How Social Work Frustration Sparked a Tech Revolution – My interview with Justice Reyes

Justice Reyes: Cordie, welcome! I have to know—was MyPower born from inspiration, or pure frustration?

Cordie: Oh, it was frustration. Big time. Picture this: you become a social worker to change lives, but instead, you’re drowning in paperwork. And here’s the teaser—no one even asks the people we serve if we’re making a difference! We review processes, tick boxes, write endless reports, but rarely do we stop to ask, “Did this actually help your family?” It drove me crazy. So, we decided to change it.

Justice Reyes: That’s a pretty bold statement. Are you saying social work doesn’t care if it’s effective?

Cordie: It cares deeply. But the system? Not so much. The system is designed to track compliance, not transformation. It’s all about whether forms were filled out correctly, not whether lives improved. It’s like grading a chef on how neat their kitchen is without tasting the food. We’ve been so scared to ask families for feedback because maybe we’re afraid of what they’ll say. But that’s exactly what MyPower aims to change.

Justice Reyes: So what’s the secret sauce with MyPower?

Cordie: Simple—MyPower puts the power back in families’ hands. It digitises social care plans, so families can track their goals, celebrate progress, and request updates without waiting for the next formal meeting. It’s transparent, collaborative, and dare I say it… fun.

Justice Reyes: Fun? In social work?

Cordie: Yes! Look, change is hard. Families are already dealing with so much. But when you make progress visual, when you celebrate even small wins, it creates momentum. One parent in a focus group told me they loved how MyPower challenged them. They felt motivated, not micromanaged. That’s the magic—turning struggle into empowerment.

Justice Reyes: But you’ve had pushback, right?

Cordie: Oh, loads! I had one social work leader tell me flat out, “We’re too overwhelmed for this.” They thought it was just another tech gimmick. But after talking, even they admitted that if MyPower could genuinely reduce paperwork and give social workers more time to connect with families, it could be a game-changer. That moment was a turning point—resistance often comes from fear of the unknown. We owe it to families to work through professional anxiety with resilience!

Justice Reyes: So, it’s not tech versus social work—it’s tech supporting social work?

Cordie: Exactly. MyPower isn’t here to replace the human touch; it’s here to amplify it. Social workers are incredible, but they’re bogged down by admin. This tool lets them get back to what they love—building relationships. And it gives families a voice in their own care. It’s not about control, it’s about collaboration.

Justice Reyes: Any final message for the skeptics out there?

Cordie: Yes—if we keep doing the same things, we’ll keep getting the same results. The system isn’t working, not for families and not for social workers. We need to innovate and, more importantly, listen. Not to inspectors or audits, but to the people living through these services every day. That’s the heart of MyPower—real outcomes for real families.

Justice Reyes: Cordie, this was enlightening. Thanks for keeping it real!

Cordie: Always. And to keep this interview ‘real’ I feel we should ‘out you’ Justice — particularly since you are AI 😉 —great interviewing skills by the way! How’s that for a plot twist? #TechforGood