Student volunteers gain valuable networking insights at Migrants in Tech

Six Auckland International Campus students volunteered at the latest Migrants in Tech event, hosted by Auckland Council.

The volunteers were Student Representative Roxanne Bihag and AIC students Sagar Roka, Sean Elijah Chavez, Hana Yanita, Kirtan Hemanshukuma, and Lavanya Katragadda.

The event brings together immigrants building careers in New Zealand's technology sector. AIC students regularly attend through the support of the AIC Employability Team.

Sagar Roka said students took away a number of key lessons from the evening, including:

• Visibility compounds over time.
• Your background is a strength, not a barrier.
• LinkedIn is a long game built on genuine relationships, not transactions.
• Coffee chats and informal conversations can open doors.

He said volunteering also gave the six AIC students a firsthand look at how genuine networking, visibility, and small, consistent actions can translate into real opportunities within New Zealand's tech community.