Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna’s daughter, Vanessa, has opened up about how a challenging season in Australia ultimately set the stage for a major career breakthrough rooted in integrity.
Speaking in an interview shared on their mom’s YouTube channel on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Vanessa shared that shortly after graduating, she applied for both an internship and a job on the same day.
“I remember when we went back to Australia, and I was studying while raising a baby, and at the same time, my husband was unhappy in his job because it was very taxing and required night shifts. It was a difficult period for us. It was truly a hard time. However, things slowly began to change. I completed my degree, and on the same day, I applied for both an internship and a job,” she narrated.
She explained that the internship came with no financial compensation, while the job promised a decent salary, a factor that weighed heavily on her mind given her responsibilities as a young mother.
According to Vanessa, her mother, Kathy Kiuna, had earlier advised her to take the first job that she would get, despite it not offering her any money.
“I also remember my mum giving me a word and telling me, ‘Vanessa, the first job you will get may not pay much, but take it,” she said.
Vanessa recounted that during the internship interview, she chose to be open and honest, informing the panel that she was also pursuing another opportunity that offered pay and asking for their understanding should she need to prioritise financial stability.
She added that the internship panel responded positively, asking her to update them on her decision the following day, a moment that left her torn between practicality and principle.
“The internship I applied for was unpaid, while the job I applied for was a government position that paid well. I had my internship interview in the morning, and I was honest with them. I told them that I was also going for another interview for a paying job and that if they selected me, they should understand because I needed the money. They told me it was okay and asked me to update them the next day,” she shared.
The same day, Vanessa attended the job interview for the paid role and described her performance as strong, revealing that the interviewers expressed clear enthusiasm and assured her that the position was hers.
Fresh twist
She noted that despite the encouraging feedback, days passed without any communication from the job panel, leaving her in uncertainty as she weighed her options.
“When I went for the job interview later that day, I performed very well. They told me the job was mine and said they loved me, even when I asked whether they were still considering other candidates,” she shared.
Vanessa said that after waiting and hearing nothing, she reached out to the internship team and confirmed her readiness to start.
She disclosed that soon after accepting the unpaid internship, the job panel contacted her with an apology for the delay and informed her that they intended to offer her a higher contract level than she had originally qualified for.
“The following morning, I called the internship team and told them that I had thought about it and was ready to start. They informed me that I would be starting in two days. Shortly after I accepted the internship, the job panel called and apologised for the delay. They told me they absolutely loved me and wanted to offer me a Level Three contract instead of the Level Two that I had qualified for,” she narrated.
Despite the improved offer, Vanessa explained that she declined the job respectfully, citing her commitment to the internship she had already accepted and expressing hope that they could work together in the future.
She went on to reveal that within a week or two of starting the internship, she received another unexpected call, a moment she initially feared signalled trouble.
Instead, Vanessa said she was offered an even higher-level government contract, a development she attributed directly to her honesty and integrity during the earlier process.
“However, because of how I was raised, I thanked them for the opportunity and explained that I had already accepted another role. I told them that I hoped we would work together in the future. I went ahead and started the internship, but after about a week or two, I received another call. At first, I thought I had lost my job. Instead, they offered me a Level Four contract,” she shared.
Reflecting on the experience, Vanessa noted that while many people might have chosen the immediate financial reward, her decision to act with integrity ultimately opened doors she had not anticipated.
“All of this happened because of integrity. Some people would have immediately chosen the paying job, but the internship ended up paying off for me,” she said.
