October 15, 2025
When Feodor first left high school, he followed the traditional path — straight to university, double degree, big ambitions. But sometimes, even the best-laid plans don’t feel like the right fit. “I just couldn’t find my rhythm,” he says. “I knew I was capable, but something wasn’t clicking.”
After taking time out to reset, Feodor’s dad came across Mission Ready HQ through Alan. “I was in Wellington at the time,” he recalls. “I travelled up to Auckland for the interview, got accepted, and decided to make the move.”
That first attempt didn’t go exactly to plan — but it planted the seed. Feodor discovered his passion for business analysis and started seeing where he could make a real impact. When the world slowed down during COVID, he decided to give it another go. “I called up Diana and Alan, and they encouraged me to come back. That second time changed everything.”
Feodor joined the UX stream and was placed with The Southern Institute for his BA work experience — what he now describes as the turning point.
"What made the difference was having people who believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. Alan and Diana gave me multiple chances, provided guidance when I needed it, and tailored the support to what I needed. They helped me prove to myself that I was capable — not in an exam environment, but in the real world of work. That belief they had in me helped me build belief in myself."
After completing Mission Ready, Feodor landed a role at 3Plus, where that foundation continued to grow. "I was fortunate to have people within my organization who really invested in me. I connected with a senior BA who became my mentor and coached me for about 3 years. When I started consistently delivering and showing I could be stretched, she began offering opportunities to challenge myself. Those opportunities built resilience, confidence, and belief in capability".
Four years on, Feodor has gone from graduate consultant to senior consultant — now leading complex analysis workstreams and presenting to executives.
“The skills I learnt at Mission Ready — core BA fundamentals, interviewing, active listening — I still use them daily. But it’s the mindset that really stuck: keep learning, show up, build genuine relationships. Those are the things that open doors.”
Today, Feodor measures success differently.
“The key shift for me was realising that growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out — it comes from being surrounded by people who see your potential and push you to meet it. The mentored work experience started that for me — and the relationships from that time are still shaping my career today.”
His advice for others thinking about taking the leap?
“Keep showing up. The right opportunity and support can change everything.”