CQUniversity Sydney academic Paul Krust tells the story of how, as a young graduate, he was introduced to the world of high finance. As a new graduate trainee with Citibank he found himself in Singapore undergoing  intensive residential training for two months, alongside peers from all over the Asia Pacific region.

Story by Dr Chris Keane

A graduate of the UNSW with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, on his return he quickly learnt on the job, as he rotated through different departments of Citibank. This early lesson in adaptation and the global nature of business instilled in him a capacity to think independently, practically and strategically.

Sydney academic Paul Krust

Paul's four years with Citibank as manager in Structured Finance, was a great exposure to business analysis. He returned to university to complete a Master's degree at UNSW, specialising in marketing and organisational behaviour and then put his analytical skills to practical use as a management consultant.

Paul worked with the US-based global consulting firm AT Kearney on projects across Automotive, Banking, Construction, Insurance, and Wine-Making. His international experience included: England, India, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Consulting exposed Paul to the ‘tools and techniques' for identifying, analysing and solving business problems. He says "a great deal of what I teach, I have used in consulting practice".

As his experience grew, Paul developed a keen interest in imparting his practical business experience to others. Whilst working as a self-employed consultant, and studying for a second Masters degree (Human Resource Management and Coaching) at the University of Sydney, Paul began casual lecturing in Marketing at Sydney University and the University of Technology Sydney. In 2004 he joined the full-time teaching team at CQUniversity Sydney, where he currently teaches a range of business-focused courses in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including, management, organisational behaviour and marketing.

Paul believes strongly that business students need to master the core skill of writing a ‘good business report'. He likes to use the metaphor of ‘building a pathway' as a system for students to organise and structure their ideas in a report or essay. He credits his consulting background for his emphasis on this logical "issues-based" report writing approach, which delivers practical insights for every issue.

Paul feels privileged to be able to pass on his practical business and marketing know-how to a young and globally mobile generation. ‘Each new class should inspire you', he says, and ‘open up a new experience, with a new dynamic'.

He is always impressed by the ‘adventurous learning journey' his international students embark upon and the big investment they make in themselves and their future.

Paul commented on how rewarding it is to see CQUniversity students ‘beaming' on graduation day. ‘You only have to look at their faces to realise that you have helped to make a difference to their future'.