The ability to connect with people is critical.

I am the founder of Temp (@temp.bu on Instagram), which is a platform where students can list and hire items from each other. Temp’s mission is to create a sharing culture which promotes sustainability, helps students save and earn money, and fosters a wholesome, helpful community.

I hope that with Temp, we can look towards a future which is more sustainable, cost-efficient and wholesome.

I came up with this idea because I would always find myself in situations where I needed something for a one-off occasion, and I didn’t want to waste money buying it only to use it once.

Additionally, I have a few valuable items lying around that I feel are not being utilised often enough by me. At the same time, I know there are people out there who would benefit from using them.

This idea took off when I submitted it to New Zealand’s first ever Red Bull Basement University in 2019 which is a competition where students find innovative tech solutions to student problems. I was selected as the national winner and hence represented New Zealand at the Global Workshop (international finals) in Toronto, Canada in December 2019.

My biggest advice to everyone out there is to be proactive and not let opportunities slip past – you never know just what you might be missing out on. Being informed and aware are key to this – make sure you know about the opportunities available around you as well as national and global happenings.

It is also very important to have a growth mindset. Be eager to learn and develop yourself beyond the classroom. Don’t learn for the sake of learning but to improve yourself as a person. Skills which are especially useful for the 21st century are digital fluency, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and wellbeing. Wellbeing is my personal favourite because you need to be healthy physically and mentally to achieve anything.

Lastly, effective people skills are a must. This includes the likes of communication, teamwork, and empathy.

In order to thrive in this world, the ability to connect with people is critical.

Also, in a world where technology is advancing, the one thing that will differentiate us humans from machines is our human nature.

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About Magdeline

I am currently a student at the University of Otago studying Computer Science and Entrepreneurship. I am also the leader of a club for females in STEM (Comp Girls Otago) and a member of the Otago Momentum Investment Committee. To enrich and supplement my learning, I often participate in various tech and entrepreneurial programmes. I believe that the synergy between technology and business is the driving force behind advancements in this world. My other hobbies include music and photography / videography. Follow or reach out on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdelinehuang/