Be Guided By Your Heart: Career Advice For Pasifika

A postgraduate student at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has shown how professional growth and academic pursuit can walk hand in hand.

Pepe Afeaki, Team Leader of the Māori and Pacific Career Development and Employability Services, is currently studying toward a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, building on from her Bachelor’s degree in Social Services (Major in Career Practice).

Her journey into higher education has been anything but conventional - shaped by quiet strength, cultural pride and a deep commitment to helping others.

"If there’s one message I’d share with anyone at a career crossroads, it’s this: hold onto your values. Be guided by your heart, your strengths, and your story. Doors will open when you find work that’s meaningful to you."

Born in Aotearoa and raised in West Auckland, Pepe is a proud Sāmoan woman whose parents migrated from Sale’imoa, Sāmoa in the 1970s seeking better opportunities for their children.

As the middle child of five and now a mother of three boys, she often reflects on the quiet courage her parents showed - especially during the difficult era of the Dawn Raids. Though they rarely spoke of their hardships, they instilled in her the values of hard work, faith, humility, and service.

Pepe describes her upbringing as a balancing act - walking in two worlds: the Sāmoan cultural world at home and the broader Aotearoa environment outside. This duality wasn’t always easy, especially in professional spaces, but over time she learned to embrace her identity and lead with authenticity.

After finishing high school, Pepe chose to enter the workforce rather than pursue university, following in her older sister’s footsteps to help support her family. Her career led her into recruitment, where she discovered a passion for helping others find their path.

A pivotal moment came in 2015 when a colleague asked if she had ever considered a role in career development. That question sparked a journey of reflection, study and growth.

After several years focused on raising her young children and balancing the role of motherhood with her career aspirations, through part-time work; in 2018, Pepe enrolled in the Diploma of Career Practice, which opened the door to further opportunities.

She went on to join the University of Auckland as a part-time a Employability Consultant and now leads the Maori and Pacific Career Development and Employability Services team.

She credits her success to the support of her family and a few mentors in her life, as well as the values that have guided her throughout her life. Her children have always been her ‘why’—the driving force behind everything she does.

Her favourite Sāmoan proverb, "O le ala i le pule o le tautua" – the pathway to leadership is through service – continues to shape how she leads and supports others.

"This continues to shape how I show up, whether that's with my team, students, colleagues or in my personal life. It's a privilege to serve in a role where I can help others realise their potential, while also honouring the journey that brought me here."

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