Why Smitha Shanbhag chose a career at Business Link Pacific

For Smitha Shanbhag, Business and Stakeholder Manager, gender equality, social inclusion and supporting the less advantaged is what attracted her to apply for a job at Business Link Pacific in Auckland, New Zealand.

Every morning I wake up looking forward to the day ahead, being part of an amazing team who support small and medium-sized businesses across the Pacific Island.

I feel very lucky to be working in an organisation with a great culture, where gender equality and social inclusion is at the core of all the amazing work we do,” Smitha said.

Originally from India, Smitha lives in Auckland with her partner who hails from England. As Business and Stakeholder Manager, Smitha helps SMEs, with a particular focus on women in business, access essential business services by raising awareness about the opportunities that exist, linking them to relevant business advisory services and helping them access subsidies to afford these services.

Before landing the role at BLP, Smitha worked on achieving her executive MBA in Business from the University of Auckland, after many years of working in the private sector. She says that the combination of her work experience and further study is what led her to the current position – one which she believes truly suits her skill-set and drive to help businesses throughout the Pacific.

When asked how Smitha would challenge gender bias and inequality if it comes up she said: By standing up against it and calling out bias and inequality when I see it.

Not only in gender, but in every sphere. Ignoring injustice is at times perhaps worse than the act itself. How we react to offences, how we face injustices, to self and others, our values, essentially make us who we are.”