Copywriting

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I’ve written for a variety of publications and can adapt my writing style to suit your vibe! All writing posted here has been published in a publication. To view my full range, also check out my blogs.

To contact me, email me on kiaora@vivianchandra.com, or of course, you can find me on LinkedIn.


Photo of a disposable blue mask in front of a wooden sign with the words "Stop Killing Us"

Fight racism for a country we all want to live in

March 26, 2021

In light of global anti-Chinese sentiment, I wrote an article in the Otago Daily Times

Two people shaking hands in front of a window covered in blinds with the Engineering NZ Logo

Cultivating Culture

January 01, 2020

Google’s Project Aristotle found that psychological safety was paramount in cultivating a great working culture in your organisation. What does that mean? What does it mean for your organisation?

Celebrating Diwali in Aotearoa; is it a generational thing?

November 7, 2018

Loud Bollywood music, colourful saris and a multitude of lights; once a year, the sights and smells of India comes to Auckland (and some other major centres) in an explosion of culture during the annual Diwali festival.

A Few Good Men

September 5, 2018

“My dad’s name is Phil, and whenever I finish eating and say, ‘Dad, I’m full,’ he always replies, ‘No, I’m Phil; you’re Ruby.’” – Ruby’s Dad

Outstanding or Obnoxious? How do you chat online?

July 11, 2018

As a self-employed contractor working my way through the world, I’ve been added to at least fifteen different Slack teams, two Yammer groups and one Microsoft Team. Even if you work a 9 to 5 in one office, you might have many channels within the same team. Chat etiquette used to be remembering someone’s name and removing off-colour jokes from your vernacular. Now, it’s about avoiding notifications and worrying about whether your tone of voice was understood by . Here are some of my top pet peeves, and how to avoid them.

Great Time Management is a Myth

June 27, 2018

I woke up in a cold sweat a few weeks ago. I remembered that there was a report I was meant to have sent to my client. It was sitting under a pile of other things, forgotten in the hecticness of the day. There was nothing I could do at 3 AM, so it led me to think – I must get better at this time management thing.

Hand typing on a laptop

Writing in the 21st century: 7 awesome apps authors need

May 9, 2018

Using apps and devices might seem counter-intuitive to the life of a busy author. Often slated as the ultimate distraction; with the right apps, your device could be the most indispensable tool in your arsenal. Here are some of our top picks to help you get over that writer’s block and onto the next Neustadt Prize.

Top 10 tech picks to make small businesses soar

March 14, 2018

According to a recent MBIE report, 97 per cent of enterprises in Aotearoa (New Zealand) have fewer than 20 employees. Some 70 per cent have no employees at all!

Growing up in Aotearoa – Waitangi Day: an immigrant’s perspective

February 7, 2018

I arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand) in 1989. I was eight years old and came straight off the plane from Malaysia. Aotearoa could not be more different.

Woman and her child sitting on the floor smiling at each other

How to juggle parenting and freelancing: 3 surprising lessons

January 17, 2018

Parenting while freelancing is hard… what if you are both freelancers?

Blog Series – Future of Work

A three-part blog series on diversity.

Two hands handing a flower between them

The benefit of the doubt – be kinder to your candidates

April 21, 2017

Recruitment shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a fun and honest chance for you to get to know your candidates, give them the benefit of the doubt

Line of people standing all wearing jeans

#aucklandrec – the diversity edition

April 12, 2017

I recap what the #aucklandrec meetup was like via a series of tweets and observations

wee wooden robot

Robots vs Humans: are algorithms going to replace you?

April 6, 2017

I talk about better methods for recruitment and whether artificial intelligence will make humans redundant.

Screenshot of top of Twitter with Tay's Profile Pic. Tay is an AI experiment Microsoft created

The shape of things to come?

October 31, 2016

I wonder about the future on ITP’s Tech Blog

A bunch of kids around a computer

OMGTech! WANTS YOU

July 13, 2016

I blog on the launch of OMGTech! on ITP’s Tech blog

Get out of town! A new bike commuter tackles the Hauraki Rail Trail

May 26, 2016

I ride the Hauraki Rail Trail and live to tell the tale

Four figures holding up white masks in business suits

Unconscious Bias

April 18, 2016

An article for ITP Techblog on Unconscious bias

Bike challenge accepted, achievement unlocked!

March 10, 2016

I write about the 2016 bike challenge from BikeAKL

Person with head down, headline says "Something you did today could land you in prison"

Free Speech Direct Mail Appeal

I wrote a Direct Mail Appeal for Amnesty International. It went out to roughly 10 thousand supporters asking for donations on the topic of Free Speech

Wēibó Logo

Wēibó is here to stay

July 25, 2013

As China’s global influence grows, so too does the importance of distributing human rights information in the Chinese language, writes Vivian Chandra, ICT and database manager at Amnesty International New Zealand.

Me at the Auckland Winter Gardens

Repaving the way to success

February 29, 2012

‘Women-only’ networking events may be more personally comfortable, but they hardly encourage gender diversity