Chand Sahrawat
Originally from India, Chand holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Psychology, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Teaching. Her education laid the groundwork for her role as co-founder and operations manager of four esteemed Auckland restaurants, among other roles.
Chand was drawn to the University of Auckland for its reputation as a world-class university with leading lecturers in psychology. As an international student, “the fact the campus was in the city provided me with the security I was looking for”.
Coming from the Indian schooling system, Chand initially found the change in academic models confusing, but the lecturers' support and empathy eased her transition. "I was asked to think critically, and the right answer was not the one the lecturer gave you but one that you could justify through examples," she explains.
“I enjoyed the smaller tutorial groups where my peers critiqued my writing, where we debated ideas and delved more into theories and texts”. Once she settled in, she began to excel academically and had newfound success she had not experienced under her home’s school system.
“I own several hospitality and one FCMG business that I co-founded with my husband and business partner, Sid Sahrawat. We run Cassia at Skycity, The French Café, Anise and Kol restaurants and Cassia at home, our FCMG business”.
A university education working to academic deadlines gave her organisation techniques and developed skills to manage people, projects and juggle multiple roles. “I work as the operations manager for our businesses and look after human resources, public relations and marketing. I also work as the New Zealand Public Relations and Marketing Manager for Vittoria Coffee”.
“I love working to help others and giving back. I believe that developing interpersonal skills and an understanding of human behaviour through my education have been invaluable in my role as a leader in business”.