is so many people are looking at their organisations, aren't they? And about what kind of impact their colleagues have on the wider world around them, but also how the companies and organisations are working themselves. I know we're getting asked a lot about what is it that we can do as an organisation? Yeah, we're now more environmental because of you guys. But we actually want to go further. We want to start to understand it. I mean, have you, what sort of benefits have you seen through working because there will be quite a lot of people listening to this podcast that will be sceptical on how does an app, how does a software help that purpose and engagements? What kind of experience Have you got with it working?

Matt Rickard 05:00
In terms of I mean, I understand that because actually, you know, technology can be an enhancer, or it can be a prohibiter. And, you know, we are mobile-first. So we're very much, you're very much talking about team engagement from a remote level, making that, you know, process enjoyable, and a part of actually the kind of birth of our business, what we're looking at is really people having healthier relationships with technology, slight kind of sidetrack to the business, but it is where, you know, as founders, where our motivation came from, and still is, because it's no secret that there's a lot of unhealthy relationships that we have with technology, social media. You know, I mean, the social dilemma, which I think has kind of gone global on Netflix, and if you saw it, but you know, this whole area of unhealthy relationships with technology is, your, what we didn't want to be is, hey, we're creating a new piece of tech, we're gonna throw it in there, just another app to use. And, you know, for us, it was, well, how do we make sure people are having better relationships with their phone, when you look at your three hours a day, you know, or whatever it is, if you're screen time, what proportion of that has been put towards doing something good, doing something useful, and, you know, on the app, we will have, we've got our own project around tracking SDG activity. But you can then also bolster that with rewards. And, you know, we don't have a rewards library, we have the technology where people can provide rewards, but we've been experimenting with things like you get someone to complete an activity that maybe is reducing their carbon footprint, whatever it is, Hey, I'm gonna cycle to work today, obviously not the best example. Because I know you guys are going to lock down but there's a conceptual cycle, I'm going to cycle rather than drive. And, you know, by doing that, I'm going to earn something and then my business is now going to take that effort that I put in and go and plant a tree on my behalf, or is going to go and, you know, maybe it's something I'm volunteering here, over here, I'm doing this voluntary work, and I'm earning credit for that. And that credit is being exchanged for a donation towards a relevant charity. So for me, you know, this, the tech part is about facilitating use with technology, not, you know, not just making another app for communicating, not just making another app for social and, you know, there is good in technology and zoom has been my friend with, you know, for the last year and communicating with family as WhatsApp. But there's also this exhaustion, I think around technology that needs to be dealt with, whereby it's not going away, we're more and more plugged into the virtual world, and how do we leverage that virtual world for propagating, you know, better effect, you know, bringing together communities, encouraging, rewarding the right types of behaviours, so that you create more of that. So yeah, that's really, you know, hopefully, a long answer to a question. But, you know, I think for us, it's about enhancing those experiences, sharing, creating a community that is doing more good. And technology can be a great way to do that, particularly when you're all, you know, physically disconnected, as many of us are right now. We didn't go into this business because of COVID. But we found this year, obviously, the reality of people being locked down, we were locked down in Thailand previously, we're not now everyone's now going into it again. You know, tech can be a kind of force for good around that connecting people in those situations.

Will Richardson 08:42
Yeah, I think. And I think that's why it's so is actually a really important thing that you're doing. Particularly at this moment, I know that we're a company I work for, are actually looking at this at the moment and going, how now do we measure what it is that we're doing? As a B Corp, and working all remotely? We are a purpose-driven business. But how do we prove it? I guess, is actually what we need to do is prove it, because it's all very well saying, oh, we're purpose-driven. Actually. I'd like to have evidence of how we are.

