Hina Mall

Master of Supply Chain Management student

She had long been interested in supply chains, says Hina Mall who came to AUT as an international student from Pakistan to study a Master of Supply Chain Management.

“My interest in supply chain began at METRO Pakistan, where I worked my way up from management trainee to food service distribution manager over five years. Along the way, an international assignment at METRO AG's headquarters in Germany, working alongside the global distribution strategy team, was a real turning point for me. Watching how much a well-designed distribution network shaped the growth of an entire business changed how I saw the field. By the time I came back to Pakistan and took ownership of the analytics behind our distribution network, I'd seen the supply chain from the operational, strategic and analytical sides.

“I wanted to bring it all together with a stronger academic foundation, and AUT's Master of Supply Chain Management felt like the right place to do that. What really drew me to AUT was how current the supply chain management programme felt. Alongside the core principles of the field, it covers areas like sustainable supply networks, data analytics and digital technologies, and even offers interesting electives outside the discipline like international entrepreneurship. It felt like a programme designed for where the supply chain is heading, not just where it's been. The other big draw was the applied project at the heart of the programme. Knowing I'd finish with real consultancy experience, working through a live business problem, was exactly what I was looking for.”

Expecting to complete her studies at the end of the year, she already has a good idea how she sees her future after graduating.

“I'd love to build a career in supply chain analytics and business planning here in New Zealand, ideally with a company where I can use data to drive real operational decisions. That's the kind of work I've been doing through projects at AUT, and it's what I want to keep doing. My background is a mix of hands-on operations and commercial analysis, and I want to keep combining both: understanding how a supply chain actually runs, while using data to plan ahead and make it stronger and more resilient. In the long term, I'd love to grow into a leadership role where I can shape how a business thinks about its supply chain strategy, not just execute it.”

Study with real stakes
Hina says she has been thoroughly enjoying her studies at AUT in Auckland.

“What I've enjoyed most is knowing that a lot of my work has real stakes. My consultancy project is with an actual New Zealand company, and several other assignments have been built around real business problems too. That changes the way you approach the work. You think more carefully, question yourself more, and push harder to get to something that would actually stand up outside the classroom. I've also really valued hearing from guest speakers. Listening to industry professionals talk about the challenges they're facing today has helped me connect what we learn in class with what's actually happening in the field. Starting to build a network before I've even graduated has been just as valuable as the coursework.

“AUT has encouraged me to build skills and experiences beyond the classroom through opportunities like the Beyond AUT Award. It has opened doors I wouldn't have gone looking for on my own, and given me the chance to contribute to the wider community in a way I hadn't expected. I’ve also enjoyed how multicultural Auckland is. My classmates come from completely different backgrounds and cultures, and that's been a different kind of learning experience in itself. It's shaped how I think about working in diverse, global teams, which I know will matter wherever my career takes me next.”

There are a few AUT staff whose support throughout her studies she has particularly appreciated.

“Dr Shirekha Charls, my project supervisor, has been someone I can genuinely think things through with on my applied business project. Her depth of knowledge means she often asks a single question that reframes how I've been approaching a problem, and I always leave our conversations with more clarity than I came in with. Dr Maryam Mirzaei's teaching pushed me to think about supply chain through a much wider lens, not just cost and efficiency, but the environmental and human rights impact as well. She also had us defend our strategies in a mock boardroom setting, which really sharpened my critical thinking and pushed me to build stronger evidence behind every recommendation I made.

“Jo Wright, who taught international entrepreneurship, brought so much energy and real New Zealand business insight to that elective. She had us profile real entrepreneurs and their journeys, and my project on Halter really stuck with me. And Dr Amirhossein Mostofi, in supply chain analytics, was excellent at making complex data concepts genuinely practical. He introduced techniques like linear programming and network optimisation using hands-on tools in Excel and other software, giving me skills I feel confident I'll be reaching for throughout my career."

Advice for other students
Hina’s advice for other students is simple: don't rush to the finish line.

“Postgrad goes by quickly, and it's honestly one of the few times in life where you have real room to explore, make mistakes and step outside your comfort zone without much at stake. Once you're back working full-time, you don't get that same window again. While you’re at university, get involved in things beyond your degree too, whether that's an elective outside your specialisation, volunteering or programmes like the Beyond AUT Award. Start exploring early, and give it your all.”

She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to other students.

“What sets AUT apart for me is how closely connected the programme is to real industry. You get applied projects, guest speakers and direct exposure to how businesses are actually tackling supply chain challenges right now, rather than working through theory in isolation. My studies have also given me more room to grow than I expected, whether through electives outside my core discipline or opportunities to build skills beyond the classroom. If you want a degree that prepares you for the realities of the industry, not just the fundamentals, AUT delivers that.”