Stories from our Finance students and alumni
Studying Finance gives you new knowledge and skills, and a lot of new choices in life. Here's how things have turned out for some of our Finance students and alumni.
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Zac Isaac
Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours, Graduate Diploma, Master of Science, PhD No matter the subject I was studying, my lecturers have always been friendly, helpful, and experts in their fields.
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Paige McKenna-Harris
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours I loved the practical nature of the paper, working on case studies, as well as being a part of some great teams with people who are now my closest friends.
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Ethan Rendall
Bachelor of Business This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies, rather than the finances of completing my degree. It’s an amazing opportunity and I feel great."
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Kimihia Solomon-Banks
Bachelor of Business If you are not sure about coming to University, just do it! A lot of us don’t think we are capable, but there is a lot of support [at Waikato], and people here who will help you to succeed.
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Kanj Patel
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours I completed both four-year degrees in only four years and obtained First Class Honours in my management degree. I needed to get on the gas and get it done as fast as possible.
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Stella Dobbs
Graduate Diploma, Master of Digital Business I loved my time at university and I really value the exposure I got to a range of topics and viewpoints. I think the small class sizes helped where lectures would often turn into discussions. This helped me develop critical thinking skills, and the opportunity to work with different people in group projects is experience I value.
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Shivoy Dudeja
Bachelor of Business The smaller class sizes attracted me to Waikato. I get more time with my lecturers, which enhances my learning. All my lecturers know me by name and are always happy to help and answer questions.
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Hayden Johnston
Bachelor of Business Analysis Throughout my career so far I have found myself applying the skills I learned in BBA papers such as international corporate finance, portfolios and markets, and economics, law and policy.
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Matthew Osborne
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours When he’s not focused on the financial markets, Matthew Osborne is enjoying the waves on Sydney’s northern beaches. The BMS(Hons) graduate works for the financial markets team at Westpac Institutional Bank, where his expertise in in foreign exchange (FX) derivatives.
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Sharma McIntyre
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours Variety is the spice of life for Waikato Management School graduate Sharma McIntyre.
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Genevieve Pye
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours Genevieve Pye says the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours degree has given her a fantastic springboard for her career in banking.
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Cathan Bowler
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours I’d heard the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours (BMS(Hons) degree had a mean reputation, so I thought, this is going to be something special. It has really opened my eyes up to so many new opportunities that I didn’t even know existed.
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Hannah Dinh
Master of Management Studies Since completing a Master of Management Studies in Finance with first class honours, Hannah Dinh is now employed as an operations lead at Google in Ireland.
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Sean McKenna
Master of Management Studies If you dream big, Waikato can open up any door and provide you with a solid foundation to achieve on both the national and international stage.
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Daniel Stevenson
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours When Daniel Stevenson finished his management degree at Waikato, he headed straight to Sydney to work for Deutsche Bank. Now he's working on Wall Street in New York.
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David Dai
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours The future looks promising for David Dai, who’s landed a top role as a senior associate at BNZ Waikato – normally reserved for the best and brightest graduates after 12 months of intensive training.
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Thomas Macdonald
Master of Management Studies Having grown up on a dairy farm in Gordonton, Thomas Macdonald has always been passionate about farming. He says it was a huge advantage for him to study agribusiness at Waikato University.
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Nathan Carrasco
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours Nathan Carrasco feels grateful for the many opportunities he’s enjoyed as part of his management degree at Waikato. They include some incredible lecturers, a summer internship at the Commerce Commission in Wellington, and the WMS Case Competition. "I thought Waikato was the right place for me because it’s slightly smaller scale, so it’s really friendly and supportive. I liked the lecturers as well; their office was always open to have a chat.”
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Greg Pearce
Bachelor of Business, Certificate of University Preparation, Master of Business Administration Greg Pearce has built America's Cup yachts, and worked on international aerospace and energy projects. But it took him 20 years to begin his tertiary education at the University of Waikato - and he certainly doesn't do things by halves.
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Hana Grant
Master of Business Administration Hana Grant (Ngati Pikiao and Tapuika) graduated with a Waikato MBA in 2010. She says a highlight of her experience was the 10-day study tour to China and Singapore.
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Ryan Clark
Bachelor of Business When contemplating which degree to take at uni after high school, Waikato Management School’s solid international reputation was what really stood out for Ryan Clark.
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Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours I knew that Waikato had a good reputation for caring about tikanga Māori and Māori students, so that was a big pull for me. The Management School also has a great reputation. For me, my career and life goals are not focused on making money; that’s just a by-product of doing work that is valuable in its own right. I'd like to contribute to the development and strengthening of the Māori economy, which is set to get even bigger in the future.
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Luke Dingle
BMS He’s a financial adviser by day, and a champion powerlifter by night. In his role as an associate at PlanWise in Mount Maunganui, Luke Dingle gives professional financial advice to clients about personal insurance and mortgages.