HELLO! I'M NICOLE
"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Career & Experience Highlights
(website is currently being updated)
Present:
Customer Success Manager at Microsoft
Ambassador & Committee Member, She Sharp
Member, AI Forum NZ, Co-Lead/Chair, Working Group for AI Awareness
Youth Advisory Group Member, Philanthropy NZ
Member, Acumen Foundry
Member, Techwomen
Past:
Data Scientist, Spark New Zealand
Master of Information Technology, University of Auckland
Partner Channel Marketing, Microsoft
Judge & Mentor, Velocity Innovation & $100K Challenge
Organising Team Member, Startup Weekend Auckland
Committee Member, Velocity Entrepreneurship Programme
Mentor, Judge, Speaker, Participant in programmes at the University of Auckland Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Analyst at PwC New Zealand (Assurance & Consulting)
Head of Global Marketing Team, World Merit
Co-founder at Memribox (Social Enterprise)
Committee Member at New Zealand-Asia Association Inc
Marketing & Event Organiser, impactNPO
Venture Mentor at Inspiring Stories Live The Dream Accelerator
- Get to know meLearn more about my experiences by clicking the button below
About Me
I'm currently working at Microsoft New Zealand helping enterprise and public sector customers with their digital transformation through technical advisory. I'm a graduate of Master of Information Technology at the University of Auckland, pursuing my passions for technology and innovation. I've had industry experience working in consulting, marketing, financial services. I've been part of enterprises, start-ups and social innovation projects. I love learning and working in multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams.
I’m passionate about harnessing innovation and technology to create value, accelerate growth, creating scalable solutions, bringing a competitive edge and make a difference for businesses and organisations in the digital age with my diverse range of skills and experiences, creative mindset, and analytical insight.
I love thinking outside the square and making a difference. I have an entrepreneurial mindset and love tackling complex challenges and exploring emerging technology to advance humanity. I’m a strong advocate for social impact and diversity and inclusion in STEM, and regularly volunteer and contribute my expertise in the community through numerous projects to give back and empower the wider community, especially in providing support to underrepresented groups.
My aspirations
I am deeply passionate about empowering the next generation of talent to prosper and excel in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. I am passionate about the ability of technology to democratise knowledge, allow people of diverse backgrounds to collaborate and tackle some of the most significant challenges in modern society, as exemplified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. More than ever before, we need to embrace diversity and inclusion across all industries and hierarchies, especially in technology.
Despite advances in diversity in technology, there is still lots of work to do for females and other underrepresented groups and minorities. We are far from fulfilling Dr Anita Borg’s vision of “50/50 by 2020”. Research by NCWIT (2016) reveals women only hold 25% of all computing occupations, with significantly fewer women (5%) in technology leadership positions. Only 2% of all venture capital funding went to companies fronted by female founders in 2018.
I am on a life-long mission to change this through my passion, resilience, discipline & determination. The future is full of exciting opportunities and it's important that we build it together - I am committed to finding ways to help others who are impacted to ensure no one is left behind. I aspire to contribute my knowledge for social good and create scalable impact. I am determined become a female leader of influence, a positive role model and mentor, promote diversity and inclusion in organisations, reduce unconscious bias and gender gap, encouraging girls to build confidence in pursuing technology careers and become future-ready leaders. The future is now.
I'm currently focused on an initiative utilising technology to empower people from underrepresented groups and marginalised backgrounds to have the opportunity to be exposed to technology so that they can also build a career in tech.
What I Do
An overview of some of my present & past experiences.
