Diana Estefania Veliz Cavanzo

A decision to take her career in a new direction led Diana Veliz Cavanzo to move more than 12,000 kilometres from home to pursue a Master of Digital Business at the University of Waikato.

Originally from Colombia, where she completed a bachelor's degree in international business, Diana was inspired to study at the University of Waikato after watching an online video showcasing its programmes. That moment convinced her to take the leap and move countries.

“There was something on the website that really caught my attention," she says. "I didn't have any recommendations or anything. There was a video from one of the tutors that really explained everything really well.”

What Diana enjoyed most about the Master of Digital Business was the way it encouraged her to think differently, look beyond conventional ideas, and explore a wide range of technologies not often discussed in everyday life.

“What I really liked was that we got to explore the different phases of each technology, the positives, the negatives, and how something that seems good can also go wrong. We learned about the frameworks and processes needed to make things work in the real world. I loved that side of it, being able to research and investigate so many technologies from different perspectives.”

Having worked in education administration, Diana felt it was time to explore something more closely connected to technology and industry.

“My goal in doing this master’s was to change roles and I actually did it. During my Master of Digital Business, I completed an internship as part of the programme at a company called One Two Seven, which is where I now work. After my four-month internship, they offered me a full-time position.”

Diana hasn’t had to move far for her new role with One Two Seven, a software development company based in the Hiko Hub on Waikato's Hamilton campus. The location allows her to stay connected to the university community and continue enjoying simple perks, like walking around the lake, while working in the field she’s passionate about.

“They’re a technology development company that works with a variety of clients, helping to solve different challenges using a range of technologies. It could involve software development or providing support in other tech areas.”