I Gusti Ayu Maresta Amrita Puspa Pujawati proves that resilience is the key to her success in achieving numerous achievements. During her studies at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UGM, this student of the Economics program, Class of 2021, has received various national and international recognitions.
Throughout her studies, Maresta actively participated in various activities and business competitions, including business case and business plan competitions. Her interest in business stems from her desire to address business challenges and provide impactful solutions.
Maresta has excelled in numerous national and international business competitions. She won 2nd place in the NTU-GAIP Insurance Case Competition 2024, 3rd place in the Deloitte M&A Challenge 2023, and 3rd place in the eChallenge Bootcamp at ThincLab, The University of Adelaide in 2024. She also received the Indonesia International Student Mobility Award (IISMA) Professional Program (Entrepreneur) Scholarship at the University of Adelaide from November to December 2024.
Outside of competitions, Maresta is active in various organizations and internships. She has served as a Media and Marketing Associate and Project Analyst at ShARE UGM, Chairperson of the Economia Business Case Competition 2022, Research Associate at UGM ASEAN Society, and Business Development Intern at Du Anyam. She is a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Research Intern.
Furthermore, in February 2024, Maresta was selected as the Indonesian delegate to the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) 2024, an international forum on global challenges and innovative solutions. In August 2024, she was selected as one of the delegates for OceanX’s Young Explorers Program, where she explored the marine world and learned about the importance of sustainable ocean ecosystems.
Maresta revealed that her primary motivation for staying active and excelling is her desire to become the best version of herself. By engaging in various activities, she can continually develop her potential. However, she also recognizes that there is no single “best version” of herself; instead, she is constantly evolving to be better than before.
“Every experience, whether a success or a failure, has a purpose and a benefit, even if it is difficult to understand. By staying resilient, I remain optimistic and strong to face anything without fear,” Maresta said.
She shared some tips for excelling amid academic and non-academic busyness. First, prioritize your competition goals by focusing on those that will significantly impact your personal and professional development, and integrate academic theories into the development of competition solutions for educational benefit. Second, the time-blocking method allocates time between competitions and academics. Third, build a solid team by selecting members with a shared vision and complementary skills. Fourth, tasks within the team should be distributed fairly and efficiently. Fifth, learn to say “no” to activities that do not align with your priorities. Finally, always conduct personal and team practice and evaluation to improve in future competitions.
Maresta expressed her gratitude for the support of her family, especially her sibling, who motivates her to keep growing. Other support, such as material and non-material support and trust from her family, also encourages her to pursue her dreams enthusiastically. In addition, a positive social circle has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for her to keep moving forward.
FEB UGM, with its academic support through quality courses and faculty, facilities, training, and funding for various activities, has become an institution that helps her achieve national and international success. For Maresta, FEB UGM is an institution that continues to open doors of opportunity and a place for development, helping her to achieve many accomplishments.
She hopes to continue contributing to sustainable policy development in the economic sector, especially in creating solutions that support Indonesia’s sustainable economic growth. She aspires to become a consultant and provide innovative and impactful solutions to various financial challenges.
Finally, Maresta encourages other students to be bold, try new things, and take advantage of opportunities that align with their interests and passions. She advises focusing on and enjoying the process rather than just the outcome. From this process, you can identify areas for improvement to achieve a more satisfying result.
“Remember not to rush. Keep moving forward consistently because this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush, but keep going!”
Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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