Matt Rickard 09:20
This, I mean, for me that this area of accountability is really important. Yeah, because yeah, you're right. We really part again, part of the technology push for us is about getting rid of this kind of greenwashing area and making people accountable. And this is, this is a generational shift. Anyway, you know, I think, you know, the millennial generation expects businesses to behave in a certain way. They're expecting organisations to have a social contract that is adhered to treat the planet. You know, how it needs to be treated for us to progress rather than slip backward? And yeah, there's accountability. And I don't want to go into the weeds on the tech. But I very quickly, you know, there is there's a blockchain element to our app where you can start to really be kind of be a lot more track things and accountability level where you're saying these are discrete activities that, you know, measure up to this proposal that we have put forward of how we're going to pay for the business. And, yeah, I think accountability is a big thing. It's otherwise you have way too many people organisations just yeah, talking about doing the right things, because it's great for marketing, which is good, because it motivates the right behaviour. But I think you also need to, you know, measure that and report around it in a way that can be you know, people can be held accountable for so...

Will Richardson 10:47
Yeah, that's really important with, we, I mean, we don't particularly help organisations become B Corps. But I know, a lot of our partners do. And one of the ongoing kind of rhetoric that I hear is, lots of companies want to be purpose-driven, or B Corp or whatever it is. But when they actually get into the nitty-gritty, it's really? we have to do that? We have to do that? And you kind of think, are you looking at this as a box-ticking exercise? And I know, they asked that, and of course, they say no, we're not. But actually, I think that accountability is so important. And I get I just can't stress how important it is to be using, you know, software like yours and understanding what it is that you're doing. I mean, how did you get into this? What's your background?

Matt Rickard 11:46
My, my, my background has been technology, sales, business development for about 25 years, I think, sound old now. I left the UK at 99 left the UK 96. I travel around a lot. You know, I end up I did 10 years in Sydney. I was in Telco then then into the software game, which was natural kind of progression really took me up to Singapore. And I worked for a business that is now owned by Oracle went through an IPO. There was a bit of a turning point, I went through an IPO with an American company. I just became a number on a spreadsheet, I felt quite disillusioned. I was earning great money. Yes, it's kind of too late 2008/7/8/9. And then I took a couple of years out and went back I went did some relief work. And I ended up being part of a mission in Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis, I visited a tsunami of orphanage, nothing major, but just little things. But, you know, they, it affected me at a level I suppose emotionally, where I was like, Hey, you know, I'm stuck in this kind of corporate world where it's all about money. And then I've gone off and, you know, done this little trip to it to an orphanage and realised all this stuff that I hadn't kind of realised. And it took me down a bit of a different path. I mean, it wasn't I didn't jump off into charity, but I started learning about social entrepreneurship started. I run a track here, which I have for about 10 years up in Thailand, which was my own kind of release from the corporate world at the time, really, we do once a year myself, mates it was originally initially, you know, we do five days at that time, as soon as you did it, it was off, you know, off the beaten track, you couldn't get Wi-Fi access, or sorry, network access. Now, of course you can, and we'd raise some money for a local organisation, everyone needs to come back, come back to the office, refreshed, enlightened, you know, just feeling great. So I kind of wanted to incorporate that into my career moving forward. And that that has been a meandering journey of different things, I suppose done, you know, I went back and did some training. When you know, I've mentored social enterprise workshops in Singapore. And I then did, you know, a few years contracting for a software company in the nonprofit space. So all of that stuff, I suppose, kind of, you know, comes to the journey of Task, which my business partner who founded the business couple years ago, as I say, my next-door neighbour, when I was, I think 10 years old, and he's come from more of a traditional route and was hitting a point where he's a father of two was looking at his skills, he's more techie. He was like, you know, very simply wanting to do good for technology. So I, you know, bringing those I'm more business development commercial had the experience in social entrepreneurship. So it was about, you know, how do we kind of marry these beliefs, these ideas, these passions, these skills to create a business that can use tech for good, which is certainly not unique. There is now I think, which is great. There is a you know, you can google tech for good as you know, I mean, there's a growing force around using technology in this world. And all the major tech companies anyway have, you know, Salesforce who's, you know, someone we speak to quite regularly have a whole division sales force. org. And so yeah, that's the kind of journey that got me here was yeah, one of, I suppose, you know, life-changing moments a little bit, but nothing too profound, but just wanting to wanting to put more meaning into the personal life really. So.

