Through a partnership with La Trobe University, Flexikitch has discovered how student placements can spark new ways of thinking, transform business processes, and accelerate progress on essential projects.
At Flexikitch - a full-service hospitality financier - innovation is more than just a buzzword; it’s a key driver of the company’s continued success.
Through a partnership with La Trobe University, Flexikitch has discovered how student placements can spark new ways of thinking, transform business processes, and accelerate progress on essential projects.
“This is now our third intake, and each time we’re reminded just how valuable these experiences are – not just for the students, but for us as a team. The students’ fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and curiosity have opened our eyes and challenged us to think differently and ultimately reflect on some of our own practices,” says Meaghan Montgomery, Co-Founder, Flexikitch.
The results go beyond short-term support; student placements have become a catalyst for meaningful change across the organisation.
Enabling progress on high-priority initiatives
Student placements have injected energy and momentum into projects that might otherwise be delayed or deprioritised, citing the concrete business value generated during the placement period.
When the company welcomed its latest cohort of 13 students, the new team members quickly became actively involved in high-impact projects, including:
- Cleaning and aligning product data between inventory and e-commerce systems
- Designing a flexible freight matrix to support automated shipping calculations in Shopify
- Developing a CRM contact clean-up strategy to support future marketing automation.
Each of these tasks feeds into larger initiatives across operations, marketing, and customer experience, and the students have been instrumental in moving them forward.
“As Flexikitch continues to scale, we’ve recognised the value of fresh thinking and diverse perspectives when tackling complex business challenges,” says Andrew Blinco, Team Leader (I.T), Flexikitch.
Aligning with the company’s broader commitment to investing in talent, Andrew says, “partnering with La Trobe’s placement program (gives) us a unique opportunity to bring in motivated students with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities”.
Many student presentations, he says, “would hold their own in a boardroom,” demonstrating the high level of professionalism they also bring to the business.
Accessing the latest industry skills and technologies
Master of Business Analytics student, Ashraf Taha, describes how “working with different teams at Flexikitch has really helped me get more comfortable with things like gathering requirements, presenting insights, and having those consulting-style conversations”.
“I’ve also been getting experience with tools like PowerBI, Miro, Figma, Excel and Zapier. It’s giving me a solid feel for the tools that are actually used in the industry and helping me feel more job-ready.”
Enhancing workplace collaboration and professional development
Beyond direct technical contributions, the presence of placement students encourages collaboration across Flexikitch’s teams.
Established staff engage in mentorship and coaching, while students bring an eagerness to learn and contribute.
“It’s been a great cultural fit - their presence has fostered collaboration across teams and reminded us of the importance of mentorship, patience, and continuous learning,” says Andrew.
Real-world exposure for students, meaningful results for Flexikitch
The placement experience offers students like Ashraf a practical stage to test and refine their academic knowledge.
“I’ve been able to take what I learn (at La Trobe), like building dashboards, integrating data, and mapping out customer journeys, and actually use it in a business setting. It’s been great to see how all that theory plays out in the real world.
“From the start, (Flexikitch) treated us like actual team members, not just interns. They regularly check in on our projects, ask how things are going, and take the time to explain different parts of the business to us.”
For Flexikitch, the placement experience has translated into progress on strategic projects and access to diverse insights.
A model for sustainable talent development
Flexikitch’s partnership with La Trobe has proven to be a productive pathway for addressing business needs, developing future talent, and sparking internal conversations about how students can become more deeply integrated into real workflows.
Reflecting on the program impact, Meaghan Montgomery, Co-founder of Flexikitch says “We’re proud to provide this platform for growth – and equally grateful for the opportunity it brings. At Flexikitch, our values guide everything we do - backing ambition, celebrating creativity, and believing in people. Supporting these students reflects our belief that when you give someone a go, it opens doors to endless possibilities, and we feel lucky to play even a small part in that journey”.
This article was originally written and published by La Trobe University.
Read the original version here:
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/announcements/2025/flexikitchs-secret-ingredient-student-placements