Highlighted Achievements & Awards
- Reseller News Women in ICT Awards Finalist (2022)
- CIO Awards Finalist (2021)
- Impact Awards Finalist (2021)
- Microsoft APAC AI for Accessibility Hackathon Winner (2020)
- Reseller News Women in ICT Awards Finalist (2020)
- Acumen-Rockefeller Foundation Social Innovation Accelerator Finalist & Grant Awardee (2020)
- New Zealander of the Year Awards Local Hero Medal (2019)
- NASA Space Apps Global Nominee (2019)
- GovTech NZ Runner-Up in Innovate NZ & Best Creative Use of Technology (2019)
- Awardee, University of Auckland Blues Award for Service & Leadership (2019)
- Top 3 Finalist, Supreme Award for Most Outstanding Contribution in Service and Leadership, University of Auckland
- Blues Award, University of Auckland (2019)
- AUT X Challenge Accelerator 2nd Place Winner (2019)
- Google Women Techmakers Scholar (2019, APAC)
- Amazon Alexa Hackathon 2nd Place Winner (2019)
- Aware Group & Microsoft AI for Good Hackathon 1st Place Winner (2019)
- New Zealand Transport Agency #AltShiftMode Hackathon 1st Place Winner (2019)
- Winner at Auckland University of Technology X Challenge Business Idea Competition (2019)
- Program Management & Mentorship for Microsoft Imagine Cup NZ 2018 (achieving historical impact: 3 NZ teams through to World Finals in Seattle, WA, 1 team placing in Big Data category finals and reached semi-finals in the World Finals)
- Social Venture Category Award Winner in Velocity Innovation Challenge (2018)
- 1st Place Winner in Auckland Startup Weekend (2017)
- Guest Speaker at the United Nations HQ in New York to present a strategic plan for global community engagement and youth changemakers activation for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2016)
- Finalist in Idealog Creative Kickstart Competition (2016)
- Finalist in CPA Australia Australian Open Experience Competition (2015)
- 2nd Place Winner in Auckland Startup Weekend (2015)
- Asia-Pacific AdWords Business Semi-Finalist in Google Online Marketing Challenge (2014)
- Rotary Club Youth Leadership Award (District 9920) (2014)
- NZ 2nd Place Winner in Microsoft Imagine Cup (2014)
- 1st Place Winner in Wellington Startup Weekend (2014)
- Winner in the University of Auckland Spark Ideas Challenge (2013)
- Finalist in Microsoft Imagine Cup NZ (2013)
- Finalist in CPA Australia Big Break Competition NZ (2012)
Spark New Zealand - Data Science & Business Insights
I worked in a multidisciplinary team harnessing data and business insights to uncover opportunities for stakeholders, using business analytics and machine learning to explore multiple qualitative and quantitative data sources to define and uncover business opportunities and design initiatives for high profile stakeholders across the business.
Microsoft - Partner Channel Marketing
My key responsibilities include partner community engagement through key marketing and communications activities to build relationships, nurture competencies and deliver strong modern digital and community experience to partners in the Microsoft Partner Network ecosystem. Working with cross-departmental and cross-functional teams, stakeholders and offshore colleagues, my role involves planning, strategising and executing for breadth digital marketing channels, including social media channels, website, content marketing, email marketing, virtual and in-person events as well as direct engagement with partners. I also help develop, manage, and monitor digital communications for the local partner ecosystem. My role requires acumen and proficiency with technology platforms and solutions, as well as strong business and strategic awareness, managing collaborative projects and deliverables, ability to scale marketing efforts across a wide range of partners, problem-solving and continuous learning, and demonstrating exemplary communication skills to a broad set of internal and external stakeholders to deliver results and drive outcomes.
In my stretch roles at Microsoft, I program managed Imagine Cup NZ, helped organise DigiGirlz events, represented Microsoft as a Technical Mentor at Hackfests hosted by NZTA and Coda Labs, engaged in initiatives empowering diversity & inclusion as a member of Women@Microsoft, championed Hololens/Mixed Reality and support community events to increase Microsoft's presence & impact.
impactNPO - Marketing Lead & Event Organiser
ImpactNPO is an organisation run by volunteers who are passionate about bringing IT professionals together to solve problems and build solutions for charities, not for profits and community groups.
We run fun, high-energy and impact weekend events at which a team of local volunteer IT professionals build a self-contained solution for local NPOs. This allows the IT professionals to give back to their local community and it allows budget challenged NPOs to get system improvements for free. impactNPO provides a focus for good and helps deliver positive outcomes for all.
