What began as participation in competitions during her final year of high school became the starting point of Airyn Nabiel Karaputri’s (IUP Economics 2022) journey toward success on the international stage. Yet, despite her accomplishments, she believes that the greatest value of competitions lies in the learning process they offer.
Airyn first developed an interest in competitions while still in high school. In her first semester at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), she explored a new type of competition: Business Case Competitions (BCC). Since then, she has consistently participated in business competitions, eventually competing at the international level across Asia alongside participants from China, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries.
“Back in my first semester, a senior invited me to join a Business Case Competition, and it was my very first one. I learned so much from my seniors. I saw how they worked,” she recalled.
After spending several years in the BCC field, Airyn challenged herself by participating in various competitions, including a Research Paper Competition organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia (FE UI), and the Deloitte Tax Challenge hosted by Deloitte Indonesia. For her, stepping into new competition categories offers opportunities to learn and experience significantly different dynamics.
Reflecting on her competition journey, Airyn emphasized the importance of understanding a wide range of industries. She explained that encountering different industries in each competition has become one of the most valuable aspects of her experience, as it allows her to gain diverse insights while solving real-world business cases.
“I don’t usually choose industries that are already familiar, such as FMCG. I prefer exploring other industries because they broaden my perspective,” she said.
Airyn also shared advice for university students interested in participating in competitions. She recommends starting with provincial or regional-level competitions to build confidence and strengthen essential skills before progressing to more prestigious events.
“Just give it a try because, at the beginning, experience matters more than anything else. Then, gradually level up until you’re ready to compete in more prestigious competitions,” she advised.
Furthermore, Airyn highlighted the importance of developing both general and specialized competencies to increase the chances of success in competitions. General competencies include teamwork, communication, and a strong willingness to learn, while specialized competencies encompass analytical skills, financial analysis, and presentation deck preparation. These capabilities become especially valuable in multidisciplinary competitions where participants from different academic backgrounds contribute their expertise.
“We once joined a competition with students from different majors. As an Economics student, I focused on market analysis; Accounting students handled financial analysis; and Management students developed the business solutions,” she explained.
Airyn also stressed the importance of learning from various sources, including seniors, alums, and professionals, through platforms such as LinkedIn. By seeking feedback and advice from experienced individuals, students can sharpen their analysis and develop more practical and relevant solutions.
“Whenever I asked for feedback, they were always welcoming and genuinely happy to help students,” she said.
For Airyn, winning is certainly a rewarding achievement. However, what motivates her to keep participating in competitions is not the medals or prizes, but the opportunity to continuously learn. Every case she works on introduces her to new ways of thinking, different industries, and stronger teamwork skills. As long as the learning process continues, she believes every competition offers rewards far greater than the final result.
Reporter: Najwa Anggi Namira
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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