From grassroots to national impact

When Lyndon Galea heard kids at his local school in Shepparton were going hungry, he turned up with sandwiches. That initial act has now evolved into a national organisation, guided by strategy and continual learning.

• Name: Lyndon Galea
• Current Role: Founder, Eat Up Australia
• Program: Part-time MBA, Melbourne Business School
• Cohort: 2021 – 2025
• Notables: SEMBA Class of 2003 Scholarship

Where purpose began

Grassroots activism has shaped Lyndon’s journey, from community organising to the work he leads now.

In 2013, Lyndon was living with his parents in his hometown of Shepparton when he read a local newspaper story about children at two local schools who were arriving without food and going hungry.

Troubled by what he read and eager to help, he raided his mum’s cupboards and bought enough bread to make 100 sandwiches for both schools.

His simple act of generosity made a huge difference to the lives of hungry children.

Soon, he had enlisted the support of friends and family, expanding his efforts to support more local schools with his homemade sandwiches whenever he could.

Lyndon quickly discovered that food insecurity in schools wasn’t just localised to Shepparton; it was a national concern that drove him to found Eat Up, which now operates across Australia providing free lunches for students in need.

Why Melbourne Business School

As the startup rapidly expanded, it became clear to Lyndon that he lacked the all-around leadership skills typically developed in a corporate environment.

“I learned very much through trial and error,” he said.

“I was learning from those around me as much as I could, but I was always really curious to learn and develop.”

Keen to continue growing with the organisation and connecting with more schools nationwide, Lyndon realised the best way to give back was to build his business knowledge.

A decision that led him to Melbourne Business School and the Part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Inside the MBA experience

Lyndon found the program to be both richly rewarding and a steep learning curve too.

“It was challenging in all the ways I wanted it to be,” he said.

“I felt like I had to build up a base of knowledge even to get close to where some of the others in my cohort were.”

Despite the intensity, he found a strong sense of community at the School that helped propel him forward.

“Having to improve, having to learn, and being in such a high-performing environment where you're challenged,” he said

“They really pushed me, but I made some wonderful friendships along the way.”

For Lyndon, whose first child was born the same month he started the course, balancing study, parenting, and his continuing work with Eat Up could feel overwhelming.

Still, he credits his course lecturers with helping him stay motivated throughout the program.

“The lecturers are all phenomenal,” he enthused.

“They all have such deep knowledge, they present in such an engaging way, and they were intuitive enough to recognise that many of us were also working full time and yet they made it as engaging and fun as possible.”

Turning Insight into Impact

Today, Lyndon continues to lead Eat Up's mission to feed hungry kids, but he now has a far more comprehensive understanding of business strategy.

“What made the program so valuable to me is you could learn something that night, and the next day, put it into practice,” he said.

Lyndon cites data analysis as one area he had little understanding of before the course, but now considers fundamental to interpreting and understanding Eat Up’s business performance.

“We can now combine quantitative metrics with qualitative stories, which allows us to show both the scale of our impact and the real human difference we make,” he said.

“Seeing these outcomes in action is really moving and also helps guide other core aspects of our business, including our marketing.

“Being able to engage with more people who will hopefully want to volunteer with us, that extends and multiplies our ability to help more kids.”

Skills with wider purpose

Although Eat Up will always be something Lyndon feels passionately about, he also feels that the MBA has broadened his opportunities and helped him to identify other areas where he could have a positive impact.

“I've always had a deep connection to social change, so the thought that these new skills can help me, hopefully, be impactful and assist causes in other areas is exciting.”

That sense of being able to pivot when an exciting opportunity comes along, or just in terms of that action orientation, if you feel a pull towards something. I feel I have the confidence to be more open-minded.”

For future students

Lyndon has a simple message for future students:

“Back yourself and get going. An MBA is a big undertaking, so perhaps you’re waiting for the perfect time, even though you may have a clear window now. One that might not come around again.”

He also advises future students not to worry too much about life’s inevitable challenges.

“For a lot of my cohort, and it’s certainly true for me, there were major life moments like the birth of my child and for others, job changes,” he said

“But the course is flexible, and you’ll get support. Getting going is vital; otherwise, maybe the opportunity passes you by.”

Made. Not born. – Lyndon’s interpretation

For Lyndon, “Made. Not born.” is deeply connected to the idea that hard work leads to self-improvement, which in turn leads to growth, confidence, and new capabilities.

“I think it’s an incredibly empowering concept, and very fitting for Melbourne Business School” he said

“Like so many of my cohort, I came into the program with a genuine sense of curiosity and a passion to learn and grow.

“For me, the idea of “Made. Not born.” speaks to development. It carries a quiet but powerful confidence: the belief that if you work hard at something, even if you don’t yet have the knowledge or experience, you can improve.

“You will get better. You will grow.”