What are you studying, and why did you choose Massey?
I am about to finish studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Business (distance learning and on-campus), focusing on marketing, managerial finance, and leading and changing organisations. I chose Massey because it has a cutting-edge distance programme and is well known to accommodate people who need flexibility in learning. My husband and I run an agricultural business together, and we have big dreams to integrate horticulture into our business and produce a sustainable brand selling fresh food. I knew I needed to learn more to achieve the goals we have set out to achieve in business, and through all my research, I knew Massey would be the place to allow me to do so.
What do you enjoy most about your courses?
I have loved utilising what I have learned through my business and consolidating my values and intentions into one solid vision for our company. Every course has been valuable, but I have found a passion in marketing; I suppose because I am an artist at heart, and I find marketing to be a space in business that allows me to use creativity in a way that really cares about people's needs and wants. Although marketing is a specific area of business, it is so intertwined with other areas such as finance, leadership etc., every other subject I have learned throughout this course has been rewarding and necessary. Another area of intense fulfilment has been connecting my Māori values with entrepreneurialism through study and realising how beneficial these values are in business and leadership. I have certainly appreciated connecting with my Massey whānau through the Te Rau Angitu programme.
What has been your biggest challenge while at university?
Navigating whānau with running a business while studying has been a major challenge. I put studying off for a long time because I have pēpē at home, and all my commitments keep my life very full. I'm very grateful for the support I have received from my lecturers, my whānau at Te Rau Angitu, and my faculty. It's made the entire studying process not only rewarding from a learning perspective but also from a relationship perspective. Every role I work in is important to me - whānau always come first and sometimes it is putting them first to show them what discipline and hard work look like.
What are your plans once you have completed your degree?
I plan to take everything I have learned and jump feet first into the new food company I have started throughout this process, Ora Nui Foods. I started the business this year, selling sustainable vegetables B2B with an integrated business plan to merge horticulture with our existing agriculture business. Also, Massey and Te Rau Angitu have sparked a desire to become fluent in Te Reo, and I will continue on that journey while raising my tamariki in kapa haka through their schooling years.
What are your three tips for students entering university?
Don't just try and get good grades. Use every assignment as an opportunity to use what you are learning for someone else's benefit - this could be for your own company, a friend's company, or your workplace.
Speak up. Our lecturers are there to learn from because they have a wealth of knowledge. My experience is they actually appreciate an open dialogue throughout lectures. Foster the hunger to learn, learn, and learn some more, and then talk about it in class/Zoom and try and get others involved in the conversation too. I was doing a majority distance programme, and I found speaking up and asking questions in Zoom meetings is highly beneficial.
Remember how valuable people are. University is not just about you sitting down with your head in a book. It is a place full of people, which means there is a wealth of knowledge you can glean from in a holistic sense. Every person has a story and is so unique. Buy a coffee for your classmates and your lecturer, find the person that isn't sitting with anyone in the class, be active on Stream, ask questions, be curious, and use this opportunity to treat people like they matter.