Inaugural Schmooze attracts high-flying students

A small but engaged group of 25 women students listened to inspirational guest speakers at the inaugural Schmooze event at Wintec this week.

The event, which saw about 25 students attend, was addressed by business woman Christina Rogstad and TVCentral personality Katrina McKinley.

American-born Rogstad told her audience she credited her success to education and a strong network of people.

“Education is so important. Not only once, but continuously throughout your whole life,” she said.

However, the path to success was not easy for Rogstad, who described herself as “clueless in Minnesota” after having a baby at 17, with no education or life-skills behind her.

“I knew there was a white box in the house somewhere that you put clothes into and they came out clean but I wasn’t quite sure how to do that. I was just a little unprepared,” she joked.

Rogstad said she chose education not only for herself, but to teach her daughter about life.

“What use would I have been as a 17-year-old mother? I could have worked at the supermarket. But I would not be able to tell her anything about my world or her world because I didn’t know anything about it.”

After 25 years in business, she now looks at education as an opening to opportunities.

“Without education, it is as though a woman is in a closed room. But with an education, the windows and doors are open to the outside world. Education is to replace a closed mind with an open one.”

The second speaker, Wintec graduate and senior producer and presenter at TVCentral, Katrina McKinley, also talked about her journey to becoming the focused and career-driven woman she is today.

“I didn’t get into tertiary studies straight out of high school. I wasn’t accepted into Christchurch Broadcasting School, so I became a secretary for two years,” she says.

While in the workforce, Katrina rediscovered her passion for broadcasting and presenting, and was crowned Kiwifruit Queen.

“I won the competition and became ambassador for my local town, Te Puke, where I attended functions and was the guest speaker at events.”

Katrina says it is vital to submerge yourself in a community.

“For Media  Arts students especially, it is so important to be seen out in the community in a positive light. It all adds to your life experience.”

Katrina then embarked on her Wintec journey, which she credits to her successful career.

“Wintec really enhanced my passion which has taken me to my goal. Class trips and internships all added to get me to my chosen profession,” she says.