Todd Harper

"Good communication is absolutely critical to the success of any organisation that needs to make well-informed decisions," says graduate Todd Harper.

"The campus has a real sense of belonging and the culture is very personal. The academic staff are passionate about the topics they’re teaching, they’ve worked in the communications sector for many years, and they will go the extra mile to help you with your learning."

Todd believes his communication degree has equipped him with the industry-relevant skills and knowledge needed to thrive in in any business or not-for-profit organisation.

"For me, it’s about understanding how people’s brains tick, how they interact with each other, and finding practical solutions to help organisations overcome any challenges they’re facing."

"One of the highlights of my degree was the work-integrated learning paper in third year, where I completed an internship with Rocketspark, a website development company.

"My project was to write a social media strategy for them - from auditing their current channels through to scoping out new opportunities relevant to the needs of their target market. It was really rewarding seeing that strategy being applied in the real world to help them grow."

After finishing his studies, Todd's first job was as a business and partnerships manager at Authentic Media, an agency based in Cambridge that specialises in marketing, branding, website development, media and communication services.

A year later, he secure an exciting new role as account manager at SHIFT72, a global video streaming technology company in Hamilton whose prestigious international clients include the Cannes and Sundance film festivals.

Todd is responsible for providing end-to-end support for customers, while also working closely with the sales, product and engineering teams to develop a seamless flow of services.

"I’ve essentially got this job as a result of the fantastic networks of people that I’ve established at university; both my lecturers and my peers; and that says a lot about the Waikato University experience," says Todd.

"I feel 100% prepared for this job thanks to everything that I’ve learned in my Bachelor of Communication degree. The fundamental theories of communication, public relations and marketing that have been instilled into me will continue to serve me well in my career for the rest of my life."