Dean's Leadership Programme

To be a successful engineer and to progress further in your career, it is vital that you have developed certain additional skills in advance of your first role as a professional engineer. The Faculty of Engineering has developed the Dean’s Leadership Programme for selected groups of Part II and Part III students each year to support our students.

This programme will identify likely leaders in advance, and strengthen their skills and experiences to ensure that they “hit the ground running” once they start their careers.

To achieve this, the Dean’s Leadership Programme will develop a student’s ability to see problems from non-engineering perspectives, deal with situations without ideal solutions, develop skills from other disciplines and become aware of the broader context of how engineering supports society.

Activities will include workshops on soft skills and concepts such as intercultural interaction and empathy, guest speakers who challenge traditional engineering thinking, and internships with future employers. Self-initiated and/or cross-disciplinary projects will also be encouraged, especially when proceeded in conjunction with employer involvement.

Some of the benefits include:

• Development of skills required by senior leaders and executives
• Priority access to some exciting internship opportunities 
• Creation of high performing teams through mentorship and coaching during the internship process
• Introduction and exposure to key influencers and contacts
• Breakfast sessions with industry leaders
• Professional development seminars and workshops 
• Forming understandings of one's own personal qualities in relation to leading others
• A Dean's Commendation as an official recognition of your participation in the programme

Applications for the Dean's Leadership Programme (DLP) will open in April 2025.

For any enquiries about the programme, please send an email to foe-dlp@auckland.ac.nz.

"Being part of the Dean's Leadership Programme was a fantastic experience that has influenced my approach to problem-solving and leadership within an engineering context.

Through the breakfast sessions, I had the opportunity to learn from thought leaders across the engineering industry, gaining insights into how they navigate complex and evolving challenges.

The content covered in these sessions often sparked new ideas and provided different perspectives on leadership, leaving me with plenty to reflect on. The programme also provided great networking opportunities and I loved being able to connect with a range of speakers as well as other engineering students.

Since completing my degree, I joined Trade Me where I work as a Full Stack Developer building customer-focused features. Last year, I undertook a secondment in a leadership role where I managed the delivery of features for two software development teams. This experience allowed me to apply and expand upon the leadership skills fostered through the Dean’s Leadership Programme.

Beyond my role at Trade Me, I co-founded the 'Hot Girls Code' podcast with fellow DLP alumna Aorthi Afroza. Our podcast centers on software development, the tech industry, and the experience of being a woman in tech.

My time in the Dean's Leadership Programme affirmed the importance of bringing unique perspectives to conversations and pursuing passions that drive change—values I carry into our podcast and life in general.

The programme’s emphasis on self-reflection, leadership development, and effective communication has been influential in shaping my career journey. I highly recommend the Dean’s Leadership Programme to any engineering student keen to grow their leadership skills and learn from industry leaders in New Zealand!"
Lola Garden

"The Dean's Leadership Programme was definitely a highlight of my bachelor's degree. The programme offered exposure to a wide range of industry-leading speakers, from Auckland alumni entrepreneurs to CEOs of New Zealand's largest companies, each providing insights into what contributed to success in their respective fields.

It was inspiring to hear them attribute their success not to talent or luck, but to a passion for their work, courage to take on challenges, and communication skills required to lead teams. All lessons that have proven valuable in my career post-university.

After graduating I was fortunate enough to be offered a job in process engineering at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. A role that in a short time has taught me a variety of skills required to design and build machinery for mass manufacture.

Reflecting on the past two years, I have found that what has been most impactful on my career growth isn’t any specific paper I took, but applying the soft skills I was introduced to across the many DLP sessions to the chaos of the engineering industry, whether it be organising resources across dozens of departments or the pressure of releasing products just in time for critical deadlines.

Lastly, the programme helped strike a much-needed balance between focusing on my studies and the social side of my university experience. DLP provides an incredible opportunity to meet new and interesting people from across the engineering cohort, so not only was I able to learn great skills to carry forward, but friendships too."
Alex van Zyl

"The breakfast sessions during the Dean’s Leadership Programme (DLP) provided a valuable opportunity to witness authentic leadership, which I used to mould my own leadership style. Fady Mishriki’s story deeply resonated with me.

He had qualities I believe are very important in a leader; driven, passionate, kind, collected, and unafraid to champion social good in a predominantly profit-driven industry. These are values I have internalised and will continue to apply throughout my career in leadership and governance.

Since graduating from the DLP and my engineering degree, I have worked at large companies such as Watercare, as well as startups focused on areas such as underground utility and digital twins. However, I felt unfulfilled in my career. Thus, I left a comfortable, well-paying job to pursue my own venture.

Now, I currently serve as a full-time lecturer (Professional Teaching Fellow) in the Faculty of Engineering while pursuing my PhD, to generate IP for the launch of my pharmaceutical company. Teaching is something I never saw myself doing but I’ve found it a very rewarding role and something I’ve generated quite the passion for.

The path to self-fulfilment is long, yet I challenge you to not be afraid to try something new, take personal initiatives (such as leaving a job to pursue something more meaningful to you), and step outside of your comfort zone. You’ll thank yourself later!

I'll leave you with my favourite Māori proverb, which to me, encapsulates this philosophy and embodies the DLP:

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu
koe, me he maunga teitei

Seek the treasure that you value most dearly, if you bow
your head, let it be to a lofty mountain. 

So, aim high, be bold, and fear nothing!"
Marc Lewis

"The Dean’s Leadership Programme has really opened up my eyes to the vast number of people that are involved in every aspect of the engineering industry.

Throughout the programme I met fellow students across all specialisations, CEOs of company giants, faculty members, and speakers specialising in leadership, who were all leaders in their own way.

Getting involved in the DLP allowed me to learn so much about the diverse nature of the industry, and also a lot about myself and where I may fit in such an ever-changing world.

I was placed at Tonkin + Taylor, a New Zealand based international geotechnical engineering firm, for the summer. I have visited Wellington to assess damage caused by the Kaikoura Earthquake and have met many inspiring leaders across the whole company, who dedicate their own time to help and guide me through my summer experience.

I am so grateful for the DLP, a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect and learn from distinguished members of the engineering community."
Josie