Saira Seetharam and Oh Sri-ubon

What does it really take to leave home, start again in a new country and succeed at a globally recognised postgraduate degree?

For two graduates of the University of Auckland’s Master of Applied Finance, the answer lies not in a single moment of brilliance, but in sustained commitment, support and a willingness to grow through uncertainty.

Saira Seetharam and Nhatthaphon “Oh” Sri-ubon arrived in New Zealand from very different places. Their backgrounds, career challenges and career paths were also dissimilar. Yet both would go on to achieve academic excellence and receive prestigious recognition, including the New Zealand Super Fund Superannuation Prize. Their stories are an inspiration to anyone keen to overcome obstacles and realise their potential.

Before coming to New Zealand, Saira had already built professional experience. With an undergraduate degree in Business Management, she worked for several years at Deloitte Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where she was born and raised. Still, she felt drawn to continue her education overseas.

“Studying abroad had always been a personal dream of mine,” she says. “I came to New Zealand because of my desire to gain a globally recognised qualification in finance.”

What attracted her to the Master of Applied Finance was its applied and practical focus. She wanted more than theory. She wanted skills that could translate directly into the finance industry.

The transition was not instant or easy. Postgraduate study demanded a new level of independence and discipline, and living away from family for the first time added another layer of adjustment.

“Managing assignments, deadlines and life outside of my studies was challenging at first,” Saira reflects.

What helped was the environment around her. “Lecturers were super approachable, and there were many support services available when I needed guidance.”

Over time, she found her rhythm and grew more confident both academically and personally. Building friendships and working alongside classmates from different backgrounds made the experience richer and more fulfilling.

Saira’s industry project marked a turning point in her studies. Her team worked on assessing the feasibility of a new company entering the New Zealand market, combining market research, financial analysis and risk evaluation.

“What I enjoyed most was applying what I had learned in class – such as financial analysis and strategic thinking – to a real-world business scenario,” she says.

The outcome – a detailed due diligence report and financial model based on a practical problem – reinforced her sense that the learning was relevant and engaging. The project also strengthened skills she would carry forward: problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, delivering under time pressure and communicating financial insights clearly.

For Oh, studying applied finance meant stepping away from an established career. Originally from Thailand, he had worked as an engineer and analyst in the oil and gas industry before deciding to pivot.

“I took a short finance course previously, and I am really into it. I wanted to expand my knowledge in business and finance, so I applied to the University of Auckland’s Master of Applied Finance programme. They accepted me even though I didn’t have a business degree,” he explains.

Studying at a world-ranked university abroad required a mental reset as much as an academic one.

“Studying abroad is like getting out of my comfort zone,” Oh says. “So, I trained myself to see everything coming into my life as an opportunity – to make new connections, learn new things and take risks.”

He leaned heavily on university support – campus facilities, lecture recordings and the Business Communication Coach – to adapt to postgraduate study and a new academic culture. He also continually reached out to his lecturers and programme staff for advice.
 

Oh’s industry project pushed him even further. Working with Money Sweetspot – an organisation offering financial reset debt consolidation loans to individuals – his team analysed borrower characteristics and financial outcomes using a combination of text-analysis (using unsupervised machine learning in Python) and an econometric approach.

“The most challenging part of this project was sharing ideas in areas that I was not familiar with, as my background is not in finance or machine learning,” Oh admits.

He overcame this challenge through careful preparation and study, which enabled him to contribute effectively and to review others’ work critically. The effort paid off when the company engaged seriously with the team’s recommendations.

“This showed that we were able to turn academic knowledge into practical, real-world business impact – and I really enjoyed seeing this outcome,” he reflects.

Beyond technical and soft skills, the industry project reshaped how he approached learning itself. “Through this experience, I realised that lifelong learning and the ability to learn independently are key to success both inside and outside university.”

Both graduates credit the communication support provided by the Business Communications Team (BCT) with strengthening their confidence. For Saira, it helped sharpen her writing and presentation skills. For Oh, it shaped how he communicated professionally in a New Zealand context.

Recognition soon followed.

After completing their programme in 2025, both Saira and Oh received the New Zealand Super Fund Prize in Financial Analytics. The prize is awarded annually to the Master of Applied Finance student who achieves the highest GPA over selected Financial Analytics courses. And because they received the same final mark, they shared the award.

“It was very rewarding to see my hard work and dedication recognised,” Saira says. “I am deeply grateful to the New Zealand Super Fund, my lecturers and teammates for this recognition.”

For Oh, the New Zealand Super Fund Prize in Financial Analytics carried a more personal resonance.

“It reminded me of my passion for studying, how far I have come, and how far I can still go to build my professional and personal life,” he reflects.

With their new degrees and the lessons gained along the way, both graduates move forward with optimism and purpose. Saira envisions a future in financial analysis, investment or corporate finance. Oh is working toward finance leadership, building on his industry experience and new technical foundation, and considering the Chartered Financial Analyst professional certification.

Their journeys highlight the transformative impact of postgraduate study in New Zealand – showing how personal determination, with strong academic support, is rewarded and can lead to global career opportunities.