Indonesian student Olivia Natalie Tanujaya started her career in her family business, Olive’s Diner. She hopes to one day open her own business, using her education, work experience, and the master’s degree she is currently pursuing.
Before joining our Auckland International Campus, Olivia graduated from Bunda Mulia University with a degree in Visual Communication Design. She then worked as a freelance graphic designer while also helping with the family business.
Originally from Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Olivia decided to pursue an international master’s degree to gain new knowledge and experiences. She already had a sister living in New Zealand, and her brother-in-law had completed his master’s degree at AIC.
Olivia says AIC provides wonderful facilities and support for students pursuing further education.
“The best thing about studying at AIC so far is that the campus teams and lecturers are supportive. There are also a lot of helpful workshops and programmes for students to attend.”
She says it took some time to adapt to a new education system, but she is now settling into the environment.
After graduating, Olivia hopes to work in marketing, combining what she learned during her design degree with the knowledge she is gaining through her applied management studies. Eventually, she hopes to open her own business.
Her advice to fellow students is to believe in themselves, even when things are difficult, and to keep moving forward.
“My best advice would be to talk to others. Students might get some insights unexpectedly during a coffee meeting with their friends which might be helpful for their paper.”
“The institution’s core values, developing the whole person, fostering lifelong learning, and contributing to the community deeply align with my own beliefs.”
“The best thing about studying at AIC is the classroom environment and the interactive way of learning which allows one to explore themself.”
"My goal is to integrate my industry experience with my academic knowledge to create meaningful business solutions.”
“This isn’t just a job - it’s the New Zealand dream I hoped for when pursuing my master’s.”
“Rest days were few and far between as I balanced work at the hotel, my internship, and peer tutoring.”
"It felt like a good opportunity to try something new."
“This role represents a meaningful opportunity made possible through the support and recommendations of the AIC Employability Team.”
“Don’t be afraid to show who you are while growing in a new environment.”
“There is great support for students in terms of educational support, employability support, as well as fun student trips that I got to join."
“I’d love to use my new knowledge and skills in new technologies within the New Zealand IT industry, or help bring new technologies into non-IT companies."
“Studying with people from different backgrounds has helped me learn not only from the course content but also from their experiences and perspectives.”
