Hi, I’m Agung. Welcome to my corner of the internet.
I was born in Magetan, East Java, where the Javanese-Mataraman culture shaped not only my childhood but also the way I see the world. Since my teenage years, I have embraced Kejawen—not as mere tradition, but as a philosophy and way of life. Later, my passion for tasawwuf led me to spend five years at a pesantren in Nganjuk. Those years taught me resilience, the art of gratitude, and how to find unconditional happiness. Looking back, those spiritual and cultural roots became the compass that has quietly guided me through every step of my journey.
When it came time for higher education, I chose to pursue International Relations. I began at Universitas Paramadina, where I was awarded the Paramadina–Theodore Permadi Rachmat Fellowship. Later, I continued at Universitas Indonesia with another scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education.
During my undergraduate years, I wrote a thesis titled “The United States Foreign Policy toward Democracy and Human Rights in Myanmar (2003–2009)”, which shaped my early understanding of the complexities of international politics and human rights. In graduate school, my master’s thesis at Universitas Indonesia focused on “The Advocacy of TF-AMW to ASEAN in Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2007–2010)”, deepening my interest in regional cooperation and human rights advocacy.
My journey even took me abroad, to Singapore Management University, where I studied International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights under the East-West Center Scholarship. These experiences not only broadened my academic horizons but also deepened my love for Indonesia. They reminded me that while we must engage with the world, we should always remain rooted in our homeland.
That is why one of my life missions is clear: to introduce Indonesia to the world, and to bring the world closer to Indonesia.
Professionally, I’ve worn many hats over the past 13+ years—Marcomm Manager, Consultant, Trainer, Learning Designer, Curriculum Specialist, Lecturer, and Coach. My focus has always been around Marketing Communications, Management Consulting, and People Development. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with respected institutions such as POMOSDA, Kompas, The ASEAN Secretariat, Schlumberger, SWA, AndrewTani & Co, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Home Credit, BlueVisions Management, Tiens, Panin Dai-ichi Life, JAFRA, and many more.
But at heart, I’ve always been a storyteller. Over the years, I’ve written more than 100 books and 1,000 articles across journals, magazines, newspapers, and digital platforms. My words have traveled far—but so have I. I’ve spoken on stages in Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Dubai, sharing insights on leadership, literacy, change management, and motivation.
My ideas have also been featured in 70+ media outlets in Indonesia and abroad—from The Japan Times and SEA Today to Kompas, Jawa Pos, Liputan 6, Detik.com, Smart FM, Sonora, TVRI, and many others. In 2021, my podcast The Grandsaint Show was even recognized as one of the Top 101 Self-Improvement Podcasts in Indonesia on Apple Podcasts.
In recent years, I’ve also been building platforms that align with my mission of learning, growth, and transformation. I founded LinkedIn Hacks Academy, a learning and growth platform for professionals, creators, and job seekers who want to build a strong, relevant, and marketable personal brand. I also founded The Pandita Institute, a purpose-driven learning and transformation partner that exists to unlock the latent potential within individuals and organizations. We believe that every human and every team carries the seeds of greatness—what’s often needed is the right guidance, tools, and space to grow.
In addition, I serve as the founder and chief editor of SuperCareer, a weekly newsletter on LinkedIn that has become a companion for thousands of professionals who want to learn, grow, and thrive together.
Along this journey, I’ve been humbled by recognitions that affirm my mission: Outstanding Student of Nganjuk Regency, Tourism Ambassador of Magetan, Duta Bahasa Jakarta Province (runner-up), ASEAN Blogger Ambassador, Young Leaders for Indonesia, and in 2022, Global Change Maker by SDG Startups and Funds for my work in Human Rights, Inclusion, and Innovation.
Still, I see life as more than a collection of titles and achievements. As the third of four siblings, I’ve learned that my journey is not just about “growing”—but about glowing: sharing what I’ve learned, inspiring others, and hopefully leaving behind something meaningful.
Thank you for stopping by. I hope this space gives you a glimpse not only of what I do, but of why I do it.
