Memories of Waikato Management School

What I gained from studying at WMS was perseverance and confidence when entering a new environment. My favourite lecturer was Dr Susanna Lu, who taught financial risk management. My favourite memory is the colour run held in October 2019.

Zexin Lou (Vic Louis)
Postgraduate Student - University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Bachelor of Business Analysis, 2021

I liked the diversity and inclusion of different people at Waikato. All the group projects and teamwork experiences really helped me. I think WMS values in-class participation and presentations, and those skills are what’s needed in the banking world. I loved the old train station cafe. I will always remember how we stayed in the computer lab all night long before a big presentation, drinking lots of energy drinks and coffee!

Hsin-Chieh (Patricia) Huang
Assistant Manager - ABN AMRO Bank
Taipei, Taiwan
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours, 2001

I use the negotiation skills, emotional intelligence and business communication skills that I learned at Waikato on a daily basis. My favourite lecturer was Clive Gilson. He had fascinating stories and an unusual dry sense of humour that gelled with mine.

Melanie Ashall
Inspectorate Manager - New Zealand Law Society
Hamilton, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies/Bachelor of Laws, 2002

One of the best decisions of my life was to attend the University of Waikato and study accounting and marketing. It has provided an influential pathway of career opportunities for me to succeed in life.

Ainsley Leslie
Owner/Consultant - Extra Funds Consultancy
Hamilton, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1996

My fondest memories of WMS are of the crazy management systems lecturers; they were awesome. They clearly realised I was smart (I didn’t know this) and extended me with different ways of thinking and teaching. My degree gave me the ability to harness my thinking outside the box.

Jessamine Senior
Human Resources Consultant
Christchurch, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours, 2002

Best business school in New Zealand, 499. Some of my favourite memories are from O’Week and the labs.

Carrick Woodfield
Senior IT Project Manager & Consultant
Vancouver, Canada
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1995

I chose to study at Waikato Management School because it offered the best all round degree. As a result I have gained a fantastic career with international opportunities.

Susan Gernhoefer
Managing Director - Outsourcing NZ
Gisborne, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1983
Graduate Diploma in Accounting, 2007

I chose to study the BMS because it provided a more well-rounded programme, rather than just accounting. It gave me a broad understanding of business and the ability to write reports. I enjoyed the small class sizes and experience of the lecturers.

Alan McIntyre
Retired; former Director & Partner, PWC
Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1977

Waikato was a really great choice for my degree, it gave me solid foundations in business. The most important thing I learned was the ability of proactively and constantly learning. Now many years later, I am still proud to be an alumnus of Waikato.

Peng Fu
Operations Analyst - Tiger Brokers NZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Business Analysis, 2018

Waikato Management School is the best business school in the southern hemisphere. My degree gave me a strong foundation in professional accounting, a solid understanding of business strategies, and well-rounded commercial knowledge. My favourite lecturer was Prof. Arthur Grimes in taxation. I really enjoyed my 499 project, which provided a key learning experience on how to apply academic solutions to a real-world problem.

Kim Lam Law
Vice-President Finance (APAC Region) - Cardinal Health
Singapore
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours, 1987

I chose to study at WMS for the four-year BMS programme; they were great years of my life. What I gained from Waikato was discipline and a work ethic. Some of my favourite memories are the Hillcrest Tavern and Cin Cin Takeaways.

Andrew Hocken
Managing Director - Mackenzie Properties
Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1993
Master of Management Studies (Economics), 1994

I liked the diversity of students at Waikato Management School. I gained friendships with students from many other countries, and we still keep in touch today. The BMS with Chartered Accountancy pathway helped me get recruited into the accounting sector in Auckland.

Doly Ngaripin
Accounting Teacher - National High Jakarta School
Jakarta, Indonesia
Bachelor of Management Studies, 2002

WMS had an outstanding reputation - the four-year degree differentiated itself from other business and commerce degrees on offer at the time. I remember the many hours spent in the computer labs - it became a social hangout for many of us! My favourite lecturer was Dr Peter Enderwick; the way he delivered his lectures, he just had a great way of connecting with us all. Also the late Brendan Thompson, who was incredibly dedicated to his many students.

