5 August 2014
AmCham boardroom hosts unique lessons in governance
Kristal Mendez was the newest, youngest and least experienced face around the boardroom table at the American Chamber of
Commerce in New Zealand (AmCham) board meeting last week as she started her year-long stint as its first ever student
board member.
Mendez, who is completing a Master of Business Administration at AUT University, will attend several board meetings as a
non-voting but active member, as part of the student board member initiative just launched by AmCham and the AUT
Business School.
"This initiative has been created to help develop the next generation of organisational leaders, and to further
connections between AmCham , AUT and the business community. The AUT Business School promotes strong industry engagement
throughout its programmes of study so we knew it would have strong candidates for the student board member role," says
the Executive Director of AmCham Mike Hearn.
Dean of the AUT Faculty of Business and Law, and AmCham director, Professor Geoff Perry says: "The business school is
focused on connecting our students to business in a meaningful way and offering them valuable learning opportunities.
This initiative will give the students high-level insights into corporate governance and the chance to participate in
boardroom discussion. Having these young future leaders in the boardroom will also give AmCham a chance to hear about
issues from a different perspective."
Mendez, an experienced lawyer, says she is completing an MBA as a way to further her interest in corporate governance
and develop a business mindset, so the chance to get into the AmCham boardroom is an "extra bonus".
"I'm really excited about this position, because it offers a high-level insight into governance I can't get anywhere
else.
"This is a unique opportunity for someone at my level to peer behind the veil and learn how business works at an
executive level."
The AmCham/AUT student board member initiative will run for three years.
ENDS