Connect, Inspire & Aspire - High School Event 2024

On Thursday 4th April Ona Sebetian 13BH, Tiana Poliko 13TL, Jonathan Pa’u 13TL and myself attended the Connect, Inspire & Aspire day at Price-Waterhouse and Cooper (PwC) building in downtown Auckland Central Business Centre.

It was a Pasifika day run by Pasifika employees at PwC, who are only 3% of the Company staff. These Pasifika employees enticed Pasifika students to look into this area of interest in the future. Various schools attended this event such as: Kelston Boys & Girls, Henderson High School, Otahuhu College, Wesley College and St Pauls just to name a few.

The day included looking at Business and Accounting in the private sector. We looked at different scenarios about taxes and audits in topics such as how to bring in new Pasifika players to the Moana Pasifika Rugby Team, attracting players and holding on to them. We also looked at the effect of Artificial Intelligence on Pasifika, and different policies we would apply to benefit Pasifika students if we had the opportunity to do so as Prime Minister. They provided lunch as well as snacks while we listened to them talk about their roles as managers, corporate managers and directors. We also had a chance to hear from guest speaker Dr Monique Faleafa who is one of the 150 senior managers talk about her time at PwC and how she got to that position. She was one of many Pasifika speakers working in various roles within the company.

It made us realise that you don’t have to have a Bachelor of Commerce to work in this Private Global Company and there are many roles across the spectrum for many skill sets.

We were also fortunate to meet up with ex-Rutherford student Isaac Hewitt-Kaulima who was a Prefect in 2020 and has since graduated and working at PwC. He is in the group photo with us.

We would like to thank Mr Jonathan Fa’amatuainu the Maori & Pacific Relationship Manager at the Auckland Business Chamber for organizing the day and Mr Talamaivao getting us to attend and bring us back safely.

Vinaka

Micah Nabete 12 IN