Papua New Guinea's trailblazing trio

Papua New Guinea is a nation brimming with untapped talent.

But much of that talent has to break through the barriers to help redefine what’s possible and become models of success for others.

Rosina Umai, Winnie Premenga and Nellie Badira are three outstanding graduates from Papua New Guinea who are in the final rotation of ANZ's 2023 Graduate Program.

Run for the first time in a decade in PNG, the program provides 12 months of experiences across ANZ businesses, including exposure to a diverse range of people, environments and situations.

The trio represent much of what is possible in the young nation and what businesses can gain by engaging their potential. But on a more personal level for the graduates, the program has helped harness their individual resolve, curiosity and determination as they seek to contribute to their society more broadly.

Their experiences in the program also reflect their individual drive to succeed. The trio are trailblazers and they got to this point by always challenging themselves.

Experiences sparking opportunity

“I want to be able to experience growth outside of my comfort zone and in an environment that fosters that growth,” Winnie said.

She said the program has stoked that hunger.

“It made me realise that when I challenge myself into raising my hand to participate or learn or do something outside of my comfort zone, I liked the results more,” she said.

For others in the group that drive led to generational firsts for their family. Because of her educational achievements Rosina is breaking new ground in her family and she wants to live up that promise.

“I’m the first ever in my generation to graduate with a bachelor’s degree so the expectation is always high. One of the things I have learnt about myself is that I can adapt to any situation when given enough time and space to work.”

For Nellie, the journey was an emotional one. The program allowed her to discover her emotional side which opened new dimensions to understanding herself.

“I have also found out that I am an emotional person and have identified and named those emotions whenever I am in a situation.”

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Work that matters

The trio found work that matters to them in making a difference for customers through transaction banking, undertaking research and analysis or pushing the boundaries of innovation.

They also found a deeper connection and unearthed a new source of motivation. Rosina said the program allowed her the ability to reach out and form newvnetworks.

“(This is) providing world class materials for the advancement of learning,” she said.

For Nellie, inspiration came from the different perspectives she was exposed to.

“The program does not discriminate or is not biased, it’s goal oriented and works with experts in a diverse and multinational environment, raising ideas and transforming them into reality”.

But for some of the graduates, it reminded them to be patient while on a deep learning journey, which often takes time and perseverance. Winnie said it helped to be patient.

“I’ve learnt a lot from the program one key thing is; there are different communication styles that you have to adapt to in a business to effectively communicate with a customer,” she said.

“Some customers understand you from the get-go while others you might adapt to a different approach. And it’s important to be patient with yourself and with others, during your interactions.”

Be open

The graduates found being receptive to new experiences and ideas created the space for unexpected opportunities and personal growth. Each of them ventured into the unknown, navigated challenges and uncovered new career options along the way.

“This program is not only good for your career but for your personal growth as well. It will change the way you think, behave and work,” Winnie said.

The group agreed that mistakes are important too as they become the building blocks of wisdom.

“Part of evolving as a human being, we learn from our mistakes and grow to become better,” said Rosina.

This trio shows applying for a graduate position in a nation brimming with untapped talent can help develop a new model for change.

Lachlan Halstead is ANZ Country Head, Papua New Guinea