AUT business graduate wins Westpac Auckland West Business Awards
AUT University business graduate Stephanie Yost is duly celebrating, after scooping an award at the Westpac Auckland West Business Awards.
The prestigious award ceremony, facilitated by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, celebrates business excellence, recognising the people behind the companies.
Young Business Person of the Year
Accepting the award for Rosebank Business Association Young Business Person of the Year, Miss Yost, who graduated from AUT University last year after also winning the Fonterra Brands NZ Award for Top Overall Graduate Bbus (Honours), says she is delighted to be recognised by some of the top business people in the country.
“As one of the youngest and the only female finalist, I am proud to be a part of the innovative, entrepreneurial business community that we have in New Zealand.
“As a young person, I feel that sometimes we underestimate the contributions that we can make. I encourage fellow young people to seek opportunities to be innovative and to make change, because we are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Miss Yost attributes much of her success to the practical hands-on experience that AUT University provided, which she believes, “helps to give graduates an edge in the business community”.
Students In Free Enterprise
During her time at AUT University, Miss Yost also worked as a Project Manager at Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). Her group went on to win the National Competition and represent New Zealand in the SIFE World Cup.
“Working at SIFE definitely helped to shape my views on business and fuelled my desire to make a difference,” she says.
Looking forward
Miss Yost is now the Marketing and Communications Manager at VisionWest Community Trust, a not-for-profit organisation providing community services to over 9000 people every year in West Auckland.
To find out more about SIFE AUT, visit the SIFE web page.