Ethan Woolerton

Feeling disillusioned with his IT career, Ethan Woolerton began searching for a "unicorn" postgraduate qualification that would let him pivot into a new industry and harness all his strengths.

Spurred on by friends working in the banking and finance sector, he discovered the Master of Applied Finance at the University of Waikato.

“It felt like the perfect unicorn degree, bringing together my love of numbers, people skills, and my background in tech,” says Ethan.

“I’d always heard really good things about Waikato Management School being internationally recognised, and it was right on my doorstep.”

The 12-month masters programme has a strong practical focus and is designed for university graduates without a finance major. The course builds on transferable skills while equipping students with the industry-specific knowledge needed to launch a successful career in finance.

“It covered everything you’d expect from a three-year undergrad but was more hands-on. I was actually doing things, not just learning about them,” he says.

Ethan’s computing skills came in handy when his financial modelling class was tasked with developing macros - sets of instructions that automate tasks in Excel.

“That was really fun because it was something I’d learned before, but this time reapplied in a financial and business context. Getting good grades is one thing, but being able to translate that into the real world is a completely different challenge.”

Outside his studies, Ethan embraced networking opportunities through the Waikato branch of Beta Alpha Psi, a club for accounting and finance students.

Through club events, he visited the offices of major firms such as PWC and BNZ, which helped him build confidence and make industry connections with potential hiring managers.

Ethan credits those experiences with helping him secure his current role at Rabobank, working in the customer due diligence team.

“I’m now in one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had. The culture is fantastic, and I’m surrounded by amazing people.”

Looking back, Ethan says the Master of Applied Finance not only gave him a strong foundation in banking, but also “taught me the importance of talking to people, building relationships, and taking every opportunity.”