Will Richardson 15:26
But I think that's, I think that's really important. I think that the journey that you've had, will mold the journey you're going to have, as well, because of that experience. And that, you know, that experience that you've had, will be absolutely spot on, and really helpful, as well.

Matt Rickard 15:50
Yeah, definitely I, the interesting thing, when you, we have this question a lot, when people look at our technology, it's important to, you could take the tech and use it for lots of different things, actually, you know, that's the thing about tech. So it is important, the philosophy and the culture of the business has so much to do, you know, with the output of what we create, as an organisation. And, you know, you can download the app, you can go on there, we have an area that's like our, it's called this our discover area. But you know, that's where you start to see, well, all the content we push out there, our blogs, our pocket are all around, you know, the social sector, social environmental, impact your conversations with the right people. So, you know, essentially, you could, you could, frankly, take the tech and use it in lots of different ways. But, you know, we've just started our philosophy as a business and actually, our investors will come in for that reason as well, to kind of support that journey.

Will Richardson 16:46
What would you say your purpose is?

Matt Rickard 16:50
Me individually, my purpose or the other the business, your organisation? The organisation purpose is to allow as many organisations as possible to make a difference with what they do with the work they do and use technology to facilitate an increase in the productivity of that process. So, you know, supporting organisations already have a, you know, already focused on some sort of good, whether it's nonprofit, or the social element of a business being a CSR or sustainability team being able to provide productivity around that. So it can be the best process ever and more is more impact is created. You know, maximised in the best way.

Will Richardson 17:44
And if you could offer one piece of advice to our listeners, which, how would you help them with their purpose? And what would that be?

Matt Rickard 17:58
This is interesting, I was reading through your I did my research, I was reading through some of your, you know, I stopped at this question looked at as kind of deliberating it. It's an interesting question, because and, you know, I know it's, I'm on your podcast, want to throw a question back at you just think, in terms of, you know, when you talk about purpose, how do you? How do you define purpose?

Will Richardson 18:19
I think that's the reason why we ask it is, every time I asked this question, I get a different answer. And when we're formulating some of the questions, we deliberated on the questions. And I actually didn't like this question. And I think I actually love this question, because it shows the whole reason why we are doing this podcast in the first place. We're wanting this podcast to disseminate information and knowledge across the wider network. And so that we can all learn from each other and collaborate with each other. Hopefully, people listening to this will want to use your software possibly to collaborate with you. And therefore, each individual answer that we get has been different. And it kind of highlights actually, we all come from different places. So therefore, that you know, there are lots of software companies like Compare you Footprint out there that do almost the same thing. It doesn't matter, that some people will use us some people use others, or we've actually collaborated with our competitors. And we actually pass things around because actually, not everyone is suitable for one thing. Everyone will use different things and therefore everyone will listen to different people and get the advice from different people. And so that's, I haven't answered your question, but it kind of has are...

Matt Rickard 19:47
That's right. It does. No, that makes sense. I mean, as you're talking now, I was thinking that somebody and the, I remember someone giving me some advice about god, it was years ago. I did a, I did a fundraising event in Singapore, I think it's about 2006 was almost the first thing I'd ever done. And it was, you know, I tend to take on way to bigger things, and I should and, and then just do them anyway, when everyone says you shouldn't. And I remember someone saying to me, and he is a cliche, but it's a good one, which is, you know, a lot of people who have purpose in mind want to achieve big things. But actually, those big things are just lots and lots of little things. And it's like, every day, you know, if you get up and just do one small thing in the direction of, you know, that big thing, then that is, you know, that is the thing that gets you there. So I suppose that as an asked, question is just, you know, it's just the little things, actually, the little things are the things that really count, to be honest. So because when you look back, if those little things are all in the same direction, you look back 10 years time, I mean, yeah, you've got something purposeful and meaningful to look back on that's been achieved.

Will Richardson 21:02
When it comes to running an ethical and sustainable business, what has been your biggest struggle so far? And can you tell us a bit about how you've overcome that?

