Life has a way of serving up curveballs that challenge us to rethink our preconceived notions of what it means to be successful. It was the late 90s, and there I was, a confident engineer turned salesperson working for a multinational tech company and making quite the income. But then…

Wildfires that were raging in Bromo marred the area’s serene landscapes. The fire’s cause? A seemingly harmless pre-wedding photoshoot where flares were used. Mount Bromo, a jewel nestled within Indonesia’s vast landscapes, tells a story not just of nature’s splendor but of a connection deep-rooted in tradition and reverence. As…

In our globally connected world, parallels can be drawn between the most unlikely sectors. This was what I noticed when I read about the recent incident involving Matty Healy, the lead singer of the British band The 1975, during a concert in Malaysia. Healy protested against Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws by…

This post is warmly penned in celebration of Jakarta’s 496th birthday, honoring the city’s vibrant pulse and resilient spirit. Just as I marvel at the energy and vibrancy that bubble through the busy streets of Jakarta, I’ve also got to take a minute to think about the challenges this bustling…

As I sip a warm and comforting bowl of Vietnamese pho, I can’t help but marvel at the richness and diversity of our culinary world. My years working with ASEAN institutions granted me the opportunity to travel across the vibrant Southeast Asian countries, with each trip broadening my understanding and…

In every line of work, there’s often a crucial profession that doesn’t receive the attention or recognition it deserves. It’s not until their absence, when we desperately need their expertise, that we truly appreciate their importance. As I stepped off the plane at Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central…

Mudik is an Indonesian term that captures the essence of the annual tradition of people returning to their ancestral homes during the Eid al-Fitr holidays. As I opened my window that morning, I couldn’t help but notice how different Jakarta’s sky appeared. It was blue and clear, a stark contrast…

As we stand at the crossroads of our careers, many of us are drawn to the idea of making a difference in the world by joining the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector comprises a wide variety of organizations, from government agencies and foundations to multilateral organizations like the World Bank…

Do we often assume that we hold the key to assisting local communities in finding better ways? Shouldn’t we be questioning who learns from whom in these situations? Apart from oversharing personal matters in LinkedIn, it is common to see posts showcasing missions abroad, where individuals from the West visit…