PwC - Digital Consulting
During my time at PwC digital consulting, I worked on various digital strategy, business transformation, UX design and research projects.
Working in a fast-paced and agile environment, I spent a considerable time in client-facing and internal PwC projects, interacting with many different stakeholders, managing relationships with client staff across all levels and backgrounds and working in diverse teams within PwC. I was able to harness agile framework and utilise iterative, lean practices to help businesses and organisations innovate processes, refine products and enable digital transformation.
I was able to demonstrate my abilities in UX, user interaction testing, digital strategy, human-centered design thinking, customer journey mapping, business analysis, qualitative analysis, industry operating models, technology and organisational transformation. My immersion in PwC digital also provided my with enhancement of knowledge in technology, UX, design, business strategy and innovation thought leadership.
PwC - Assurance
Working with numerous PwC assurance teams in a fast-paced client-facing role to provide professional audit services to a diverse portfolio of clients including in banking, investment funds, asset management, retail, manufacturing, services, healthcare and technology industries.
Responsibilities include financial audit, risk and compliance, reviewing of financial statements, IT and business processes assessment, controls walkthrough, understanding the entity, risks assessment, and performing business analysis, risk analytics and financial analytics.
I interacted with clients on a day-to-day basis, and regularly communicates with client staff at management and executive level. My role provides a good overview of different businesses across industries. I am able to use my business acumen, analytical skills and critical thinking in my analysis of accounts; effective interpersonal communication skills for client and team interactions; and attention to detail for risk assessment, testing and documentation.
World Merit - Head of Global Marketing
The President of the Global Marketing Team will take full responsibility for and ownership over planning and delivering UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marketing activity in new locations (global, regional, country and community) as well as enhancing already existing Country Offices across the globe. Key tasks will be to design, develop and implement marketing and communications strategy for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Merit360 and World Merit,which will include advertising, digital, events and PR elements. Whether ground level or high level marketing, all ideas are to incorporate budgets, roles and responsibilities, targets and performance measurement process. The role will have day to day responsibility for managing a multi-discipline, multi-cultural marketing team from the World Merit Community.
We will have the opportunity to announce the layout plans in the United Nations in September 2016.
With this volunteer team, we will create a global plan to make sure everyone around the world is aware of the SDGs and engages with them. We will think about strategies and put them in place to raise awareness on the SDGs.
The team will work closely with the Merit360 Action Plan Executors regarding their Action Plan 001 Component 1 which aims to make the world aware of the SDGs. Creating and executing this plan will involve research, coming up with strategies, content writing, and outreach planning involving graphic design and video editing and creation.
We will also be involved in the promotion and execution of World Merit Day, gathering SDG awareness surveys and coming up with a plan on how to integrate this in Component 1 of Action Plan 001.
Merit360 - Action Plan 001 Executor
Merit360 is the worlds most significant program for young people to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program will bring together 360 changemakers from all over the world who will work in teams and develop action plans to tackle each of the 17 goals. As part of World Merit’s partnership with the United Nations, these action plans will then be presented to the United Nations at its headquarters in New York City with the objective of paving our way to successfully addressing these challenges before or by 2030.
I am part of writing and implementing Action Plan 001 for SDG9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Live The Dream Social Enterprise Accelerator - Mentor
Live the Dream is a 9-week intensive accelerator programme run by Inspiring Stories Trust for Kiwis aged 18–30 to help them sharpen a sense of purpose, grow connections, and develop social entrepreneurship and enterprise capability, turning ideas and passions into scalable ventures. Visit www.livethedream.org.nz to learn more about the programme.
My role as a mentor is to offer advice and support for participants during their journey at Live the Dream in areas such as business, UX, marketing, and living through the entrepreneurial journey, drawing upon my experiences from startups and social innovation projects. I am truly passionate to help young New Zealanders reach their potentials and sharing knowledge with the community to advise projects with social impact at the heart of its cause.Memribox - Co-founder
Memribox (formerly Legacy Online) aims to bridge the generational gap and connect families through collaborative digital storytelling and preserving impactful life stories. My role at Memribox involve execution in multiple disciplines, including marketing, social media, market research, business development, events management and ideation around strategy, product development, UX & website design.
