Graduate Profile 2023: Anusuthi Lakhiani, Bachelor of Applied Management
When Anusuthi arrived in New Zealand like many other international students chasing dreams of freedom and independence, she thought she’d be able to return to India to see friends and family within twelve months.
However, the COVID pandemic meant the human resources and project management major found herself unable to go home for two and a half years.
“I don’t think it would be great to complain about not having a normal college life,” Anu says, because so many around the world were in the same difficult position. “It was a challenging time. Though I can wholeheartedly say I survived and did some great things after I graduated.”
Ms Lakhiani crediting MIT and its lecturers for the work they did during the lockdowns to make sure classes where not only learning, but were looking after their wellness also.
“To be very honest, MIT was not just about teaching me about the academics relating to my majors. But rather those Microsoft Teams sessions before and after COVID, they were more about how they taught those hardcore life lessons to manage ourselves mentally, emotionally and physically during times of adversity.”
Anu’s hard work and persistence paid off and within a week of finishing the programme she landed a job as a human resources coordinator with HEB Construction in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland.
“Never in my dreams did I imagine I would get this job so quickly. But it was the knowledge I learned and the confidence I gained through my Bachelor’s degree that got me this job.”
HEB is one of the country’s major infrastructure companies with international reach due to a partnership with VINCI Construction a network with 115,000 employees across the globe.
“Anu is a very vital part of the team,” says HEB senior human resources business partners Tanya Cotton. “She’s an HR coordinator and they’re the engine room of the team. In the interview, Anu’s enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge, as well as her willingness to learn and accept feedback really outshone the other candidates.”
The role sees her liaising with managers, looking after onboarding and helping with recruitment to support the company and its people.
Of her time at MIT, Anu recommends international students who are following in her footsteps to embrace the challenges and take every day as it comes believing ‘the journey is the destination.’
“I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to our families and friends who have been our pillars of strength,” she says. “Their love, encouragement, and sacrifices have played an integral role in our success. Without their unwavering belief in us, this day would not have been possible.”
MIT congratulates Anusuthi and all of our international learners who are graduating in 2023. We recognise the special determination and resilience it took to continue learning and succeeding, far from home in recent years. Well done!