When Phoebe Saputra arrived in Canberra in the middle of 2022 to begin her undergraduate studies at the Australian National University (ANU), she wasn’t necessarily expecting her passion for entrepreneurship to become such a central part of her student experience.
For her, studying a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Science (Psychology) wasn’t just about academic pursuit; it was about people.
“I took up commerce because I’ve always had an interest in business, and with business you’re always interacting with people,” she explained. “With psychology, I took it up because I really like people… They’re fascinating to me. Even how I think fascinates me.”
This curiosity about people has shaped Phoebe’s journey, both as an international student and as a budding entrepreneur.
The journey from Indonesia to Canberra
Originally born in Melbourne, Phoebe moved to Indonesia with her family at age seven and spent most of her schooling there before returning to Australia to undertake her High School Certificate before continuing with higher education. Due to COVID, Phoebe had to return home early and finish her high school studies back in Indonesia.
“I ended up finishing my Year 12 there because it was hard to maintain [study] online, and then it wasn’t even online. It was a strange high school experience, but I got there in the end,” said Phoebe.
Having had to change her original plans, Phoebe was unsure of where her university path would lead. Due to some health concerns, Melbourne no longer seemed like the right option for her, and she had almost decided to pursue education elsewhere in the world when her mum encouraged her to not to give up on her hopes of studying in Australia.
“She had sort of urged me, she said, ‘Just apply to [other] universities that you want to in Australia. Who knows, you might be able to see a different opportunity?’ At first, I wasn’t planning on heading to Canberra at all. But I’m so thankful that I am here,” she said. “Canberra is a place teeming with opportunities.”
Entrepreneurship as exploration
For Phoebe, entrepreneurship is a way to explore her creativity and ideas, and expand her professional network. She is regularly involved with InnovationACT, a not-for-profit networking company aiming to empower entrepreneurs, as well as attending business-related events and events that align closely with her psychology degree.
“As an entrepreneur, I have these ideas that I champion. If InnovationACT has a startup competition or they have a pitching competition, I usually join in,” she says. “InnovationACT is a great place to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, but in my experience, the real key has been simply showing up.”
Currently, Phoebe works remotely with a start-up textile company operating out of Indonesia, where her major focus is on purchasing and distribution – a task that requires a lot of coordination with suppliers and clients.
“The biggest challenge is bridging distance; things that would normally be resolved face-to-face, like supplier negotiations or quality checks, often take longer and require clearer communication. It’s taught me to be more disciplined with time zones, documentation, and building trust remotely,” she explained.
For Phoebe, the most valuable aspect of entrepreneurship isn’t the business activity, it’s the people behind it.
“The key thing in all of this that I’ve found is people. You’re going to be dealing with people when you’re making something,” she said. “You’re going to need their input, and you’re also going to need people that you trust. I admit, I do like being in that situation where I’m given the opportunity to lead people towards certain tasks – I’ve seen that drive in me and I thrive in it.”
Entrepreneurship, she explained, provides a space to harness her personality and strengths in ways that might be trickier in other industries.
“I've always known that I've had an aptitude for working with people, and entrepreneurship allows me to do things in ways that I want to.” she added.
Building community in Canberra
Arriving in Canberra halfway through the school year came with its own challenges. Most students in her cohort had already formed friendships, leaving Phoebe determined to take the initiative in building her own network.
“I made it my mission to be as outgoing as I can be to everyone, without expecting anything,” she said. “If you expect something, you’re often going to be disappointed. People have things going on in their lives, and it would be self-absorbed to expect them to react a certain way.”
Her proactive and positive approach led her to a leadership role as the International Representative in her residence hall at ANU, where she became a bridge between domestic and international students.
“I’d always felt too Australian to be Indonesian, and too Indonesian to be Australian, so occupying this role allowed me to carve out my identity of being both. A big part of the role was listening to people and helping them feel included, whether through cultural events bridging domestic and international students or just being someone they could talk to, which carried directly to how I approach entrepreneurship,” said Phoebe.
As far as living in Canberra itself goes, Phoebe has no regrets about choosing it over other Australian cities.
“Canberra is balanced. It’s city enough to offer opportunity, but quaint enough to offer community. It lacks the oversaturated disconnect bigger cities have, making it easier to meet people who genuinely want to collaborate, whether through university societies, entrepreneurship spaces, or student media channels,” she said.
Advice to international students
Phoebe’s advice for anyone wanting to explore study and entrepreneurship in Australia is clear: focus on people.
“The people around you are the key,” she said. “You also need to understand yourself. You’re not perfect, and you work with that. That’s my key takeaway.”
Phoebe’s own journey has not been without frustration. Balancing studies, entrepreneurship and being away from family is demanding, but she believes in the importance of validating those struggles.
“The frustrations you feel are valid,” she said. “It’s okay to be angry at something not working out, or at yourself. But don’t linger on it. Ask yourself, am I just focusing on what already happened, or can I take this into something I can improve myself on?”
