Harvard University witnessed the presence of I Gusti Ayu Maresta Amrita Puspa Pujawati, an Economics undergradute student from the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), in the prestigious Harvard Project College for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Harvard Conference 2024, which will be held in Cambridge, Boston, on February 9-11 2024. HPAIR has successfully organized 50 conferences in 20 different host countries worldwide since 1991. This year, HCONF carries the “Charting New Horizons: Mapping Present & Future” conference theme. The HCONF aims to connect current global leaders with future leaders in a dynamic forum of idea exchange.
The document selection stage, ranging from a motivation letter and curriculum vitae to transcription and a short interview containing an explanation of the motivation letter written, successfully passed Maresta to become one of the 100 people selected after passing a rigorous selection from more than 10,000 applicants. Her determination to bring the good name of her alma mater did not dampen her spirit to face students from various levels, disciplines, and countries.
Harvard Campus Tour was the opening agenda for the delegates on the first day. The excitement continued in the evening when the delegates participated in International Night. This event became an arena for them to present the culture of their respective countries. In another series of activities, the delegates did not just listen to presentations from significant world figures. Still, they were also invited to actively participate in completing business case studies, such as the challenge to formulate green marketing strategies for Patagonia and Clav companies.
The event was a valuable moment for the delegates to hear first-hand views and experiences from renowned speakers, including Paul Scanlan (Former CTO of Huawei), Sun Choe (Chief Product Officer of Lululemon), Carol Rollie Flynn (President of FPRI and Retired from CIA), Smriti Aryal (Head of UN Women China), Honey Lacuna (Mayor of Manila), Anoulak Kittikhoun (CEO of Mekong River Commission), Jake Setnicka (Strategy and Environmental Manager at Patagonia), and Stephane Lafay (Former President of Tiffany & Co Asia). Topics covered ranged from green supply chains and the impact of international relations on business to marketing strategies for luxury products.
“The HPAIR Conference has been a great experience that has enriched my horizons and network. The sessions with industry leaders and in-depth discussions have opened my eyes to the upcoming global challenges. In addition, the networking built on an ongoing basis makes this experience even more memorable,” said Maresta.
In closing, through the participation of students like I Gusti Ayu Maresta Amrita Puspa Pujawati, FEB UGM has shown its commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. Through opportunities like this, FEB UGM continues to produce a generation that cares about global issues and is ready to become future leaders who positively impact society and the environment.
Reportage: Hilda Bhakti Fahrezi
