BA/BCom student Ana Saulala works as the Education Lead with Velocity, the University of Auckland’s entrepreneurship programme.
My name is Ana Saulala. I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce. I first became involved with Velocity as a participant in 2015, when it was known as SPARK.
I saw Velocity as an opportunity to try something new.
Through Velocity I was able to meet other students and connect with them on an academic and social level. It helped me get out of my comfort zone and put what I was learning from lectures into practice.
Now that I work for Velocity, I am part of a team that supports students by educating them and transforming their thinking as aspiring entrepreneurs. Or even if they don't want to pursue the entrepreneurial path where they start and grow business ventures, we educate them on the importance of teamwork, networking, being respectful and collaborating.
I've seen people team up to help each other on business ideas and that's where the real value comes.
A major benefit of the Velocity programme is the space it provides for students to hear real life experiences and learn from them or even confirm thoughts and feelings they already had.
The thinking that Velocity introduced me to when I was a participant help me understand that being an entrepreneur was less about making money and more about creating meaning with our lives. As I surrounded myself with like-minded people and exposed myself to environments where I could better understand this concept, my attitude towards business began to change.
For me, being an entrepreneur is about being proactive, making meaningful change and chasing our dreams. Henry Ford once said, “You can do anything if you have enthusiasm.” It’s one of my favourite quotes because it reminds me that it’s all about attitude.
When I was offered the role of Education Lead at Velocity I was excited, but to be honest I didn’t know what to expect! Since taking on the role I’ve had the opportunity to work with some pretty awesome people in the Velocity team. They are truly wonderful and supportive.
I’ve met ambitious kiwi entrepreneurs and students who share real stories and real struggles.
For me, Velocity is more than just a programme — it’s a community.
As I continue to fulfil my role as Education Lead, I realise that the programme is motivated by building a better New Zealand.
The biggest lesson I reckon I've learnt through Velocity is that you can't do it alone. We need each other's help and we need to help each other. The greatest insight that I have gained is that we can all still reach our individual potential and realise our individual goals as we strive to work together.
It's a win-win situation.
Find out more about Velocity
