Kiana Danby

Marketing Executive, Hanlon Plumbing Ltd
Bachelor of Business in Marketing

She is proud of where she is in her career, says Kiana Danby who completed a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and now works as a marketing executive for Hanlon Plumbing Ltd.

“I love working as a marketing executive for a large construction company, in a dynamic industry, and implementing marketing that I have full control over. I’m in charge of the marketing of nine different divisions, which includes all things social media, digital marketing, developing and finetuning owned collateral and assets, branding and signage, marketing strategy for the company, as well as the wellbeing and event management for the company.”

She loves the variety and autonomy of her role.

“I work for a company that is dedicated to pushing boundaries and ensuring they’re not just a plumbing company. We’re focused on growth, technology, service and people, and have built relationships that have resulted in us working on some of the most recognised commercial buildings across New Zealand. Because of this, I have the opportunity to really develop my own strategy and pivot as needed, when needed. I enjoy that my role allows me to experiment, and implement new ideas and concepts into the business and, of course, the team. The team here is the best part of it; no day is the same and every day is fun.”

The perfect fit
Kiana says she has always wanted a role that allowed for creativity and strategy.

“I chose to study a Bachelor of Business because, after a gap year post-high school, I went straight into working. I ended up falling in love with business and all the components that make it run like a well-oiled machine. I wanted a role that combined creativity and strategy, and I found that marketing was the perfect fit for me.”

Drawn by the combination of theory and practical components, she would soon find herself at AUT. It's a decision she hasn’t regretted.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at AUT and, to this day, still feel connected to the university, my teachers and my peers. I liked that the business school has smaller classes, allowing students to build meaningful relationships with tutors and peers, making you feel like more than just a number. The coursework involved both individual and team projects, which closely mirrored real-world scenarios. The work experience and the strategic marketing capstone project were the highlights of my degree; they gave me invaluable, hands-on insight into what day-to-day life in marketing looks like and integrated the various components I had learnt throughout my time at university.

“Being mentored by Associate Professor Sommer Kapitan particularly influenced me to keep going and push myself to achieve great results at uni. Her enthusiasm, spark for business, mentorship and general wealth of knowledge really made me want to not only complete my degree to the highest standards possible, but also consider future study post-graduation.”

Advice for other students
Kiana – who graduated from AUT in 2021 and is proud of being on the dean’s honours roll – has some great advice for other students.

“Try as hard as you can at uni and take every single opportunity you can. Go to your lectures, go to the networking events, join clubs and apply for any opportunity AUT advertises.

“You have so many resources at your fingertips at AUT, and the reality is, you have a higher chance than you may think of being picked for some of these awesome opportunities.”