Vienna Udy
Romano Law, Client Team Manager, New York City, United States
Bachelor of Business in Management and Leadership with a minor in Finance
The workplace experience in her final year at AUT was a highlight for her, says Vienna Udy who came to AUT to study management and leadership.
“The practical components of my studies supported my career development, particularly in building management knowledge and learning how to effectively support a small team. They also helped me develop key leadership skills. In addition, completing assignments and conducting research strengthened my ability to analyse information thoroughly and work in a structured, productive way, which has been valuable in my career.
“I really enjoyed the workplace experience. It allowed me to get ahead and experience working in a corporate environment before I graduated, which gave me a huge insight into what I enjoyed and what I did not. This helped me a lot in understanding what I wanted to do. I also really enjoyed the teamwork at AUT, as there were a lot of group projects that helped me get out of my comfort zone to socialise with new people and make valuable connections.”
Leading a successful team
Now based in New York City, Vienna enjoys her role as a client team manager at Romano Law.
“My role involves leading and overseeing the onboarding of new client team members, as well as training and mentoring the team on workflows, processes and best practices. I draft, review and streamline client-facing documents to ensure consistency and quality, and I monitor compliance with our standard onboarding procedures. I also oversee team communication and collaboration, prepare and analyse reports on team performance and client engagement, and identify opportunities to improve processes and implement more efficient ways of working.”
She is proud of what she has already achieved in her career so far.
“I’m most proud of my progression from client team coordinator to client team manager within my first six months at Romano Law. This reflects my ability to quickly learn, adapt and take on greater responsibility. Since stepping into the manager role, I’ve successfully onboarded and fully trained two high-performing client team coordinators, which has contributed to the overall strength and efficiency of the team. I value being able to understand each team member individually and support their growth in a way that suits them. I also enjoy overseeing our team’s operations, as it allows me to identify areas for improvement, research opportunities for growth, and use available resources to help the team perform at its best.
“I’ve also led the implementation of AI tools into our operations to improve processes and streamline workflows. This is an ongoing initiative, and I take pride in continuously evolving our systems as technology advances.”
Advice for other students
Vienna – who graduated from AUT in 2023 – has some great advice for other students.
“My advice for future AUT students is to make the most of the opportunities available while you’re studying by exploring different areas of work you may be interested in. This will help you better understand each field and determine what you enjoy.”
Don’t underestimate the value of internships and networking, she adds.
“I’d strongly encourage seeking out internships whenever possible as they provide valuable hands-on experience and the chance to build connections within the industry. Attending social and networking events is also important as it can open doors and support your long-term career growth. Internships, in particular, offer insight into the day-to-day realities of a role, helping you make more informed decisions before committing to a full-time career path.”
