Patrick Deane

Patrick Deane’s path to a Bachelor of Business in Supply Chain Management was driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, starting from his early experiences growing up on a farm.

“There was always a different issue to solve on the farm. You had to figure it out, try something, fail, and then try again. I think that’s what got me interested in business because it’s also a lot of problem solving,” he explains.

In his teen years, Patrick tried his hand at starting various businesses. He even partnered with his dad to buy and sell horseshoe studs. Although the venture wasn’t very successful, he says, "That’s where you learn, right?”

When choosing a university, Patrick was drawn to the Waikato Management School's reputation as the number one business school in New Zealand.

Management papers take a hands-on learning approach that aims to equip students with the real-world skills and knowledge needed to thrive in business. For Patrick, this approach was invaluable.

“I really enjoyed the practical applications. It wasn’t just fluffy things to get credits; my work was treated as if it was going to contribute to the real world,” he says.

As part of his business degree, he did a four-month logistics summer internship with ZURU in Auckland, which led to a part-time role at the company working as a logistics executive.

He thrived in the course’s rigorous processes, crediting his supply chain management lecturer, Dr Cécile L'Hermitte, for pushing him to excel. “It was encouraging to have her confirmation when my work was solid,” he says.

Alongside working as a senior tutor, during his last year at university Patrick completed a research project under Dr L'Hermitte, investigating loss of inventory in medical facilities.

“We were looking into how process management could be improved so that fewer medical supplies go to waste. There is now some industry interest, which is really exciting,” he says.

Patrick also started a business selling sustainably produced dog treats and beds called Nelson and Jones, named after the two dogs he grew up with.

When asked how he balanced everything, Patrick explains, “I accepted that I needed to make sacrifices to learn and develop professionally. You have to be dynamic in the workplace, so it was all good practice.”

Patrick aims to continue scaling his business and hopes to pursue a master’s degree at Waikato soon.

“My advice to anyone pursuing a Bachelor of Business is to give things a go, see what happens and not worry too much about what people think.”