Commercial & Agri Division at ANZ Bank HQ Auckland - Summer Intern
I carried out work on transferring mandates into the new system, doing prospect research, business background research, data input, annual review preparation. Attended client visits, trainings and meetings. Completed an academic project based on research in banking mandates in addition to work tasks.
Projects
A selection of ventures and projects I've been involved with.
World Merit Global Marketing Team
Leading an international team on creation of an integrated marketing & communication strategy for advocacy of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, presented at UN Headquarters in New York.
Design Thinking Workshops
- Successfully ran 3 workshops with students at University of Auckland
- 46 people introduced to design thinking
- Ideas further refined and iterated
- Prototypes were created & tested
- Several projects kickstarted
- Overall very positive feedback from participants
Memribox
- 2nd Place Winner in Microsoft Imagine Cup New Zealand 2014
- University of Auckland Spark/Velocity $100k Challenge Finalist
- Digital exhibition: Kiwi Stories of World War II
- 30+ in-depth interviews captured of veterans at RSAs across Auckland
- Digital exhibition launched in 2015
- Storytelling and poetry festival held in 2014
- Thousands of dollars in funding received from government grants
- Successful crowdfunded campaign via Boosted
- Internships and training offered to University and high school students
- Strategic partnerships forged with key stakeholder groups
Education
University of Auckland
Master of Information Technology (2017-Present)
Focus on Infosys & Compsci. Topics covered:
- Advanced Human-Computer Interaction
- Big Data & Data Mining
- Adaptive Enterprise Systems
- Telecommunications Management
- Systems Dynamics for Complex Modelling
- Advanced Information Security
- Advanced Artificial Intelligence
- Project Management
Google Programmatic Academy
First Cohort, New Zealand (2019)
- Programmatic Media
- Advertising Media Landscape
- Google Marketing Platforms
- Media Buying
- Campaign Excellence
- Advanced Use Cases
University of Auckland
Postgraduate Certificate in Information Technology (2017)
- Web technologies (HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, AJAX, SQL, JDBC, Servlets, JSP)
- Programming (Java & Object Orientated Languages)
- Database Management (SQL, DB Admin & Security)
- Diagramming (UML, ER) & Wireframing
- Agile Development
NovoED
Certifications (2016 - Present)
Accredited by +Acumen and IDEO.org:
- Human Centered Design (HCD)
- Design Kit: HCD Workshop Facilitator
- Design Kit: HCD Prototyping
Accredited by +Acumen and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship:
- Business Models for Social Enterprise
Accredited by Philanthropy University, an initiative from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business:
- Essentials of Nonprofit Strategy
Unitec Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Business (Double Major in Accountancy and Finance) (2010-2014)
Topics covered:
- Financial Markets and the World Economy
- Accounting Information Systems
- Business Finance
- Business Statistics
- Leadership
- Organisation & Management
- Taxation
- Management Accounting
- Commercial Law
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Finance
- Economic Principles
- Accounting Applications
- Business Communication
- Information Technology
- Accounting Principles
- Investments
- Financial Services
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Law of Business Entities
- Advanced Auditing
- Advanced Management Accounting
- Advanced Business Finance
- Introduction to Oral Japanese
- Advanced Financial Accounting
- Financial Risk Management
- Professional Practice Part II
- Oral Japanese 2
- Advertising Practice
- Industry Based Learning
- Japanese Communication
Tottori University of Environmental Sciences
Japanese Language & Cultural Study Exchange in Tottori, Japan (2014)
FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences
European Union and Law Summer School in Graz, Austria (2013)
Topics covered:
- Cross Cultural Communication
- European Economics
- European Union Law
Key Skills
My "Why"
Get In Touch
Drop me a line and let's collaborate!
Nicole Lin © 2021