Ishant Ghulyani

Graduate Diploma in Applied Management

India

OPAIC graduate and former Student Representative Ishant Ghulyani is loving his role at the High Commission of India.

Ishant began as Consular Executive in December 2020. Soon after that, the High Commissioner himself promoted him to the role of Culture and Community Affairs Executive.

He’s recently been promoted once again to the dual roles of Commercial, Marketing and Information Assistant and Social Secretary to the High Commissioner.

Ishant studied the Graduate Diploma in Applied Management at OPAIC and was the campus’s very first Student Representative.

He says he has great memories of his time at OPAIC and is particularly grateful for the support of the Student Success Team.

He remains in touch with many OPAIC staff and often runs into fellow alumni.

“They say Otago and then I smile,” he says.

Ishant has fond memories of organising events including Graduation, as well as of teaching Indian dance to children and staff at a Kids on Campus school holiday event.

He says he’s been using skills he gained during his study and Student Representative work in his roles at the commission.

Duties have included planning events for thousands of people, making daily political reports, answering trade queries, social media, public relations, and graphic design.

Ishant says he first learned to create posters as part of his industry project.

“That was the starting point and now for all the High Commission posters which you see on our website and social media, I’m the one who is making those, I can proudly say that.”

Ishant graduated in November 2019. He then returned home to India for a holiday, arriving back in New Zealand just a few hours before the borders closed. He’s just received his New Zealand residency which he is delighted about.

Ishant has a diverse range of interests outside of work.

He is co-president of the Young Professionals Programme at the United Nations Association of New Zealand. He also takes part in modelling photoshoots and has volunteered for a range of organisations including the Graeme Dingle Foundation, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Cancer Society, and the Blind Foundation.

His advice for current students is “work is worship” and the nature of the job doesn’t matter too much at first.  

Ishant worked nights at a petrol station as a student and says the owner of that business had recently come to Wellington and met up with him.

“He came to the High Commission. He saw my desk and everything. He was so proud.”

Ishant says if you keep working hard and always be kind and down to earth, you’ll get the success you deserve.

“Always believe your luck and make sure you always work hard.”