Sabrina Findon
Junior Brand Planner, DDB Aotearoa
Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising and Brand Creativity with a minor in Radio and Audio Media
Working on live briefs for real organisations was what she loved most about studying at AUT, says Sabrina Findon who studied a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising and Brand Creativity with a minor in Radio and Audio Media.
“At AUT I loved tackling projects that challenged me to think creatively for a good cause, from finding new ways for people to give blood with NZ Blood, to encouraging men to talk about the hard stuff for Movember or working on campaigns for Bonds period underwear. Each brief pushed me to understand people, come up with ideas that actually mattered, and collaborate with peers to bring them to life. These experiences didn’t just teach me skills, they shaped how I approach problems, work with others and think about making an impact.”
Another highlight was being able to test her advertising skills in the AXIS 2023 Google competition, where she competed with some of her classmates.
“Our team pitched an idea around early detection for dyslexia. We made the long shortlist and presented to a panel of creative judges. It gave me my first taste of seeing an idea move toward real-world impact, showed the complexity of bringing concepts to life and reinforced that creativity paired with the right approach can open unexpected doors.”
Creative ways to connect with people
After graduating from AUT in 2023, Sabrina now enjoys her role as a junior brand planner at DDB Aotearoa.
“I help brands understand people. Then I turn those human insights into strategies for creative campaigns. That means research, lots of scribbles on post-it notes, collaborating with creative teams and shaping messaging that connects. The job is a mix of curiosity and chaos; juggling window tabs and iterating endlessly on briefs until the ideas land. I love the mix of curiosity, creativity and problem-solving – digging into human behaviour, collaborating with talented teams and seeing ideas come to life. No two days are the same, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see strategies translate into campaigns that genuinely connect with people in the wild.”
She says she constantly draws on what she learned during her time at AUT.
“Much of what I do today comes from the practical skills and habits I built at AUT – untangling complex problems, juggling multiple ideas and finding creative ways to connect with people. The live briefs and industry projects we completed at AUT taught me how to take rough concepts and turn them into something that works in the real world. That foundation makes day-to-day work smoother and helps me contribute to my team without overcomplicating things.”
Advice for other students
Sabrina’s advice for other students is simple: try things out, ask questions and don’t worry about getting it perfect.
“The lecturers and industry connections are there to guide you, but the messy moments – scribbling ideas on the bus, late-night group calls or revisiting the same brief a dozen times – are all part of figuring out what works. Focus on learning, experimenting and picking up small insights along the way, and things will start to click.”
There’s plenty of support from your lecturers, she adds.
“The advertising staff were amazing mentors. Big thanks to Matt, Dan, Jo and Patrick (apologies if I’ve missed anyone!). They helped me refine my skills, prepare for interviews and navigate industry connections. They even acted as references and supported me as I stepped into my current role. They were the first to challenge me to push harder, and the first to give me a leg up when I needed it. It was a rare mix of honesty, encouragement and belief that made a lasting difference. They didn’t just teach me about the industry; they opened the door for me to step inside it.”
