Nadine Parata

A Waikato Master of Business Administration (MBA) was just what Tauranga mother-of-two Nadine Parata felt she needed to boost her career.

Nadine aimed to be promoted into more senior positions at her then employer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, and knew she needed to expand her management skillset to achieve her goals.

So after researching her options, she found that Waikato Management School offered flexible, part-time postgraduate study options that would fit in with her personal and work commitments.

She started her journey on the Waikato MBA, taking classes at the university's two campuses in both Tauranga and Hamilton.

“Balancing travelling the country for work, spending time with my family, and studying at night has been a challenge, but nothing that is worth doing is going to be easy – and the MBA is definitely worth it," says Nadine.

For Nadine, what made the Waikato MBA such a great experience was the people, especially the lecturers and her fellow students.

“The teaching staff are all fantastic and do a great job of challenging your thinking, but the true gold comes from working with other students in the class. Group work is always a challenge but the lessons you learn are invaluable, especially within the diverse group of students in the MBA," she says.

Self-development and soft skills such as leadership and emotional intelligence are key threads underpinning the Waikato MBA.

This focus fit well with Nadine, a self-described "leader on a journey of self-discovery" who is continuously curious about how she can improve herself and the world she lives in.

“The practical elements of the programme have been so valuable. I’m already applying what I’ve learnt in class every day at work.”

In 2016, Nadine achieved her career goals when she was promoted to National Distribution Manager at Ballance Agri-Nutrients, and she graduated from the Waikato MBA in 2018.

In 2020, Nadine moved into a new role as Supply Chain Manager at Fonterra.

MBA Director Dr Heather Connolly highlights the focus on leadership and innovation as a strength of the MBA programme.

“Our students go on to become change-makers and disruptors in their field as a result of the emphasis we place on innovative thinking and drawing insights from exposure to international business cases.”