My job is to help raise Māori capability within Waka Kotahi. This role sits within Human Resources and my job is to provide knowledge to the business by helping create action plans and other resources to help Māori ideas flourish in the workplace. I also create power points and presentations to share with other Emerging Professionals to help them to grow their own Māori capability.
I grew up in West Auckland and moved around a lot, so I’ve lived in Australia and Taranaki too. Now I’m living in Wellington. I think the hardest thing about getting into this role was finding the confidence. My final year in Uni was done in lockdown so I didn’t feel skilled or knowledgeable enough for anything until I did a Mircocredential with the Marketing Association. I didn’t do well in high school; I don’t think I even passed level 1. Applying for this graduate role was just about me knowing that I was good enough and just trying.
I am the perfect example of utilising transferrable skills and working in an area I didn’t specifically study - I have a background in Communications, PR and Marketing, but I’m now working in Human Resources. My transferrable skills include being able to conduct research, write presentations, and grasp the concepts that are needed to fulfil this role. For my job specifically, Māori knowledge is important because it is used to help raise capability within Waka Kotahi.
I really love the freedom of the Emerging Professionals Programme here at Waka Kotahi, my host manager she just gives me a piece of work and I roll with it. I am leading a few of my own pieces of work and that feels pretty good to be trusted with these projects that will eventually see fruition in the company. An example is that I found an opportunity for recruitment and I was able to help present and make content for that session.
In my role, I tend to contribute to other people’s work and sometimes it gets a little disheartening to not have my own finished result. In uni, I always researched, wrote, edited and handed my own work in. However, in the workplace, it doesn’t always look like that. Sometimes I just research, sometimes it’s the whole thing, other times I read and then give others feedback. It really depends on what others need and I’m learning to be okay with that.
Imposter syndrome is real and it’s okay to feel this way sometimes.
Be yourself and be true to yourself.
Just apply! Even if you don’t think you’ll get it. Take a chance.