NEWSROOM
Meet the 2022 CEO of Velocity
10 February 2022
Velocity is the University of Auckland’s flagship student-led entrepreneurial development programme delivered through the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Leading Velocity this year as CEO is Nandini Singh, a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in Finance and Economics. Nandini is in her second year of Velocity having previously held the role of Events Co-lead.
How did you first get involved with Velocity?
When I first found out about Velocity I had just started university and if I am being honest I was quite intimidated by the words “innovation and entrepreneurship”, as growing up those words were often associated with hugely successful people such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs – people who I felt like I could never really relate to. However, it was not until I researched more about Velocity and kept up to date with the competitions, events and offerings they provided that I instantly felt connected. I decided that I had to get involved with the committee and have not looked back since. Velocity has opened the doors to opportunities I would have never considered and positively influenced my understanding of what entrepreneurship really is about.
What led to your interest in innovation and entrepreneurship?
My interest in innovation and entrepreneurship began from an early age. I grew up knowing that there were not a lot of opportunities for children in my suburb to actually become entrepreneurs and do something that was outside of the “normal”. That lack of knowledge really prohibited many of us from actually going out and pursuing our own dreams. It was not until I came to university and joined Velocity that I realised I could do something to give back to my community. I began my own social venture, Kairos, which provides students who are less privileged with the resources they need to enter tertiary education. Throughout the process, I was able to really hone in on my young self who had many obstacles throughout her life and I wanted to make sure that no one else had to go through that. Creating and starting my own venture blossomed my interest in innovation and grew my capabilities as an entrepreneur.
What are you most looking forward to for Velocity in 2022?
I am most looking forward to growing the reach Velocity has to the greater community and attracting a wider range of demographics to become part of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Outreach and diversity mean a lot to me and so part of my vision as CEO this year is to ensure we target and support groups who do not typically engage with entrepreneurship and make sure they are offered the best opportunities. I am extremely lucky to have such a talented committee by my side who share the same vision and I am so excited for the year we will have.
What is your elevator pitch for reasons to get involved in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship?
We are living in a world right now that is constantly searching for individuals who are creative, innovative and most importantly possess the skills of a true leader. What better way to equip yourself with those skills than to be involved with entrepreneurship?
Before you say anything I want to assure you that you do not need to be a certain “type” of individual to engage with entrepreneurship. In fact, you do not need anything but yourself and a drive to find solutions and support our evolving world. At first, you may be scared or worried and you may even have a certain view of what an entrepreneur is, but if successful entrepreneurs had all these doubts they would never be where they are today. Therefore, I urge you to let go of any preconceived notions and give entrepreneurship a go with an open mind. You will be surprised by how much you will learn and grow as an individual (and who knows, you might even end up changing the world).
What has your experience of being first in the family to go to university been like and what advice would you give to others pioneering tertiary education in their family?
Being the eldest in my family and the first to go to university, I felt like I had a big responsibility to really make the most of my experience as my parents invested everything they had into my education. I feel like being the first in my family has really made me value my education and made me understand that it is a huge privilege to be able to study, as I know a lot of people are not able to get the opportunities that I did. I do find that in a way it has motivated me to really do the best I can in life and one day give back to those who supported me to get to where I am.
If I had to give advice to those who are first in their family to pursue tertiary education I would say firstly make sure your family understands your dreams and why you are studying so that they can better support you. They will not have the best understanding of how university works and why it is there so it is up to you to make sure they are well informed as it will allow you to have more open conversations with them and help generate a positive image of university.
To go alongside that I would also say to not feel guilty for wanting to further your education. I feel like a lot of us who are the first in our family often feel quite selfish for wanting to educate ourselves. I want to assure those who are reading this and feel this way that you are paving the path for your siblings to follow in your footsteps. You should feel proud of yourself as it takes a lot of bravery to break out of that cycle and be the first to do something this big. I wish you all the best on this amazing journey you are about to go on.
What three non-essential items would you take with you to a desert island?
I would take some form of entertainment with me – perhaps a nice selection of books as lately all I have been doing is reading 24/7. Now if I am bringing books I would obviously also need a nice comfortable place to read them and so my second item would be a nice sturdy hammock. Lastly (and I am not sure if this is cheating) but I would bring my mum with me as we both could just relax and read together. She works super hard and is in need of a nice getaway so I think she would really appreciate being on an island with me.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would definitely be an intersection between education, community, and social entrepreneurship. I have always been fond of academia and I believe that everyone, no matter their background, deserves to be educated. Therefore I would ideally want to do something in the education field and create something that communities around the world can use to access education in an equitable way.
