Api Yuganathan

Api Yuganathan completed her Bachelor of Science in Computing Science course in 2002. In just a few short years Api has risen the ranks to Project Manager with Maersk (formally P&O Nedlloyd). How did she get there?

"When I was completing my HSC the IT industry was booming and it seemed to be the natural path to follow. UTS was on the top of my list, as it has a good reputation in the workforce for delivering quality IT graduates. This immediately gave you an advantage upon graduation."

While studying Api gained a place with P&O Nedlloyd (since acquired by Maersk) for her industrial training year. Api started out as a Trainee Analyst/Programmer in the IT application support team. Her job involved investigating, assessing, clarifying and documenting business system problems and then proposing possible solutions.

"I enjoyed this role. Going through Uni I did not have strong programming skills. With this role, although I would have to de-bug code; I did not have to write it. This allowed me to explore my analytical/problem solving and communication skills."

Before the end of her industrial training year Api was approached by her manager and offered a permanent job and a change in title to Analyst/Programmer. Not unusual for IT students at UTS, who often stay with their industrial training employer and finish off their course part-time.

"I took one more year to finish the course compared to my full-time buddies but it was worth it, no regrets!"

Api really enjoyed her industrial training year and the opportunity to experience different roles throughout that time.

"The project work completed in the final year of our course was very useful and simulated the pressures and expectations that I felt out in the industry. The subjects were relevant to the IT industry. Definitely the industry training components gave me a big advantage and the best learning experience. From the theory alone, I could not have appreciated or grasped the concepts realised and experienced while working in the industry."

After a year Api was promoted to Team Leader with seven staff reporting to her - all this before she had even finished her course!

"I continued in this role for two years. This role gave me tremendous experience in handling pressure and dealing with senior management and service delivery. I was the main focal point for the team and hence all queries were raised with me."

In recognition of her management potential and contributions Api was awarded with an invitation to attend to the Management Development Workshop conducted by the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of P&O Nedlloyd. This workshop was only offered to a very limited number of staff at five year intervals and Api got to go to Cambridge in the U.K. where the workshop was held!

With the trend to outsourcing, P&O Nedlloyd made a strategic decision to migrate many tasks conducted by Api's team to a team in India.

"The migration activities opened up opportunities for me to travel with the company. I was sent on two separate secondments to India. The first secondment was for three weeks, the second for three months, to conduct the handover and training of the new team. I have been lucky enough to travel to Wellington, Auckland, London and India through Maersk/P&O Nedlloyd."

Having moved the support roles to India, Api's team in Sydney were re-structured. Next she was offered a role as a Project Manger.

"Again it was something different and more challenging than what I had been doing. With this role I was thrown in to the deep end so to speak. With no previous experience in project management other than the one subject I had done in uni two years previously! I had to dig out my old notes to brush up on the methodologies and techniques."

Since starting her Bachelor of Science in Computing Science course Api hasn't looked back.