Anton Steiner

When Anton Steiner began his Master of Digital Business at the University of Waikato, he was looking for a new career direction.

After several years working as a production scientist at a biotechnology company in Auckland, Anton wanted to move into a field where he could combine his existing skills with a passion for technology and strategy.

“A senior associate from Deloitte advised me that if I was interested in consulting work, then I should consider doing additional study,” he says. “Digital technology is transforming all aspects of business, so from a consulting point of view, graduates with skills in e-commerce are really valuable to any organisation.”

The Master of Digital Business (MDigiBus) offered exactly what he was looking for — a practical, future-focused degree with knowledge that can be applied immediately in the workplace.

Anton chose the online, part-time study option, which allowed him to fit assignments around his full-time job in Auckland without having to attend classes. He says the degree’s practical focus was one of its biggest strengths, as the papers teach you how to apply technology in business — whether through e-commerce, data analytics, or digital strategy.

“One of the things I liked about the course was the ability to tailor assignments to your own professional experience. So for example, I did an assignment about how managing virtual teams could be used to facilitate open innovation.” For another assignment, Anton explored the use of genomics as a form of big data, and its potential for drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.

At first, Anton was concerned that he didn’t have any prior experience of computer science or e-commerce – but that wasn’t a problem, he says.

“The MDigiBus gave me a really good understanding of a broad range of topics, including advertising technology, recommender systems, cloud computing, big data, business intelligence and data warehouses, service-oriented architecture, mobile commerce, location-based services, the Internet of Things, and how they’re all related. It’s a fantastic foundation for anyone wanting to work in digital transformation or consulting.”

Another highlight was completing a 10-week professional internship with a host organisation over summer. “That gave me the chance to gain some relevant work experience in this field, and get a foot in the door with future employers.”

Since graduating, Anton has secured a new role as a Commercialisation Advisor at Scion in Rotorua, a Crown research group that drives innovation in forestry, wood products, manufacturing, and biomaterials – supporting economic growth and the transition to a low-carbon bio-economy.

In this role, Anton helps identify opportunities to turn innovative ideas into high-value, market-ready technologies and sustainable products.

“The Master of Digital Business gave me the toolkit I needed to transition into a completely new field,” says Anton. “Digital capability is becoming essential across every industry — and that’s what makes this qualification so valuable.”