Stanley Shyu
Senior Contract Specialist – Commercial Services (Procurement), Westpac New Zealand
Bachelor of Business in International Business and Strategy & Sustainable Enterprise
He enjoys getting to know and working with different parts of his organisation, says business alumnus Stanley Shyu who now works for Westpac New Zealand.
“As a senior contract specialist in the procurement team, I’m responsible for buying and purchasing services for the bank. This involves contracts management, negotiation and corporate governance, and liaising with different stakeholders across the business and also external suppliers. I’m curious by nature and enjoy that my role enables me to work with business units all across the organisation and learn more about the various services the bank requires.”
He says he often draws on the knowledge from his studies at AUT in his career now.
“International business was a broad subject, and it helped open my mind to how international affairs, culture and politics affect people and, therefore by extension, markets. This perspective has been very beneficial in my professional life.”
Looking for a new direction
Stanley came to a career in business after initially training in the trades.
“I had completed a trade qualification but wanted to gain further qualifications to advance my career prospects. I decided to come to university as an adult student to study business as it was a versatile and useful degree.”
Choosing AUT for his studies was easy, he says.
“My wife recommended AUT to me based on the great quality of the lecturers and staff, and their blend of practical knowledge in the academic environment. That was relatable to my own experience. I was studying part-time while working, and many of the business courses I studied were also available as evening lectures, which suited my work schedule.”
Gaining a deeper understanding
It's a decision he certainly hasn’t regretted, says Stanley who is proud of being on the AUT Business School honours roll and being recognised as a high-achieving student.
“I enjoyed a deeper understanding of the political landscapes and their effects on business, macroeconomics in the globalised world, and the issues the global community faces in corporate social responsibility. I especially enjoyed these particular topics and the passion in me that these sparked. I also really appreciated AUT’s focus on developing socially responsible graduates.
“One of my highlights was completing an applied project in my final semester. This enabled me to put various theories in place to research a related topic of my choice, and explore, shape and develop it.”
He has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their university journey.
“My advice for future AUT students is to be open minded. The new ideas you may discover in the AUT environment can be very beneficial and impactful.”
