Local Voices | New Zealand
By Namrata Mattoo
Office Manager, McAlpine Hussmann | Auckland, New Zealand
“The ability to lead people, solve problems, manage resources, improve processes and build relationships can travel with you.”
If someone had told me at the beginning of my career that I would move from banking and financial services in India to managing operations in New Zealand’s HVAC industry, I probably would have smiled and wondered how that would happen!
My journey began with the first rule of the family: education first—complete your undergraduate and master’s degrees before starting your career. So, I earned an IT degree, followed by an MBA, laying the foundation for a career that would blend technology, business and management in unexpected ways.
In 2004, I stepped into the world of financial services, beginning a journey across banking, finance and insurance. Over the years, I progressed into increasingly senior roles, building expertise in operations, customer experience, people leadership and process improvement.
This journey culminated in my last role in India as Assistant Vice President of Customer Experience in Consumer Finance. That was in 2019, just before I embarked on a new adventure: moving to New Zealand and opening the door to an entirely new chapter in my professional life.
And just like that, my career took another unexpected turn, from financial services to the world of HVAC in 2021.
Suddenly, my professional world involved installation teams, equipment allocation, stock management, workforce scheduling and coordinating the many moving parts required to keep operations running smoothly.
The industry was new, but the fundamentals were familiar. The same skills I had developed over the years in banking and customer service—planning, problem-solving, managing finances, coordinating teams, improving processes and building relationships—proved just as valuable in this new environment.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that a career does not have to follow a straight line to be successful, and that experience is not limited to a particular industry.
The ability to lead people, solve problems, manage resources, improve processes and build relationships can travel with you.
The terminology, people and culture might change, the systems might be different, and the day-to-day challenges might look unfamiliar, but the underlying principles of good business management remain remarkably consistent.
Today, I look back on my journey with gratitude, a little amusement and a great deal of pride. It has not always been predictable, but it has certainly never been boring.
And perhaps that is the beauty of it.
Namrata Mattoo is Office Manager at McAlpine Hussmann, having joined the company in 2025. Her career spans over 20 years in customer experience, service and operations. She is passionate about creating positive experiences, building strong relationships and helping teams work together to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Local voices. Global connections. One HVACR community.
This article was contributed by Namrata Mattoo for Global HVACR Women Week 2026, taking place from 25–31 October.
It forms part of our Local Voices — Speak Up. Write Now. series, in which women share their experiences of working in HVACR and the connections that have made a difference along the way. By sharing these stories, we hope to help others find people they can learn from, exchange ideas with and support.
What connection has made a difference to you? We welcome contributions from women across HVACR, wherever you work and whatever stage of your career you have reached. Your story does not need to be long or polished—a simple experience could help someone else take their next step.
To share your story or find ways to take part, email info@worldrefrigerationday.org
