The Journey of Diva Arya, an Alumnus of ITB Who Studied Abroad to Establish Business in Indonesia

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id—Diva Arya Saskia Putri, better known as Diva, is an accomplished alumni of Institut Teknologi Bandung who has achieved major success in her business career. As for now, Diva works as Relationship Manager in Shopee, the biggest e-commerce corporation in Southeast Asia, while also owning Mornight Creative, Mornight Official, Mornight Management, and Imanee (a hijab fashion brand).

Her efforts in establishing businesses have led her to realize her visions in providing jobs and generating economic growth within the community. This success relies on her academic journey as one of the alumni of the Double Degree Program majoring in International Business in the School of Business and Management ITB (SBM ITB), as well as her notable organizational experiences throughout high school.

From her very first day at ITB, Diva has carefully planned her studies in order to excel academically while still actively participating in various non-academic activities to establish relationships and gain organizational experience. On campus, Diva joined multiple organizations and committees, including Progressio Consulting Club.

Furthermore, Diva’s passion for arts has led her to become a representative for Indonesia’s traditional dance in Bratislava, Slovakia, 2016. She also had the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program to Japan in 2017.

At the age of 18, while completing her double degree program, Diva continued her study by enrolling in the Marketing Study Program at the University of Hull, England. At that time, she was the youngest student in her study program.

“They were surprised and thought I was a new student, even though I was in my final year of university,” she recalled.

Determined to not squander the study-abroad opportunity, Diva actively engaged in various non-academic activities at the University of Hull, honing her leadership skills and expanding her networks with international students.

Diva worked as a “student call center” to facilitate communication with prospective students at the University of Hull. Moreover, she had a chance to participate in a student exchange program at ESC Rennes Business School, Rennes, France and Kedge Business School, Bordeaux, France. During the time, she received full funding from the University of Hull after a series of competitive selection processes. She admitted that studying in these countries enriched her with valuable experiences, especially through interactions with peers from diverse nations and cultures.

After months of hard work, her efforts to be actively involved at the University of Hull bore fruits, as Diva received the Library Volunteer Awards (2018) and the Hull Employability Global Citizenship Awards (2018). The pinnacle moment was when she was chosen as the Face of Marketing at the University of Hull in the International Undergraduate Prospectus 2019, featured in various promotional materials both nationwide and internationally.

Upon completing her studies, Diva participated in the 25th International EBES Conference held in Berlin, Germany, in the year 2018 to publish her final project. Her research was published in the scientific journal Springer. Diva graduated from the University of Hull with first-class honors at the age of 19.

Returning to Indonesia with a renewed spirit to apply her knowledge, Diva found herself working from home during the 2020 pandemic. She and her friends tried to be productive and see the pandemic as an emerging opportunity for content creators.

"The pandemic created many opportunities for content creators. My friends and I viewed this as a potential for collaboration between content creators and brands," she stated. It was during this time that she found Mornight Management.

Her business continued to grow and expand, leading her to the creation of Mornight Creative as well as Mornight Official. Through Mornight Creative, Diva and her team provide marketing services and agencies tailored to clients' needs.

Mornight Official functions as a digital media platform, offering creative content and addressing trending issues. After operating for over three years in Bandung, Diva successfully established an integrated service business encompassing digital media, agency services, and talent management in the creative and entertainment industries. She mentioned that her business was officially incorporated as a limited corporation (PT).

Diva also ventured into the hijab fashion industry with her brand, Imanee. Along with her friends, she managed this business as a home industry, involving every aspect from material selection to sewing and marketing. After successfully selling thousands of products online, Imanee expanded its offerings to include Muslim clothing.

Her determination to establish business in Indonesia is driven by her dream to contribute to her nation's development. She believes that the experiences gained during her study abroad should benefit the wider community. "Waiting is not an option," she says. Her business’s vision aligns with the government's program to support digitally literate Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM).

Diva, who nurtures such vast dreams, never forgets to perform the act of kindness. Her aim in establishing her business is to provide jobs for other people. She does not have any specific target in mind, as her goal is to simply become the “light” for her surroundings. Wherever she is, she wants to give and alleviate the burdens of the people around her.

Diva remains grateful for her blessings and emphasizes the importance of patience in facing the challenges in life. Lastly, as an SBM ITB alumnus, Diva encourages all of us to maintain optimism and retains a positive mindset throughout everything. "Life is an art of choice. We are the painters of our lives. We must choose our path wisely," she concluded.

Reporter: Fadhilah Ramadhani (Civil Engineering, 2019)

Translator: Hanifa Juliana (Urban and Regional Planning, 2020)

Editor: Kezia Hosana S.