Ari Mendtsoo was shocked when her boss, wearing T-shirt and shorts, asked her what kind of tea she wanted.
Mendtsoo is from Mongolia and says there staff would serve the boss tea, not the other way around.
In 2017, the civil engineer founded the Network of Skilled Migrants Manawatū. She was the first president and, along with current president Himani Samarakoon and vice-president Priyanka, is encouraging more people to join the network.
It started with three members and now has 75. It's run by a nine-member executive committee who are all volunteers.
The network supports skilled migrants, especially to help them gain employment related to their skills and experience. It runs workshops on CVs, interview skills, stress management and leadership, helps members gain New Zealand professional registration and provides networking opportunities through the Chamber of Commerce's BA5s.