Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

One of the agendas on the Freshmen Successful Learner Training (PPSMB) Simfoni at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) was the "Inspiring Person" session. "Inspiring Person" is a talk show that brings in inspirational alumni as speakers. On this occasion, M. Sulthan Farras Nanz (Management 2016, Data Analyst at Stockbit) and Andre Benito Sakul (IUP Management 2015, CEO of Lingotalk) shared their experiences on navigating the world of academia and profession.

"What do FEB UGM students need to face the professional world?" asked Sultan Rayhan Arivano, the moderator and chairman of the Student Executive Body (BEM) of FEB UGM. Andre then explained the value of the principles he acquired while studying at FEB UGM, especially integrity and academic freedom. Integrity can be realized through what he called "walk the talk," which means implementing concrete actions that match what we have spoken. Meanwhile, academic freedom is closely related to critical thinking ability. Both values that Andre gained during his studies turned out to play a crucial role when he pursued his career.

The talk show session continued with a discussion about choosing activities on campus. Sulthan likened this process to calculating the net present value (NPV). He said, "Let's assume we want to maximize that NPV. How do we do it? We can invest in network, knowledge, and skill." To obtain these three things, we must try various opportunities and possibilities, ultimately leading to an increased probability of success.

On the other hand, FEB and entrepreneurship are like two inseparable things. Many students in this faculty dream of running their businesses. Therefore, Andre discussed how to prepare oneself to become an entrepreneur. He emphasized that establishing a company should be a solution to the problems existing in society. When founding Lingotalk, he wanted to create an efficient and enjoyable platform for foreign language learning. "When starting a business, we should not merely make 'wanting to become an entrepreneur or CEO' our motivation. We must move from recognizing a problem and turning the business into a solution," he concluded.

The conversation continued with the topic of organizations, starting with Sulthan sharing his past experiences. When he first explored FEB UGM, he felt insecure. However, he dared to join various organizations within the faculty and campus. Sulthan felt participating in such activities was a quick way to adapt and connect with peers. "Don't be shy; explore communities, networks, and others," he said. Like Sulthan, Andre also participated in various event committees within his department. He also agreed with Sulthan's previous opinion that being active in multiple activities can increase the probability of success.

Furthermore, Sulthan shared his experiences participating in competitions during his college years. In high school, he often emerged as the champion in various competitions. Initially, he believed that he would easily win competitions in college because of that. However, that turned out to be untrue. He only won after trying eleven times. He also emphasized the importance of seeking guidance from seniors in preparing for competitions. "Don't give up easily in the face of failure," Sulthan advised.

The session continued with a Q&A with the freshmen. Jasmine (Accounting 2023) and Abet (Management 2023) enthusiastically asked questions to the two speakers. From the Q & A session, portfolio and track record are crucial factors in preparing oneself to face the working world. In addition, we also need to apply the concept of learning and unlearning, which means continuously developing skills according to relevant trends.

Regarding balancing organizations, competitions, and academics, Andre advised, "Don't worry too much. You can do something else if something doesn't work in one area." Sulthan added, "We need to select and maximize the domains we can control (among the three options). If it's beyond our control, we need to approach it differently." This simultaneously concluded the insightful conversation on this occasion. Stay enthusiastic in pursuing your dreams, freshmen of FEB UGM!

Reportage: Rizal Farizi