Aashay (Ash) Shah

Ventures Analyst, AgriZeroNZ
Bachelor of Business in Finance and Economics

He loves his role as a venture analyst, says Aashay (Ash) Shah who completed a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Economics, and now works at AgriZeroNZ.

“In this role, I undertake market research, evaluate potential investments and support deal execution processes. This is done by assessing startups' viability and growth potential to help us make informed investment decisions. I enjoy being able to use the broad skillset I’ve acquired throughout my career thus far, and love the diverse range of companies I get to meet that are working towards making Mother Earth better.”

He is proud of what he has achieved in his career so far.

“I’m privileged to have a broad career in banking – retail, business, corporate and institutional banking and in private credit markets. What I’m most proud of is the ability to give that knowledge to emerging youth who are trying to navigate their careers in their respective field. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the next generation develop.”

Choosing AUT
Ash says he has long been interested in finance and economics, and decided to choose AUT for its teaching style.

“My interest in pursuing finance and economics at AUT was due to its teaching style – smaller classrooms with targeted learnings. It suited my style of learning and I knew I’d be able to grasp much more out of this.”

He was particularly impressed by the academic staff he met at AUT.

“The professors were of top quality, with many having worked within the finance eco-system. Learning from those experiences was invaluable as you’re able to learn from their experiences, particularly from their time in the industry rather than just being involved in the intellectual side.”

Opportunities and networking
There were plenty of highlights throughout his studies, says Ash who graduated from AUT in 2015.

“There are many highlights of my time with AUT but to categorise it at a high-level, the highpoint were the opportunities and network that AUT provided me with. For example, I was part of the AUT Investment Club and undertook a student exchange in San Diego on a scholarship, which was an amazing experience and broadened my horizon beyond belief.”

Being able to apply his business skills in a number of student competitions was another highlight for him.

“I was privileged to take part in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountant case competition and the Research Challenge, and we were runners-up in both competitions.”