Classroom to Boardroom:
How BSB105 Creates Real-World Career Pathways
Yesterday, BSB105 – The Future Enterprise officially kicked off for 2025, bringing together 1,700 first-year QUT Business students for an exciting semester ahead. This core business unit, designed to equip students with future-focused skills, uses the Award Winning Classroom to Boardroom strategy, developed by Associate Professor Paula Dootson and Innovation Central Brisbane Director Gemma Alker. This semester, students will work alongside the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), tackling a real-world challenge:
How might we use technology to innovatively improve learner and new driver insurance literacy of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance and its importance amongst young people?
But this year’s first lecture was more than just an introduction—it was a full-circle moment, as two former BSB105 students, Charlotte Willersdorf and Jack Cuddihy, returned to inspire the next generation.
From Classroom to Careers at MAIC
Charlotte and Jack are former BSB105 students who first engaged with MAIC through the Corporate Partners in Excellence (CPIE) program. Their experience in the first-year business unit ultimately led them to 15-week internships at MAIC, where they worked in teams aligned with their study areas—Charlotte in Public Relations and Jack in Law and Business (Technology major). Reflecting on the impact of this experience, Jack shared:
“After years of just studying content without knowing how it would apply in the real world, it was invaluable to finally put those skills into action.”
Their internships opened the door to employment at MAIC, where they now work as Support Officers and continue projects they started as interns—including their CTP Ambassadors Initiative, designed to raise awareness about CTP insurance among young drivers.
Jack and Charlotte credited BSB105 for shaping their skillsets, highlighting the research skills, innovative thinking frameworks, and ethical considerations they first learned in the subject. Jack noted:
“Now that I’m nearing the end of my degree, I realise that the same skills I use today—problem-solving, strategic thinking, and ethical decision-making—are the ones I first developed in BSB105.”
Why This Matters for Current Students
This year, BSB105 students have the unique opportunity to work on the same problem Charlotte and Jack are tackling in their roles at MAIC. As past students of the unit, they encouraged the current cohort to bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table:
“We’re excited to see what you come up with. As young people, you are the target audience for this challenge, and your insights will be incredibly valuable.”
Their story serves as proof that BSB105 isn’t just another university subject—it’s a launchpad for real-world experience and industry connections.
With industry engagement at its core, the unit continues to deliver opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, shaping students into future-ready professionals. This semester, the next wave of innovators will take on the challenge—who knows where it might lead them?
