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The closing of a chapter in your life can leave you idle in the next steps. Do you upskill with a new qualification? Do you change up your scenery and move to a different city? Do you join a club or take up a new hobby? 

For University of Canterbury graduate Loredana Unsworth, taking the next step meant taking on a Master of Strategic Communication. Being already immersed in the vibrant city of Ōtautahi | Christchurch it seemed fitting to continue upskilling and refining her learning in Strategic Communications. While the opportunity drew Loredana to the heart of Canterbury, her experience is possible for anyone, anywhere that is considering starting their master’s qualification with our new fully online Master of Strategic Communication. 

Loredana is now working as a research and communications advisor at the National Leaders Office located in New Zealand’s capital and took some time out of her busy schedule to discuss how her learning has benefited her career!

What motivated you to take the leap into postgraduate study right after undergrad?

After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt that I wasn’t quite ready to step straight into the professional world. I’ve always had a genuine passion for learning, and I saw postgraduate study as an opportunity to continue developing, build my confidence, and further develop my skills. 

The Master of Strategic Communication stood out to me as a postgraduate option because it combines structured coursework with a research component. This balance really appealed to me, as it offered the guidance and support of a taught programme while also having a research element to explore a topic, I was genuinely passionate about.

What stood out to you most during the Master of Strategic Communication?

What I enjoyed most about the Master of Strategic Communication was the teaching style and learning environment. Compared to undergrad, the postgraduate experience felt much more collaborative and discussion based. There was a real emphasis on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and applying theory to real-world situations.

Rather than just absorbing information, we were encouraged to question ideas and bring our own perspectives into the conversation. The smaller class sizes made it easier to engage with lecturers and classmates, and the learning felt tailored to the class and our interests. It really helped me develop both professionally and personally and the in-class discussions were extremely interesting.

Loredana Unsworth, Research and Communications Advisor - National Leaders Office

How did your study help prepare you for your role in the National Leader’s office?

Throughout the course, I developed much greater confidence in both my communication skills and strategic thinking. The in-class discussions were particularly valuable, as they challenged me to see issues from multiple perspectives and apply different lenses to my thinking.

Being able to apply different lenses and approaches to different situations has been incredibly useful in my current role. Instead of just focusing on pushing information out - I now think carefully about its impact and the wider context. I’m more aware of how communication fits into a larger strategy and how it can influence perceptions and outcomes.

What skills or experiences from the programme do you use in your day-to-day work? 

One of the biggest teachings from the Masters was applying theoretical thinking to real life scenarios from ethical situations to different types of communication. Throughout my day to day, I now have background knowledge for overcoming different scenarios and challenges helping me to look at the bigger picture and connect research findings with communication goals to create clear, effective plans.

In my role as a Research and Communications Advisor, this helps me anticipate issues, tailor messages appropriately, and make sure communications support the organisation’s objectives. It’s been useful for turning complex information into straightforward, meaningful communication.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to land a comms role straight out of study? 

Put yourself out there!! Talking to people in the field, building connections is super useful and helps to get an idea of what to expect within the professional comms world. The comms department at UC is absolutely incredible, the opportunities the course offers are so valuable along with the connections the department has can offer a lot for your development and knowledge within comms.

Comms is a creative industry so building a portfolio of your work is extremely beneficial. Whether it is an essay you are proud of or social media work for a club you should collate it all into a folder – it helps heaps within a job interview especially if it is work you are passionate about!

Thanks, Loredana for sharing your learning experience and strategic communication career advice. UC’s Master of Strategic Communication is available online or on-campus, with dedicated on-campus or online enrolment support.