A passion for learning, healthcare and helping young adults achieve their goals is what drove Nancy Lin to take a leap of faith and launch her own business. ​

After working in research and health administration for six years, Nancy Lin decided to take her career to the next level and enrol in the Master of Health Administration, Policy and Leadership at Murdoch. With a passion for public health and improving the lives of nations, communities and individuals, Nancy saw the unique course as an opportunity to bring positive change to the health ecosystem and move into project management, which was an area she was interested in.

“The course is the only one of its kind in Australia and explores some really interesting topics like health systems research, health law, policy and governance and strategic health communication, all which piqued my interest,” Nancy said.

“I was also presented with a number of Work Integrated Learning opportunities to work on real-world projects for clients. At one point I was working on a vaccination awareness campaign to encourage vaccination uptake and raise awareness.”

“My biggest achievement and most recognisable experience whilst studying at Murdoch was when I worked with a clinical diagnostic service provider as a Project Officer. In this role, I researched local primary health services and helpedalum to draft West Australia’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Model of Care, which is still being used in effect today.”

From healthcare to launching a business

After experiencing firsthand the difficulties international students face when living in a foreign country, Nancy saw an opportunity to make a difference.

“Going through university I saw the struggles others went through to find and apply for jobs. Organisations were advertising entry roles but wanted years of experience.

“Having experience does not make a person a good candidate. There are many other factors such as personal attributes, values, interests and having a diverse skill set that come into play. I want to help people recognise that experience isn’t the only thing they should focus on.

“Graduates can change their perspective when applying for jobs and interviewing. Not all companies know exactly who they want to recruit, candidates sometimes need to tell them exactly what they can do to address their needs. So, think from a company perspective – what skills and knowledge are they trying to attract,” she said.

This change in perspective along with the business foundations and analytical skills learnt at Murdoch led Nancy to launch One Step Up, an employability support service to help people achieve the small and big career goals in life. A holistic system that addresses any struggles people may have, from knowing how to start a conversation with strangers to writing tailored cover letters.

“Starting a business is something I consider a bold move,” Nancy said.

“It’s the business foundations along with my courage, curiosity and passion to learn from others and help others that have driven me to start my business”.

Collaborating with organisations and councils, Nancy is not only helping international students build confidence, business skills and find career opportunities, she is also building a community that students can rely on.