Hustle, Create, Conquer: How Western’s Side Hustle Series is Fueling the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs
Disclaimer: This is a Side Hustler’s Guide to What Was Learned and may be lengthy.
At Western, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and thriving as seen through the Side Hustle Series. Delivered by the university’s start-up incubator; Launch Pad, it is designed to help students transform their passions into tangible business opportunities.
Whether it’s becoming a freelance photographer, opening an online store, or launching an influencer career – Side Hustle Series provided students with the tools, insights, and encouragement to take the first step into the world of entrepreneurship. And this year, the workshop was bigger, better, and more hands-on than ever before.
A New Approach: Ideation Meets Business Strategy
The Side Hustle Series workshop is structured into two distinct halves. The first part featured ideation. Where students reflected deeply, exploring their passions, skills, and interests to figure out where their strengths lie. They asked themselves: What am I passionate about? and What do I excel at? What makes my approach stand out?
Brad Twynham, the workshop’s lead facilitator, shared the concept of the “Golden Circle,” a framework that helps businesses start with their “Why” (purpose), followed by their “How” (values), and finally their “What” (products and services). Armed with this mindset, students worked through the Side Hustle Canvas, which helped them define their purpose, values, and ultimate goals.
"We live in an abundant world, and the opportunities are endless. It doesn’t matter what the side hustle is, you have to find a market and then test the market."
Brad set the tone for a day full of possibilities. But as many participants learned, finding your niche is crucial. This was reinforced when students faced the challenge of narrowing down their focus to one main passion, skill, and defining their style in just three words.
This was just the beginning of what turned out to be a deeply transformative day. As students refined their ideas and connected with their “why,” they were guided through the essential business strategies necessary to launch their side hustle.
Tech Tools for the Creative Entrepreneur
The second half of the day was focused on the practicalities of turning an idea into a business. Kaitlin from Adobe introduced students to Adobe Creative Cloud, specifically Adobe Express, an easy-to-use tool that enables entrepreneurs to create quick graphics and videos. The best part? Western Sydney University students have free access to the entire suite!
"Tech can simplify the complex process of creating professional content. It’s about empowering students to create high-quality visuals, no matter their technical skill level."
For those interested in creative side hustles—whether it’s social media content creation, graphic design, or video production—this was a game changer.
Further enhancing the tech-driven learning experience, students also explored the use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. This enabled them to conduct market research and better understand where their ideas fit into the larger business landscape.
For instance, Ashmita, a participant passionate about cooking, used AI to identify her target audience—university students and busy professionals new to cooking. The AI’s market segmentation helped her define her target demographic, which would guide her content creation and product offerings.
"I really liked how Brad wasn’t telling me what to do, but rather showing me how to find what’s right for me. And also how to utilize resources available such as AI."
Real-World Insights from a Successful Side Hustler
No workshop about side hustles would be complete without hearing from someone who has already navigated the challenges. That’s where Cryste Ashley, a content creator and former Western student, came in.
In her inspiring panel discussion, Cryste shared how she grew her audience and found success in the highly competitive world of content creation. “A lot of people enjoyed my more faith-based content. But you won’t know what works until you put it out there,” she explained. One of her biggest takeaways? “Find your voice and your passion. Stay authentic, and your audience will grow with you,” she said.
Cryste also discussed how networking and community-building were integral to her growth as a content creator. “Networking is so important,” she stressed. “The people you meet at workshops like this could become future collaborators, employees, or even business partners.” Her story of getting a surprising collaboration with a well-known Catholic organisation was a perfect example of how the unexpected can happen when you put yourself out there.
Cryste’s advice for budding entrepreneurs was simple but powerful: “Don’t be discouraged if things don’t happen immediately. Consistency and patience are key.“
Creating Content that Captivates
In addition to the insightful talks and strategy sessions, students were given the opportunity to put their new skills to the test with a practical short-form content creation challenge. With the help of mentors and AI-assisted scripts, they were able to quickly generate content ideas, film, and edit short videos in real time. “Story is the original classroom” Brad emphasised, as he encouraged the students to be authentic with their content. “People are after someone that they can relate to, not a polished expert,” he added.
Brad also provided some key video tips:
“Always have good lighting, look into the camera, and remember that your energy will translate to your audience.” These practical techniques helped students refine their approach to creating engaging and professional-looking content that would help them stand out in their respective markets.
Building a Business Model and Community
The final session brought everything together as students explored potential business models. They were introduced to three core categories: “Done for you,” “Done with you,” and “Do it yourself.” With each model, students had to weigh the pros and cons and determine what best suited their passion, skills, and resources.
More importantly, students were reminded that building a strong community is just as important as building a business model. The Side Hustle Series workshop emphasized the importance of not only offering a product or service but creating a supportive environment where your customers can thrive alongside you.
Looking Ahead: The Side Hustle Circle
The Side Hustle workshop might have ended for the day, but the journey is just beginning. A new community called the Side Hustle Circle is being launched to keep participants motivated and engaged as they continue their entrepreneurial journey. This online network will offer support, resources, and a space to share progress with like-minded individuals.
For those who attended, it was more than just a workshop—it was the spark that ignited their entrepreneurial spirit.
"This is the third time I attended the side hustle workshop and I am glad that I came. This time it helps me to find a new idea that really align with my passion, and because of that, I have a feeling that this time I will act on it as opposed to just letting these big ideas sitting in my mind."
Whether students walked away with a clear idea of their business model or just the motivation to take the first step, the Side Hustle Series workshop was a powerful reminder that with the right mindset, tools, and community, anything is possible.