Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
12 minutes ago
Muriël Klavers arrived in Hawke’s Bay planning to stay for just three months, but nearly seven years later, the EIT graduate now calls the region home.
Originally from the Netherlands, Muriël graduated from EIT with a Master of Digital Business in 2022 and now works as a People and Capability Business Partner at Napier City Council.
The 29-year-old first completed a Bachelor of Human Resource Management at Avans University in the Netherlands and worked in Human Resources before setting off to travel the world in 2019.
Originally from the Netherlands, EIT graduate Muriël Klavers now calls Hawke’s Bay home after completing a Master of Digital Business in 2022.
She spent several months travelling through Asia and Australia before arriving in Hawke’s Bay, where she worked as an au pair. When Covid disrupted her onward travel plans, she began thinking about what came next and a local connection introduced her to EIT.
“I always wanted to do a master’s, but it wasn’t originally my idea to do it so soon,” she says.
After hearing about EIT through a local connection, Muriël decided to enrol in the Master of Digital Business programme.
Muriël says studying locally also appealed to her because of the opportunities to connect with people and businesses in the region.
“EIT does a lot of work connecting students with local businesses and communities.”
One of the highlights of her time at EIT was becoming involved as a student ambassador and connecting with people across the institute.
“The international department was always really supportive.
“We worked on different events and projects together and it was a great way to meet people from across EIT.”
Graduation also remains one of her strongest memories from her time studying.
“Getting the green light that you’ve graduated was probably the highlight.”
Since completing her studies, Muriël has worked across several roles before joining Napier City Council.
Muriël says networking and building relationships played a key role in helping establish her career in New Zealand.
“Having those relationships definitely helped me get my foot in the door.”
Now back working in Human Resources, she says the variety of the role is what she enjoys most.
“It’s the diversity of the work and building relationships with people.
“When I start in the morning, I never really know what my day is going to look like.”
Recently returning to EIT to speak with current students at a Lunch and Chat session brought back memories of her own student experience.
“It was nice to see people in a similar position to where I was six or seven years ago.
“We’ve all been in that position before and hopefully sharing my experience helps others as they work out their own pathway.”
Gareth Alison, Head of School, Business, Tourism, Hospitality and English Language, says: “Muriël’s journey is a fantastic example of how our Master of Digital Business programme equips graduates with both the technical capability and the real-world connections needed to build successful careers”.
“Her story highlights the importance of applied learning, industry engagement, and the supportive environment we strive to create for both domestic and international students. We are incredibly proud to see her contributing to the Hawke’s Bay community and inspiring current students to pursue their own career pathways.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/07/masters-graduate-builds-business-career-in-hawkes-bay/