Matt Rickard 21:11
Yeah, easy. I mean, I suppose there's two things, right. So there's that part of it, but we're also a startup in our second year. So you have, you know, we have different types. As a startup, you are faced with challenges anyway. And, you know, if I look at that, these are both links, though. I mean, you know, the, I think the, where the business was in February, the challenge for us right then, and this is not unique to us. I mean, you know, the world was hit with a situation that hadn't really been expecting. We were talking mostly to for-profit clients, building up a pipeline looking to build a business, all of that stopped, you know, that kind of went on hold, we started to look at what else we could do. The challenge then, for us was, well, you know, can we pivot in a way that our business becomes, hey, you know, where we've got a CSR model that fulfills our purpose, and then we do different things with the tech, you know, we're kind of grappling with what is our go-to-market right now. So, as it happens, we've, we've spent probably two-three months working with food banks, which we have not envisaged at all. But I think the challenge that the answer to that to kind of put that into a succinct answer is, is just, you know, with purpose with the ethics being aligned to, you know, a certain direction, how do you keep with that all the time? You know, we, as individuals, we can be like that, but the business sometimes has its own business as a business, it has to make money to survive. And, yeah, we went through some kind of challenging deliberations of what does our business look like at the time when COVID is hitting? As it happens, we come at the end of that. And, you know, it's we found ourselves more in the nonprofit sector, funnily enough, so. Yeah, it's, it's hopefully that answers it. Not sure.

Will Richardson 23:11
Yeah. No, absolutely. It's interesting, isn't it? What things are thrown at you and how people have I wouldn't say morphed into different things, but kind of moulded and kind of meandered into different parts that you wouldn't have necessarily expected.

Matt Rickard 23:32
Yeah, I mean, I'll tell you the best one of all sizes. Now. I mean, this is getting this year and in the year of companies having to do that. I mean, I think the most unique one I've ever seen those Thai Airways, Thai Airways started selling donuts, donuts on the street in Bangkok. And it's turned into a they did 50 million bots worth. And they've realised it was just it's such a random kind of sideline whether this is just the kind of uniqueness of this year you know, when an airline starts selling donuts, on-street vendors, or via street vendors. I mean, Google afterward and have a look. It's an amazing story. I don't know where they've got...

Will Richardson 24:10
What's 50 million bucks in the UK pounds or dollars?

Matt Rickard 24:15
Oh, man, you got me now. I'm not good at maths. Don't know. I'll check it afterwards.

Will Richardson 24:20
That just shows how...

Matt Rickard 24:21
A million. I left the UK 96. A million pounds I think is 20,000 quid, I think but, you know, depends. Since Brexit. It's all gone wrong. I haven't checked. Yeah. Right to become healthier this way around and hope on the 50 million, but it was a lot of money anyway, is an interesting side story of how businesses have had to adapt in you know, in 2020, because they certainly have.

Will Richardson 24:54
Yeah, I wonder how to carry on and stop being an airline. It can't be. And how can we learn more about you? And? Yeah, where do we learn more about you and your organisation?

Matt Rickard 25:10
Yeah, the easiest thing is just our website. I mean, all of our links are on there. But our website is the best place to just task.io - T A S. IO - We've got a blog on there. We run regular blogs, we've got a podcast on there. And hopefully, I'll get you on the podcast as well. Yeah, we speak to people in the social sector, sustainability leaders, you know, a kind of mixture of people in the space that we're in. So, yeah, everything is on the website. And you can find all our social media channels on that website, as well. So.

Will Richardson 25:44
Brilliant. Brilliant. Thank you so much for being on today. It's been absolutely fascinating listening to you. And really good luck with your journey and with everything you're doing.

Matt Rickard 25:56
Cheers, Will. We really, really appreciate it. And I hope I know that in the UK, you guys have started just about a winter or just have a tricky kind of, hopefully, it's only a month but yeah, best of best, you know, to yourself and the lockdown and your health and everything else. So hopefully, hopefully, it all kind of changes soon and Yeah.

Will Richardson 26:15
Thank you. Thank you.