Janene Swann
Marketing Comms Adviser - BDO
Gisborne, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 1996

The Waikato MBA gave me credibility within corporate and health services … it caused me to think more broadly about strategies, implications, and outcomes. What I enjoyed most was the group assignments, the collegiality with fellow class members, the calibre of the lecturers, and being in the presence of so many intelligent people who put forward riveting and compelling talks. Waikato will push you to succeed.

Brian Te Rauroha Emery
Auditor (semi-retired) for quality and risk in health - DAA Group.
Auckland, New Zealand
Master of Business Administration, 1997

I chose to study at WMS because it was world-recognised as a business school. I started uni at 22 after a few years in the workforce and travelling, so I gave it my all. My BECom degree exposed me to a wide variety of disciplines - management, marketing, legal, computer science and communication. My most frustrating memory is leaving a computer science group assignment until the last day, and the three of us working until 4am on a bug, only to find we had missed a fullstop somewhere! The varied nature of my degree helped me leapfrog up the ladder to the point I was earning a six-figure salary by the time I was 30. I returned to Australia to start my own software company, ‘PIAGO’, with a friend in 2015. What has driven me throughout my career is the desire to keep moving forward and improving in everything I do.

Carl Snowling
Business owner/Director - PIAGO and Elry software companies
Brisbane, Australia
Bachelor of Electronic Commerce, 2005

My MMS degree really deepened my understanding of management, and how business can contribute to the betterment of society. I had some inspirational teachers who had a profound influence on me, both professionally and privately. For me, intellectual engagement is what university study is all about. What I enjoyed most was my internship, as it connected theories to practice. I spent three months in Germany working on a sustainability project at CBM International’s headquarters. After graduating I became a tourism advisor for Te Papa, then worked at the Department of Conservation as a strategic and investment advisor. What I learned from studying at WMS is that there is no end in pursuing knowledge.

Diwen Cao
Research Partner - Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand
Master of Management Studies in Social Enterprise, 2015

Waikato Management School has a good reputation as ‘the Harvard of the southern hemisphere’. It creates a great research atmosphere for PhD students through seminars and student conferences. We were able to share ideas with other students from different research areas. I chose to study at WMS because of my chief supervisor, Prof. Chris Ryan, as I’d read many of his articles in China and admired his wide knowledge. For quite a long time, it was my dream to have him as my supervisor for my PhD journey. He was so nice to work with, and fast to give feedback whenever I had questions. I became more confident doing research and I’m so thankful for his patience and guidance. I enjoyed my studies and loved this friendly place.

Minghui (Mind) Sun
Senior Research Officer - Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Auckland, New Zealand
PhD in Tourism Management, 2013

Waikato is the best business school in the southern hemisphere. My BMS provided a strong foundation in professional accounting, a solid understanding of business strategies, and well-rounded commercial knowledge. I have fond memories of hopping from various temporary lecture rooms located on the hills next to the orchard.

Kim Lam Law
Vice-President Finance (APAC Region) - Cardinal Health
Singapore
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours, 1987

The whole year of my student life was amazing, given the fact that it was the very first time I have left my comfort zone; my home India, and adapting to student life in a new country. We learnt so much from the challenges we were put through during the course; particularly everything related to business management, time management and people skills. One of my favourite memories is winning first place in the Dragons’ Den 2015 competition, which was part of the capstone paper for the MBM degree. I can probably talk for days about that particular project; it’s something that I will never forget.