10 February 2022
Velocity is the University of Auckland’s flagship student-led entrepreneurial development programme delivered through the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Leading Velocity this year as CEO is Nandini Singh, a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in Finance and Economics. Nandini is in her second year of Velocity having previously held the role of Events Co-lead.
How did you first get involved with Velocity?
When I first found out about Velocity I had just started university and if I am being honest I was quite intimidated by the words “innovation and entrepreneurship”, as growing up those words were often associated with hugely successful people such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs – people who I felt like I could never really relate to. However, it was not until I researched more about Velocity and kept up to date with the competitions, events and offerings they provided that I instantly felt connected. I decided that I had to get involved with the committee and have not looked back since. Velocity has opened the doors to opportunities I would have never considered and positively influenced my understanding of what entrepreneurship really is about.
What led to your interest in innovation and entrepreneurship?
My interest in innovation and entrepreneurship began from an early age. I grew up knowing that there were not a lot of opportunities for children in my suburb to actually become entrepreneurs and do something that was outside of the “normal”. That lack of knowledge really prohibited many of us from actually going out and pursuing our own dreams. It was not until I came to university and joined Velocity that I realised I could do something to give back to my community. I began my own social venture, Kairos, which provides students who are less privileged with the resources they need to enter tertiary education. Throughout the process, I was able to really hone in on my young self who had many obstacles throughout her life and I wanted to make sure that no one else had to go through that. Creating and starting my own venture blossomed my interest in innovation and grew my capabilities as an entrepreneur.
What are you most looking forward to for Velocity in 2022?
I am most looking forward to growing the reach Velocity has to the greater community and attracting a wider range of demographics to become part of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Outreach and diversity mean a lot to me and so part of my vision as CEO this year is to ensure we target and support groups who do not typically engage with entrepreneurship and make sure they are offered the best opportunities. I am extremely lucky to have such a talented committee by my side who share the same vision and I am so excited for the year we will have.
What is your elevator pitch for reasons to get involved in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship?
We are living in a world right now that is constantly searching for individuals who are creative, innovative and most importantly possess the skills of a true leader. What better way to equip yourself with those skills than to be involved with entrepreneurship?
Before you say anything I want to assure you that you do not need to be a certain “type” of individual to engage with entrepreneurship. In fact, you do not need anything but yourself and a drive to find solutions and support our evolving world. At first, you may be scared or worried and you may even have a certain view of what an entrepreneur is, but if successful entrepreneurs had all these doubts they would never be where they are today. Therefore, I urge you to let go of any preconceived notions and give entrepreneurship a go with an open mind. You will be surprised by how much you will learn and grow as an individual (and who knows, you might even end up changing the world).
What has your experience of being first in the family to go to university been like and what advice would you give to others pioneering tertiary education in their family?
Being the eldest in my family and the first to go to university, I felt like I had a big responsibility to really make the most of my experience as my parents invested everything they had into my education. I feel like being the first in my family has really made me value my education and made me understand that it is a huge privilege to be able to study, as I know a lot of people are not able to get the opportunities that I did. I do find that in a way it has motivated me to really do the best I can in life and one day give back to those who supported me to get to where I am.
If I had to give advice to those who are first in their family to pursue tertiary education I would say firstly make sure your family understands your dreams and why you are studying so that they can better support you. They will not have the best understanding of how university works and why it is there so it is up to you to make sure they are well informed as it will allow you to have more open conversations with them and help generate a positive image of university.
To go alongside that I would also say to not feel guilty for wanting to further your education. I feel like a lot of us who are the first in our family often feel quite selfish for wanting to educate ourselves. I want to assure those who are reading this and feel this way that you are paving the path for your siblings to follow in your footsteps. You should feel proud of yourself as it takes a lot of bravery to break out of that cycle and be the first to do something this big. I wish you all the best on this amazing journey you are about to go on.
What three non-essential items would you take with you to a desert island?
I would take some form of entertainment with me – perhaps a nice selection of books as lately all I have been doing is reading 24/7. Now if I am bringing books I would obviously also need a nice comfortable place to read them and so my second item would be a nice sturdy hammock. Lastly (and I am not sure if this is cheating) but I would bring my mum with me as we both could just relax and read together. She works super hard and is in need of a nice getaway so I think she would really appreciate being on an island with me.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would definitely be an intersection between education, community, and social entrepreneurship. I have always been fond of academia and I believe that everyone, no matter their background, deserves to be educated. Therefore I would ideally want to do something in the education field and create something that communities around the world can use to access education in an equitable way.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
