When a Farm Manager Learns Excel… the Whole Operation Changes

For Shane Moka, managing 30,000 birds a year isn’t just a job—it’s a rhythm of early mornings, careful planning, and constant adjustments.

As a manager at Tegel Foods Limited, Shane runs a poultry farm that produces fertile eggs. It's a role that demands attention to detail, efficient recordkeeping, and plenty of spreadsheet time.

But up until recently, Excel was more of a grind than a game changer.

“I used to just get the calculator out,” Shane admits. “Manually working things out. It worked—but it was slow.”

That all changed with a gentle suggestion at home.

“You Should Do That Excel Course”

Like many hardworking professionals, Shane often talks to his wife about how his day went. One evening, he mentioned working on a spreadsheet and how long it was taking.

“She said to me, ‘That sounds inefficient. You should do that Excel course.’”

And just like that, his wife signed him up for Zeducation’s Microsoft Excel workshop.

“I came in with an open mind. I didn’t know what to expect… but wow—it exceeded my expectations.”

A Game-Changing Moment

From the very first session, Shane felt the impact.

The highlight? Learning to build equations.

“The moment I learned how to create a formula that others could just enter numbers into—boom, the spreadsheet gives the answer straight away—I was hooked. I went straight back to work and used it.”

No more manual calculations. No more double-checking numbers on a calculator. Just clean, automated answers.

And then came filters.

“I didn’t even know I could sort by last names, or pull data for just one week of hours. That was eye-opening. Game-changing, really.”

Growth Mindset in Action

The course didn’t just sharpen Shane’s skills—it gave him confidence. His excitement is obvious.

“I’ve got a smile from ear to ear… this is going to improve the speed of what I do at mahi.”

But Shane’s not done yet. He’s already thinking ahead.

“I’ll definitely take another one. I’ve let the skills I’ve learned marinate a bit… but I’m keen to level up again. Be even better at Excel. Yeah—I’ll have one up on all the other managers!”

More Than a Course—A Mindset Shift

At Zeducation, we often say that training should do more than tick boxes. It should shift how you think. And for Shane, that shift is clear: he’s no longer just using Excel—he’s leveraging it.

And it all started with a question from someone who believed in his potential:“Why not make this easier?”

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Interested in sharpening your Excel skills like Shane?

Our courses are practical, hands-on, and designed to give you tools you can use the next day.

📍 Visit www.zeducation.co.nz to learn more and enquire.

💼 Whether you're in farming, finance, or frontline work—Excel is for everyone.