About 340 people graduated from the university in person with arts, law, music and theology qualifications in a ceremony at the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday.
Ms Wendt reassured graduates that "a good old arts degree does and will get you into some great jobs".
Apia-born Ms Wendt graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1989 with an arts degree in English literature.
She became executive director of Fulbright New Zealand in 2005, and it was her "dream job", involving a "fabulous programme".
The Fulbright programme was established after World War 2 by Senator William Fulbright and the United States government to promote increased mutual understanding through educational exchanges.
In her address, Ms Wendt emphasised the importance of developing confidence, of managing failure and change, which could be "good things", and of hard work.
Despite her success, she had not always "coped brilliantly in life".
"I come across as very confident and strong, but underneath I've often doubted myself and my abilities.
"I haven't ever set a lot of goals for myself and have just gone where life took me and where the opportunities arose.
"I haven't always made the best decisions."
She had also experienced "terrible relationship break-ups, abuse and separations", and problems in her family, including a "messy" divorce.
She had also experienced "instances of racism, sexism and ageism" but had never let any of these things stop her.
She had always tried to be strong, to aim high, work hard, stick to her values and beliefs and "prove my worth to my employer, family and community", she said.
She urged graduates to "find your dream job and career that you enjoy and feel passionate about" and also to aim high.
