Five years of internships with Theta

For the past five years, Theta has been providing internship opportunities to our graduates. Graduate Jan Pauline shares her internship experience with us.

Jan says the most rewarding aspect of the internship has been being part of a professional team and contributing to real work.

“I appreciate working under the supervision of amazing people in the industry. Jim Taylor, my supervisor, is someone I believe many people would describe as a wizard—you just get to learn so much from him, and it’s fascinating to see this happen in action. Chris Turner, an alumnus from the programme, is also very helpful. They’re both so open to questions and genuine when it comes to rooting for the interns’ success.”

For Jan, the biggest advantage of the internship has been exposure to professional work.

“It’s interesting to see the difference between university work and being in a professional environment. While the university prepares you for it, the professional culture is still eye-opening. I get to see and be part of a working team. It goes beyond just applying university knowledge practically—you get to learn new techniques and strategies at work.”

Reflecting on her journey, she says honesty, motivation, and passion helped her succeed throughout the process—from application through to final presentation.

“Remember, there’s always room for improvement. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Internships are about learning—so do that as much as you can.”

Jan also credits Te Herenga Waka and Theta for supporting her along the way.

“Theta has been very supportive of the programme. Conrad Spohr (Industry Alliance Programme) is very pleasant and approachable and is one of the people I’m grateful for.”

Theta is a New Zealand-owned technology consultancy that helps organisations transform with smarter use of technology—specialising in data and insights, cybersecurity, cloud transformation, and integration.