What's your background?
I grew up in a rural town outside of Whangarei and throughout my schooling was heavily involved in lots of different sporting teams including swimming, hockey, and tennis. When I finished school, I moved to Auckland to study at the University of Auckland. Here I completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Property, majoring in Marketing and Management.
After my studies, I stepped into the DHL Graduate Programme. I spent 2 years rotating around the entire business from operations to support functions including HR, Finance, and IT. The exposure and experience gained through this programme led me to the role I am in now as a Commercial Analyst.
What's your job about?
As a Commercial Analyst based in Auckland, my role focuses on supporting our warehousing and distribution operations across New Zealand.
No day is ever the same, so it can range between modelling new rate cards, looking at continuous improvement initiatives and delivering presentations to stakeholder groups across the business.
I also love getting involved in other areas of the business, such as helping organise our Women's Network events and employee engagement activities. There is always something new and exciting to get involved with!
How has the Graduate Program contributed to your journey?
The graduate programme gave me the ability to learn and grow in an industry I knew very little about. As I spent time in the different rotations, I began to understand what I enjoyed and what direction I would like my career to go. Having the time to trial new and different operations/functions is unique and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Definitely. DHL has a vast range of different career opportunities. Many of our employees have worked their way up through the business into a range of different roles. Additionally, many who have also joined the company have come from a variety of different backgrounds and previous experiences.
The key to success at DHL is if you have a positive attitude and willingness to learn you will thrive in this environment.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
In this role, I have been lucky to be involved with several projects that have improved how the business interacts with data and cost modelling. Being able to contribute to these initiatives and positively impact the business is what excites me about my role.
What are the limitations of your job?
Managing stakeholder expectations can be hard, but through experience, this becomes easier. You learn how to interact with different stakeholders across multiple levels of the business and equip yourself with a skill set that can help you in many different areas.
Three pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...