Celebrating International Women’s Day: Stories of study, growth and success

For many women, studying abroad is more than an academic decision, it's an act of courage. When Roberta arrived from Brazil to study at Rangitoto College in Auckland, she discovered more than a new school. She found a new way of seeing herself. New Zealand taught her to slow down, appreciate the present, and discover confidence in unfamiliar spaces. Stepping outside her comfort zone became a turning point:

Where Roberta found courage through new experiences, Jessie, a second-year economics and statistics student from China, discovered confidence through curiosity. In a welcoming and inclusive environment, she felt empowered to ask questions, explore diverse perspectives, and challenge herself, growing not only as a student but as the global thinker she aspires to become.

For Shivani from India, New Zealand became a place of transformation, academically, professionally and personally. After completing both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, she began her career as a communications advisor in New Zealand’s healthcare sector. Through that work, she discovered the power of storytelling to create real impact.

Through the community she built in New Zealand, she discovered a sense of belonging that grounded her and credits her experience in Aotearoa with helping her become “the best version of myself.”

Sri Lankan student Nadeeka experienced a similar sense of empowerment while pursuing her Master of Teaching and Learning. She discovered an education system built on experience, connection, and balance. Through her school practicum, she gained first‑hand insight into the life of a teacher and built professional connections even before graduating, a huge advantage for her future career.

What she found outside the classroom was equally transformative. Working part-time, traveling across the country, and experiencing a culture that truly values wellbeing, she learned how study, work and life can coexist in harmony.

For Farheen from India, studying for her Master’s in Global Business became an opportunity to embrace every part of who she is. In New Zealand, she didn’t have to choose between roles or put parts of herself on hold. She could be a student, a professional, a mother, a dreamer, and a writer, all at once.

Her story reflects how empowering it can be to study in a place that encourages women to bring their full identities into their learning and their futures.

Across their stories, these women found confidence, community, professional direction, and the freedom to define success on their own terms. New Zealand is a place where women are encouraged to grow, supported to succeed, and welcomed to be exactly who they are. It’s a country that teaches resilience, builds global careers, and celebrates diversity in every classroom.

This International Women’s Day, we honour the women who choose New Zealand as the place to begin their next chapter. Their courage inspires others around the world, showing what is possible when women are empowered to learn, to lead, and to dream boldly.