At nbn, our people are central to delivering the company’s purpose of helping lift Australia’s digital capability.

For Ankita Mahapatra, the positive impact of participating in nbn’s first Graduate Program in 2013 has extended well beyond the initial rotations that allowed her to experience diverse areas of the business.

That’s because a career at nbn will see you connect, learn and grow in a company that promotes internal mobility across nbn teams and business units, agile ways of working and collectively driving purpose-led enterprise-wide priorities.

Now in her tenth year at nbn – and currently Executive Manager, Commercial Deals Design – Ankita still draws strength from the relationships forged during her time as a new employee eager to conquer the challenges of building one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects.

“To this day, I still go to my connections from back then to bounce ideas off and ask questions with no fear of judgement.”

The road to nbn

After studying electronics engineering in India, Ankita moved to Australia to pursue her postgraduate Master’s Degree, with a Master of Technology and Innovation Management also added to Ankita’s academic achievements, before pondering her next career move.

High on Ankita’s list was to join a graduate program in a dynamic organisation that would allow her to use her engineering and business expertise to add value, while gaining experience in a range of diverse areas.

“nbn really ticked all the boxes for me,” says Ankita.

At nbn, our graduates are immersed in our meaningful work, working with various business units across three rotations during the 18-month program.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to join nbn at such an early stage of the project, and it would allow me to innovate, take on new challenges and be able to make a real impact.”

After completing the graduate program, Ankita landed a role as Commercial Manager looking after one of nbn’s major external partner relationships.

“This was a huge opportunity and scary at the same time," says Ankita.

But she remembered what a mentor at nbn once told her: "‘Being afraid is okay. Never wait to be confident, just do it and confidence will follow’.

“Those words have stuck with me and have helped me grow.”

Here, our people are encouraged to participate in mentor programs, including early career and school student mentoring and through our highly successful Mentor Walks initiative providing mentoring opportunities for our people to be mentored by leaders across nbn and to be mentors themselves.

Making a difference

In the years since, Ankita has gone on to fill increasingly senior roles in four different nbn business units: Engineering, Commercial Strategy, Business Transformation, and Commercial Sales and Marketing.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working at nbn as there’s no such thing as a dull day. There is always an interesting challenge to solve to help get the best outcome for our customers.”

Ankita is applying that same customer-centric ethos in her current role working on nbn’s Business Fibre Zone (BFZ) initiative.

We have created 295 Business Fibre Zones across the country to date, with 112 of those in regional areas.^*

Importantly in all these Business Fibre Zones, nbn wholesale prices for business nbn^® Enterprise Ethernet is equal to those in metro CBD areas.

As part of this program of work, nbn and the Victorian Government have signed a landmark agreement that will see significant co-investment to deliver more fibre and faster broadband services to more areas of the state.

This is another example of what can be achieved through co-operation and co-investment.

“It’s really exciting to be involved in a program that is helping transform how Australia does business.”

Graduate appeal

It’s the chance to make a tangible contribution to help lift the digital capability of Australia that Ankita hopes will appeal to young people across Australia considering joining the nbn Graduate Program.

“There is a strong sense of purpose at nbn that really drives everyone, no matter what part of the business they are in, to strive for the best outcome for people in Australia.”

Ankita says nbn is a great place to work, not only from a career perspective but also when it comes to flexibility.

“I have been privileged to have had supportive leaders invested in my growth and career whilst also believing in me to manage a team, all while nurturing a growing young family at the same time.”

Flexibility at nbn is for all our people at all stages of life.

Regardless of your career stage, Ankita believes: “There is something for everyone at nbn.”