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If you’ve ever had a great business idea and wondered how to become an entrepreneur, it might be more achievable than you think. With the right mindset and support, your dream of building the next big app, brand or side hustle could be closer than you think.
To gather the very best expert-backed tips on how to become an entrepreneur, we spoke with Deakin University’s Manager of Entrepreneurship Programs, Jesse McMeikan.
An entrepreneur is generally understood to be someone who starts their own business. But that definition doesn’t tell the whole story.
McMeikan says that when people hear the word ‘entrepreneur’, they often think of launching a tech startup or pitching on Shark Tank.
‘To me, it’s much broader than that. An entrepreneur is anyone who sees a problem and decides to build something to solve it – whether it’s a product, a service, a social enterprise or even a new way of doing things inside an existing organisation,’ he explains.
He adds that if you’re a student just starting out, you don’t need to get too caught up on the label.
‘If you’ve ever looked at something and thought “there has to be a better way to do this,” you’re already thinking like an entrepreneur.’ he says.
Entrepreneurs can be found in any industry; just take a look at the diversity in this list of 100 Young Entrepreneurs in Australia.
At its core, becoming an entrepreneur begins with your mindset. And while there’s no single formula for success, a few key traits tend to set people apart.
McMeikan says resilience, curiosity, being open to feedback, and a willingness to ‘figure things out’ are essential.
‘The ones who tend to do well are resilient – not in a glamorous way, but in a ‘this didn’t work, so I’ll try something different’ kind of way. They’re curious, they listen to feedback (even when it’s hard to hear) and they’re comfortable with not having all the answers upfront,’ he says.
The good news? These skills aren’t fixed.
Recent studies suggest many of the capabilities that matter most in becoming an entrepreneur can be learned — and McMeikan agrees.
‘The skills that actually matter — validating an idea, talking to customers, iterating on a prototype — are absolutely learnable.’ he says.
Through initiatives like Deakin’s Founders Pathways entrepreneurship program, the team focuses on helping budding entrepreneurs build these capabilities in a practical, supported way.
If you’re learning how to become an entrepreneur, developing an entrepreneurial mindset is key.
An entrepreneurial mindset is a way of thinking when approaching an opportunity or problem. Do you just give up when you hit an issue, or look for a way through it?
McMeikan says the entrepreneurship mindset in action is about moving quickly from problem to solution: who it’s for, and how to test if it works.
‘For students, that might look like running a quick survey to see if anyone else shares the problem you’ve noticed, or mocking up a rough version of your idea to show people.
‘It doesn’t have to be polished. In fact, the willingness to put something imperfect out into the world and learn from the response is the mindset in action.’ he notes.
At its core, an entrepreneurial mindset is about adaptability — and resilience in action.
When you’re starting out and learning about becoming an entrepreneur, you may not know where you fit — and that’s okay.
There are many different types of entrepreneurs in Australia, from social enterprise founders to tech start-up creators, hardware innovators to intrapreneurs (those driving innovation within larger organisations).
McMeikan’s advice? Focus on what energises you.
‘Are you drawn to solving a technical challenge? Do you care deeply about a social issue? Are you the kind of person who wants to build a team and scale something, or do you prefer working independently?
‘The answer doesn’t have to be permanent either. Plenty of entrepreneurs shift between these paths over their careers.’ he explains.
If you’re figuring out how to become an entrepreneur, one way to explore where you fit is by joining an entrepreneurship program. These programs offer mentorship, community and skills to help bring your ideas to life.
If you’re feeling lost, joining a program can set you on track to translate your ideas into something tangible.
‘A good program gives you that structure – it takes you from ‘I’ve got this idea’ through to validating it, building a prototype, and understanding whether there’s a real market for it.’ McMeikan explains.
One of the best parts of joining an entrepreneurship program is finding other like-minded people. Being around others at the same stage, who are wrestling with similar challenges, is incredibly helpful.
Building a strong network is also key. A past Deakin Bachelor of Commerce student, Troy Townsend, drew on his network when he co-founded the marketing technology business Tiger Pistol. ‘I did what all new business owners do. I got on the phone. I set up meetings,’ he explains.
It’s not just about connections; entrepreneurship programs also give you access to tools, technology and resources you might not have on your own.
The Deakin Founders Pathways program is offering a tech-forward opportunity by embedding AI into the entrepreneurial process. It’s part of every stage, — ideation, market testing, rapid prototyping — even speed-coding functional products that you can put in front of real users. It helps the process move faster, test more ideas, and build things that would have taken a whole development team to do.
The world of entrepreneurship is exciting, and for many, a deeply rewarding career path. If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, remember: it’s less about having all the answers, and more about getting started.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Deakin Founder Pathways program, you can register your interest for Deakin Inspo Fest, a free warm-up program from 7-24 April 2026. For any other queries about Deakin’s entrepreneurship programs please contact entrepreneurship@deakin.edu.au
Manager of Entrepreneurship Programs
Deakin University
