Studying in Australia
This January, I had the privilege of being selected as one of 20 students to study in Australia for the Winter 2026 Mini Term. During this trip, I explored Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Throughout the program, we viewed entrepreneurship and innovation firsthand at local Australian companies. We visited Inventia Life Science, Gate 7 Tourism, Earthfix Australia, Inventico, and more. Each company offered insight into what it truly takes to start and sustain a business, from early-stage uncertainty to long-term growth challenges. Although the companies we visited were from vastly different industries, there were universal themes of creative, strategic thinking and resilience at each business. It was inspirational to see how transferable entrepreneurial skills can be and all of the potential impactful business outcomes.
Exploring Australia
In addition to our site visits, we got to explore many of the major sites and cultural experiences that Australia has to offer. On my first day in Australia, I ate at Midden, an award winning restaurant led by indigenous celebrity chef, Mark Olive located at the Sydney Opera House. I ordered a grazing platter featuring kangaroo, emu, crocodile, and macadamia nuts, which was a great introduction to Australian culture. In Sydney, we toured the Sydney Opera House, went on a city walking tour, ferried over to Manly Beach, and completed the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Once we traveled to Brisbane, we started exploring the city with a walking tour, and then traveled many places in the surrounding area. My cohort and I visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Mount Tamborine, Nyanda Aboriginal Culture Tours, and my personal favorite, The Australia Zoo in Beerwah. We enjoyed the Gold Coast and snorkeled the shipwrecks of Tangalooma Island. Exploration beyond the classroom allowed me to understand Australia not just as a place of study, but as a place with rich history and culture.
Class at UQ
Thanks to Professor Cardon, one of the trip leaders who is a professor of Entrepreneurship at both the University of Tennessee and the University of Queensland, we were able to use UQ's Brisbane City campus as our place of study. We also got to tour the UQ St. Lucia campus and meet with the Ventures entrepreneurship team. Being immersed in the UQ environment provided valuable insight into how entrepreneurship is taught internationally. It was fascinating to see similarities and differences in teaching techniques and to engage with a community that actively supports student innovation.
The Impact
Even though I was only in Australia for two weeks, the impact and experiences gained from the trip were monumental. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone, gave me a new perspective on entrepreneurship, and reminded me how much growth can happen when you are willing to step into something unfamiliar. I will forever be grateful for this experience and for the people I got to share it with. Australia left a lasting impression on me and found a permanent place on my list of “see you again” destinations!
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