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Western Sydney’s growing innovation ecosystem needs more than great ideas. It also needs emerging talent with the curiosity, confidence and practical skills to help turn those ideas into something real.
During her three-month internship at Western Sydney Startup Hub, Lamisa brought her background in business analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce into a new environment, working alongside the team, meeting local founders and contributing to a project involving website development, automation and AI.
For Lamisa, the experience became an opportunity to apply her skills, explore new technology and better understand how an innovation hub operates.
Starting Again in Australia
Lamisa moved from Bangladesh to Australia in 2022 to complete a Master of Business Analytics at the University of Technology Sydney.
Before arriving, she had studied economics and worked as a digital marketing analyst across e-commerce and fashion. Moving countries meant learning how to communicate the value of that experience within a new professional environment while building a local network from the beginning.
When asked to describe her experience in Australia, Lamisa chose three words: “independent, exciting and empowering.”
“You’re trying to figure it out in a completely new place,” she said. “You’re finding your ground and learning more about yourself. That is where it becomes empowering, when you realise, ‘Okay, I can do this.’”
Within her first month in Australia, Lamisa secured a casual position at David Jones. By drawing on her previous e-commerce experience, volunteering to support different areas of the business and consistently following through on her responsibilities, she gradually took on more responsibility and was recently promoted to team leader.
That same curiosity and initiative would later shape her experience at WSSH.
Contributing to a Real WSSH Project
Lamisa joined WSSH expecting that much of her internship would involve observing the team and learning how the organisation worked.
Instead, after an initial introduction to the hub, she was given the opportunity to contribute directly to a website project aligned with her business analytics background.
The work involved researching new tools, exploring automation and investigating how AI could support the website’s development.
“My biggest contribution would be being trusted to work on the website,” Lamisa said. “I found it very interesting, learning on the go, upskilling, researching how to do things and actually getting it done.”
Rather than working through a predetermined set of tasks, Lamisa had to research potential solutions, test different approaches and build her knowledge as the project progressed.
For her, one of the most rewarding parts of the internship was seeing an early idea develop into a tangible outcome.
“Seeing what we started with and what it came to be, that was quite empowering,” she said.
Her experience reflects the practical learning that can happen when emerging talent is trusted to contribute to meaningful work, not simply observe it.
Learning Through Trust and Initiative
Lamisa believes trust is built through everyday actions: completing work properly, communicating clearly, asking thoughtful questions and looking for useful ways to contribute.
“I mostly show it by getting things done,” she said.
During her internship, this meant first taking the time to understand how WSSH operated before identifying where her skills could add value.
Her advice to other interns is to remain curious and proactive without being afraid to ask questions.
“People are busy and have their own things to do,” she said. “Observe first, and then think, ‘Maybe I can help with this or take something off someone else’s plate.’”
That approach helped Lamisa move quickly from learning about WSSH to actively contributing to its work.
Connecting With Western Sydney’s Startup Community
Working from WSSH also gave Lamisa exposure to founders, members and businesses across Western Sydney’s startup ecosystem.
She began connecting with people around the hub by asking simple questions about what they were building, what inspired them and which problems they were trying to solve.
“People love talking about something that they love,” she said.
This helped networking feel more natural and less transactional. Rather than approaching each conversation with a specific outcome in mind, Lamisa focused on understanding the people and businesses around her.
For students and emerging professionals without an established local network, environments like WSSH can provide an accessible starting point. Coworking spaces, innovation programs, events and internships can all create opportunities to meet founders, develop practical knowledge and become more connected to the broader business community.
Making Experience Your Strength
Lamisa’s journey has not followed one perfectly planned path. Her experience spans economics, digital marketing, retail, business analytics and technology, but each step has helped her build skills she can carry into the next opportunity.
Her message to other international students and emerging professionals is to recognise the value of the experience they already have.
“As internationals, I think we have more to offer because we come from a different place,” she said. “We bring that experience, and we are more adaptable and resilient because we chose to get up, get out and do something different.”
Her advice is simple: “Make that your power.”
Lamisa hopes to continue building her career in business analytics, experience a corporate role and explore more opportunities to apply her skills.
Her time at WSSH demonstrated what can happen when emerging talent is given the space and trust to contribute: new skills are developed, ideas become tangible projects and meaningful connections begin to form.
At Western Sydney Startup Hub, bringing founders, growing businesses and emerging talent into the same community helps create more opportunities for learning, collaboration and innovation across the region.
You can learn more about the Western Sydney Startup Hub via our website here! Sign up from as little as $50/month +GST to experience the community first hand through workspace, events, programs and networking opportunities.