Creative Capability, Fresh Perspective and Capacity to Execute: 3 Benefits of Having a CampusLife Intern in My Busines

When launching a new business, one of the biggest challenges isn't just having a vision; it's having the capacity to execute it.

You go from working in an environment where you have entire teams with diverse skill sets at your fingertips to working largely in isolation, trying to solve every problem yourself. For many startup founders and SME owners, this is where progress stalls. You know what needs to be done, but you don't have the time, the budget, or the creative expertise to make it happen.

That was exactly where I found myself when I started building my own business.

Hi, I’m Roslyn Johnson. After a career in public health and corporate health, I'm now launching Anokai, an advisory agency that supports both individuals and organisations with healthcare navigation. I had the expertise and the vision, but when it came to branding, marketing, and creative assets? I was completely stuck.

That's when I discovered CampusLife through the BYOB program, and it changed everything.

Why I Decided to Work with CampusLife Interns

CampusLife felt like a valuable addition to the BYOB program from the start. While BYOB gave me structure, a playbook, and helped me understand what I didn't know, CampusLife added something crucial: the actual people and skill sets to help soundboard and execute on those plans.

I'll be honest, like many business owners, I had questions. Would student interns really understand the nuances of a health advisory business? Would this add to my workload rather than lighten it? But what drew me in was the realisation that I needed capabilities I simply didn't have, particularly around creative and branding imagination. And the program structure suggested this wouldn't just be transactional, it would be collaborative.

One of the hardest things about building a business is keeping momentum. When there are so many roadblocks along the way, it's easy to get stuck in thinking mode rather than action mode. Having interns through CampusLife helped me move from intention to action, because suddenly I had people to work with, accountability structures, and forward progress that we scheduled every single week.

The Matching Process: Getting It Right From Day One

The matching process turned out to be one of the most critical elements of the program's success.

Before being matched with interns, I went through a process with the CampusLife & BYOB team to clarify what I was looking for and ensure we had clear expectations on both sides. Then, interns applied, and I reviewed a shortlist to make the final selection.

I was matched with two incredible interns: Cassie and Cherry. Cassie, with her psychology background, brought a hybrid skill set that aligned perfectly with my health-focused business. We spoke the same language around wellness, healthcare navigation, and supporting individuals. Cherry brought the creative firepower I desperately needed: branding, design, content feedback, and all the marketing expertise I lacked.

What I appreciated most about the matching process was how well it set us up for success. When you're well matched, you get into a rhythm quickly. You lean into each other's strengths. You develop a sense of teamwork that mirrors what you'd have in any other professional environment, and everyone feels like they have something valuable to contribute.

Building a Working Rhythm: The First Few Weeks

The first few weeks were all about establishing a working rhythm, accountability, and progress tracking.

We set up weekly meetings and created a team WhatsApp group for communication between sessions. We loosely applied a RACI framework (Responsibility, Action, Consultation, Informed) to allocate tasks, so we all knew who was responsible for what and by when. Sometimes I'd fall behind, and they'd keep me accountable. Other times, things would come up on their end, and we'd simply push tasks to the next week.

What made the program work so well was building in this cadence and structure early on. We created our own project management spreadsheet together, which turned intentions into action and prevented us from getting stuck on any one task for too long.

And honestly, there weren't major challenges, just the normal realities of everyone being busy and juggling multiple priorities. The key was establishing that rhythm and mutual accountability from the start.

The Moment Everything Clicked

One of my favourite moments working with Cassie and Cherry was when we met face to face in the city for a planning session.

Meeting in person, you get triple the amount done. We worked collaboratively through iterations of my logo design and brand elements, making decisions in real time rather than going back and forth over multiple weeks. They presented different concepts, we discussed what fit, and rather than staying stuck on one thing, we locked it in and moved forward.

That session was a wonderful moment for me because it meant whatever I was dreaming or working towards became real on paper. We finalised the brand identity for Anokai, and from that moment, my business feltmuch more tangible and real. It was something I genuinely couldn't have done myself, not because I lack creative skills, but because they brought fresh thinking and could efficiently use tools like Canva at a greater speed.

That's the value of working with interns who bring different skill sets and fresh perspectives. They help you get over the humps and keep moving forward.

The Broader Impact: Time, Accountability, and Mentorship

Halfway through the six-month program, the full financial ROI is still unfolding, but what I can already see clearly is the value in time and accountability.

Having this support has freed me up to focus on other areas of the business that only I can do. It's created momentum and prevented me from getting stuck on tasks that would have taken me weeks to figure out on my own. And perhaps most importantly, it's helped me build the marketing foundations that simply didn't exist before, branding, content, systems, all while working with people who genuinely care about the work we're doing together.

But there's another dimension to the value that I didn't fully anticipate: the two-way mentor-mentee relationship.

Working with Cassie and Cherry, they're building professional confidence, developing rapport, and expanding their professional network, all of which are vital for their future careers. In return, I get to mentor and lead by example, which is something I genuinely love doing. It's a two-way exchange of value, and that's what makes this program so much more than just an internship.

To be competitive in a crowded professional space, you need to work on what makes you different and stand out from everyone else. CampusLife offers interns a unique asset on their CV and a skill set that other graduates simply won't have. And for business owners, it gives you access to motivated, capable talent who are ready to contribute from day one.

What Sets CampusLife Apart

I can confidently recommend CampusLife to other founders and SME owners because of the quality and standard that's been set by the program.

With over 250 applications narrowed down to just 25 spots, the selection process ensures you're working with interns who genuinely want to be there and are committed to delivering great work. That quality assurance means I don't have to worry about wasting time or energy; I know I'm getting real value for my investment.

But here's the other side of the equation: as business owners, we have a responsibility too. We're entrusted to be custodians of these interns. That means being willing to work collaboratively, share both the difficult decisions and the fun stuff, and create a positive mini-team culture where everyone feels valued.

If you're someone who loves mentoring, leading, and building something together, this program will work brilliantly for you.

My Advice to Other Founders

If you're on the fence about CampusLife, here's what I'd tell you: this is a two-way street.

You need to be ready to invest time in building that working relationship, establishing structures, and creating a collaborative environment. But if you do that, the return is worth it. You get access to fresh thinking, different skill sets, and motivated talent who will help you move from stuck to progressing, all while building their own professional capabilities.

While I will miss the camaraderie when the program ends, I'm already thinking about future opportunities to work with great interns again. Because once you experience what it's like to have that support, that momentum, and that collaborative energy, it's hard to imagine building a business without it.

If you want to chat more about my experience or have questions about working with CampusLife interns, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn. And if you're ready to find your perfect intern match, I highly recommend visiting the CampusLife website and filling in their 'Find My Intern' form to get started!

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Find your intern here: https://www.campuslife.com.au/find-your-intern

Contact CampusLife via hello@campuslife.com.au if you have any questions.