My Story – Connecting the Dots
Some say that my life is a bit drifted away, some other say its quite an adventure. But I simply say its a wonderful journey of hope, faith, and luck.
Me & Biotechnology
If you asked me years ago, “what is your dream?”, I had always wanted to be a scientist. my drive was simple, I wanted to unveil the secret of nature. Thats lead me to take Biotechnology as my undergraduate study.
From my study, I learned about biotechnology and how it is applied in the real world, and how should biotechnology help human solve their problem. At that time, everything seemed perfect. As a student, I had almost everything. My GPA was high sky, I was chosen as head of Science Division and Science Club, and I got the opportunity to become an lecturer assistant in many laboratory study.
My accomplishment were acknowledged by the faculty, and they gave me 2 projects : an international exchange research program in Thailand and a human genome project prototyping. My first project was successful, I unveiled 4 cryptic fungus species which then published together with my supervisor in international journal. However, my second project wasn’t a very successful one, lead me to question the path that I’ve chosen. Should I continue my path?
Me & International Exposure
The truth is out there, thats what the “X-files” says. I never knew such words would influence me much on how I see the world. Despite my calm and a bit introvert personality, I always find it fascinating to meet new people. In some way, I “use” them as my observation object, and I am amaze by how people are beyond uniquely beautiful. Seeking more exposure (or you can say observation), I joined two international exchange programs. One of them was the research program in Thailand which I’ve mentioned earlier.
Dragon 100 – International Young Chinese Leader Program. That’s the name of my second student exchange program which enabled me to meet other 99 great chinese young leader from all over the world. I was one of three Indonesian delegates chosen from hundreds candidates from my country. Meeting those great men had made me settle one thing on my mind: “I am a world citizen, and I am gonna see the world.”
Starting that day, I spent my leisure time travelling (or backpacking). I went to several ASEAN countries and had a chance to travel in Europe. But one thing for sure, I love watching human behaviour while travelling.
Me & The New Path I Chose
Stucked. Thats how I feel most of the time when I did my human genome project. The idea of the project was simple. There was this “bad genes” that lead to human obesity, and I was supposed to create the prevalences of that gene in Indonesian population. But failing on detection phase had caused me to do that phase all over again for hundred times (only God knows the exact repetition I’ve done). Bottom line, I was fed up with research.
It took me a while to do some self-reflection to know what I want to do next. Until one day, something illuminate me: Be a Marketer. I immidiately contacted one of my marketing lecturer (he is the current CEO of NFI) who also was a director of Nutrifood Indonesia Co. That company is well known as an innovative national company which launched functional product with health benefit. Once I expressed my interest of joining the brand management team, he only replied “I thought u’d never ask! Send your CV now”. One single day, out of thousand days of my life, a critical change had occured in my life.
one and a half year, I worked as a brand executive for L-Men, a brand specialised in men’s nutrition. Using my background in biotechnology, I designed several science based product which later on become the block buster for the brand. Soon after, I was promoted and given more responsibility to take care of HiLo, a Calcium Milk brand, which had vary consumer segment based on age.
HiLo performance was not so good, since it had many competitors which make the brand a lot more difficult to handle. Under my management, the brand was repositioned, and fundamental strategies were restructured. I also launched new product to support the growth of the brand. All the hard work were payed off when HiLo rose again and showed double digit growth after long slow growth occur for past few years. This achievement fruited my next promotion as brand manager.
As part of the Corporate Strategic Chamber, I noticed the importance of the human resource for NFI. Soon, together with the CEO, I formed a management trainee system, to catalyse the learning process for new recruits. This system is now continually adopted in other division under the management of Human Resource Division.
It was all clear. if I’ve never taken biotech, I would not have the edge on inventing new products for my brand. if I am not interested in human behaviour, I would not be able to understand my consumer behaviour and create brilliant marketing idea. Should I didn’t do the human genome research, I would never re-question my dream and become who I’ve become today. everything that I’ve done, has shape me the way I am now.
New adventure: Denny in Sauder School of Business
Well done! Thats what every one says about my accomplishment in Nutrifood. I am the youngest brand manager in Nutrifood. However, I know something bigger is waiting for me. Then I decide to take further step in my business career, by taking my master degree in Sauder School of Business.
My experiences, my knowledge, and my Indonesian background, will help me learn the MBA program as well as enrich my class point of view in understanding a business. Through the multi-culture class, I believe that would also be benefited in the same way.
No promises. But simply assured that for everything that I’ve done, I learned a lot from it. and taking my MBA in Sauder will open the door of knowledge and thousands possibilities for my future.