Akiv Rohekar

Hailing from Pune, the educational capital of India, Akiv had a clear picture in mind about where he wanted to study for his masters degree.

The University of Waikato has a “custom-built atmosphere for participants”, says Akiv, and was the perfect environment for him to get stuck into his studies as he dedicated time to understanding new business concepts and sharpening his commercial skills.

Waikato's Triple Crown accredited Management School, with its close proximity to Auckland, convinced Akiv that it was the right choice.

Having completed his mechanical engineering degree at the University of Pune, Akiv worked in India for three years before relocating to New Zealand. Coming from a technical background, Akiv realised that despite having the necessary skills to excel in the engineering world, he had yet to hone his managerial skills.

Akiv says the Master of Business and Management (MBM) has helped him develop analytical skills that could be applied to complex business situations.

He also got the chance to work in a real-life situation with Waikato District Health Board; identifying bottlenecks and strategising potential solutions. This experience gave Akiv not only much needed exposure, but also the confidence to believe in his own ideas.

Akiv is now living in Christchurch, using his talents as a sales support manager for AW Fraser, a bronze and brass manufacturing company that exports to all corners of the globe - Australasia, Asia, Europe, America and the Middle East.

“No two days are the same. I talk to people every day from Auckland to Qatar and everywhere in between," he says.

Having the MBM under his belt has given Akiv a taste of working in a fast paced business environment – one he can’t seem to get enough of.