Mohammed Afzal Khan Ibrahim Sadiq
Project Manager - Wellington City Council
Wellington, New Zealand
Master of Business and Management, 2016

When I was considering which university to go to, Waikato Management School was the best in NZ and still is. I am very glad that I chose to study at Waikato Management School, as the five years I spent there are one of the best times in my life. I really enjoyed the WMS Case Competition and Marketing Trade Show; they brought a sense of reality to the theory and taught us how to work in teams, which is an excellent skill for the working environment. I worked closely with several lecturers (Jenny Gibb, Jarrod Haar, and Kathryn Pavlovich), whose teaching and research, and their openness towards students, made my studies much easier and got the best out of me. Studying at WMS taught me valuable lessons on how to handle pressure and get the best out of myself, and to learn from my mistakes. Waikato University really celebrates diversity, and thanks to that it has made me a more open-minded and less judgemental person.

Milada Plšková
Organisation Data Architect - ČSOB Leasing
Bratislava, Slovakia
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours, 2006
Master of Management Studies in Strategic Management, 2007

I chose to study at Waikato Management School because it had a very well structured BMS degree that was highly recommended and allowed me to feel confident in stepping into a broad role and making it my own. My internship gave me the stepping stone to the career I have now. I got involved with WMSSA as events manager for two years and really enjoyed working with staff, guests and sponsors.

Samuel James Morgan
Manager of Third Party Channels - Thorn Group Financial Services
Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 2016

Waikato Management School has a great reputation and is known for this. My PGDipMgSt degree was incredibly helpful for my career, the subjects were vast and interesting, and very practical for those already in the workplace. It helped me to gain an understanding across general areas of management, which is what I needed at the time. I didn’t enjoy presenting, but it took me out of my comfort zone and was good for me. It gave me confidence in myself to step up and put my hand up for roles as a developing manager.

Tina Boyd
Organisation Chief Operating Officer - Anglican Care Waiapu
Napier, New Zealand
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies, 2002

I chose to study at Waikato Management School because my chief PhD supervisor, Professor Chris Ryan, teaches there. WMS was my home away from home. My fondest memories include my early morning coffee served at Momento on the Village Green, weekly catch-ups with Chinese doctoral students, and my morning and afternoon campus walks - the most beautiful time was during autumn. The sights and sounds of tui birds in front of the old School of Graduate Research building. The traits I developed during my doctoral journey were discipline, focus, being reflective, and reading and writing skills.

Maryanne Tumanan
Associate Professor and Department Head - Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management - University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines
Doctor of Philosophy (Tourism Management), 2019

I enjoyed the holistic experience and loved the campus. Juliet Roper was a fantastic mentor and support … She helped me understand that I brought a different set of skills that were valuable … [Waikato Management School] provides valuable experience, including excellent practical opportunities. [My postgrad diploma] provided me with a direction and certainty about my skills. I met some amazing people who inspired me!

Amanda Wellgreen (nee Cosgrove)
Town Manager - Onehunga Business Association
Auckland, New Zealand
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Communication, 2003

The reputation of Waikato’s School of Management was strong and well-known in my time, and I felt it would be a good base to establish a career. WMS provides a great solid education that will challenge you; it helped me to develop resilience and perseverance … My favourite lecturer was Dr Steven Lim; he was quite engaging and gave a different insight to economic ideas … My fondest memories are of the university campus and ‘Ngā Tokorua a Taingahue’, the kaupapa Māori floor in Bryant Hall.

Selwyn Insley
Kaiarahi Maori Partnerships Advisor - Scion (CRI)
Rotorua, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 2002

Attending WMS will be one of the wisest choices you'll ever make in your life. My fondest memories are of my first-year orientation as an international student, my lectures in PWC lecture theatre, my late nights in the computer labs, the many friends I made, and of course my graduation. My favourite lecturer was Mary Low - she was very down to earth, funny and helpful. My degree gave me clear insights and confidence knowing what to expect in the real world of corporate and professional business. It prepared me adequately to become a strategic, outside-the-box thinker, with a very analytical approach to decision-making.

Junior Louis Chan Chui
Projects and Systems Accountant - Southseas Healthcare Trust
Auckland, New Zealand
Bachelor of Management Studies, 2002