Shachi Parmar, Programme Adviser

Tell us a little about your background and how you ended up at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).  

My background has always sat across creativity, strategy and people. I originally trained in architecture and design, but over the years I’ve worked across design thinking, innovation, hospitality, events, education, and community-building in India, Ireland and New Zealand. I’ve always been drawn to spaces where ideas turn into something real.

Before joining CIE, I was teaching creativity, innovation and design thinking while also working closely with founders, students, and multidisciplinary teams. CIE felt like a natural fit because it sits right at the intersection of research, entrepreneurship, experimentation and impact. I loved the idea of helping people move from “interesting idea” to “real-world possibility”.

What does your job Involve?  

No two days are ever the same, which is probably why I enjoy it so much. I work across programmes like Hatchery, Venture Lab, and DELP, supporting researchers, founders, and students as they explore ideas, test assumptions, build ventures, and navigate uncertainty.

That can involve designing workshops, facilitating sessions, coordinating mentors and speakers, managing programme experiences, supporting venture teams, or helping create spaces where people feel confident enough to experiment and share unfinished ideas.

A lot of the work is really about connecting people, opportunities, and momentum. Also … a surprising amount of logistics, spreadsheets, and moving furniture. Innovation is glamorous like that.

What is your favourite part of your job?  

There’s a really special moment when someone stops trying to have the “perfect” idea and instead starts testing, exploring and building with confidence. Seeing researchers, students and founders realise they can create something meaningful is incredibly rewarding.

I also love the energy of the room during workshops – when conversations spark, people challenge each other’s thinking and unexpected collaborations start forming.

What are some highlights from your time with CIE so far?  

There have been a lot of memorable moments already. Facilitating and shaping programmes like Hatchery and Venture Lab has been a huge highlight, especially seeing the diversity of ideas coming through – from deep tech and healthcare to climate innovation and creative industries.

I’ve also loved helping create more interactive and experimental learning experiences, whether that’s market validation roleplays, design thinking workshops, mentor sessions or founder activities that push people slightly outside their comfort zones.

Another big highlight has honestly just been the people. CIE attracts incredibly curious, generous, and ambitious humans, and being around that energy every day is pretty inspiring.

Any words of advice for students and staff at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys? 

A lot of people think entrepreneurship is about having the perfect idea, but most of the time it’s really about curiosity, experimentation, resilience and learning quickly. Talk to people. Test assumptions early. Don’t build in isolation.

Also, don’t underestimate the value of interdisciplinary thinking. Some of the most interesting ideas happen when research, creativity, technology, and human insight collide.

And finally – your first version is allowed to be messy. That’s usually where the good stuff starts.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?  

Probably a very chaotic dinner table with Anthony Bourdain, Buckminster Fuller and Steve Jobs.

Bourdain because of the way he understood people, culture, and storytelling. Fuller because he thought about systems and the future in such unconventional ways. And Steve Jobs because I’d love to hear the unfiltered version of how he approached creativity, obsession and building products that changed behaviour.

I feel like the conversation would either be life-changing … or completely unhinged. Possibly both.

When you’re not working, what would we find you doing? 

Probably exploring Auckland, listening to podcasts, dancing, overthinking creative ideas at 1am, or accidentally turning a casual conversation into a workshop framework.

I also enjoy creative experiences that bring people together through conversation, music, storytelling, design, and shared curiosity.