I was born in Magetan, East Java, where the Javanese-Mataraman culture has deeply shaped who I am today. Since my teenage years, I have embraced Kejawen as both a philosophy and a way of life. My passion for tasawwuf even led me to spend five years studying in a pesantren in Nganjuk—a period that taught me resilience, unconditional happiness, and the art of gratitude. These spiritual and cultural foundations became the compass that has guided me in every step of my journey.
When I pursued higher education, I chose International Relations, first at Universitas Paramadina on a full scholarship from Theodore Permadi Rachmat, former CEO of Astra International, and later at Universitas Indonesia with another scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research & Technology. I further expanded my academic horizons at Singapore Management University, studying International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights under a scholarship from the East-West Center. This academic journey not only deepened my knowledge but also strengthened my love for Indonesia. It reminded me that while we must engage with the world, we must also remain grounded in our homeland. That is why one of my life missions is clear: to introduce Indonesia to the world and bring the world closer to Indonesia.
Professionally, I have spent more than 13 years as a Marcomm Manager, Consultant, Trainer, Learning Designer, Curriculum Specialist, Lecturer, and Coach—focusing on Marketing Communications, Management Consulting, and People Development. Along the way, I have had the privilege of contributing to respected institutions such as POMOSDA, Kompas, The ASEAN Secretariat, Partnership for Governance Reform, Schlumberger, SWA, AndrewTani & Co, Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Veloz Training, Home Credit, BlueVisions Management, Tiens, Universitas Satya Negara Indonesia, Panin Dai-ichi Life, and JAFRA.
Beyond my professional roles, I am a storyteller at heart. With more than 100 books and 1,000 articles published across journals, magazines, newspapers, and online platforms, my words have reached and inspired countless readers. My voice has also traveled beyond the page—onto stages across Asia: Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, New Delhi, and Dubai—where I have spoken on leadership, literacy, change management, and motivation.
My ideas and profile have been featured in more than 70 media outlets, both in Indonesia and abroad, including The Japan Times, SEA Today, Kompas, Jawa Pos, RRI, Detik.com, Media Indonesia, Liputan 6, Pikiran Rakyat, Tribunnews, Viva.co.id, Warta Kota, MSN, Kumparan, KapanLagi, Smart FM, Sonora, Merdeka.com, Koran Jakarta, TVRI Jakarta, Batam Pos, Tanjungpinang Pos, Harian Bernas, Jawa Pos TV, Kompas.id, and many more. I am also the Founder and Host of The Grandsaint Show, a podcast that in 2021 was recognized by Podstatus.com as one of the Top 101 Self-Improvement Podcasts in Indonesia on Apple Podcasts.
Throughout this journey, I have been blessed with recognitions that reflect my calling and mission: Outstanding Student of Nganjuk Regency, Tourism Ambassador of Magetan, Runner-up of Duta Bahasa Jakarta Province, Duta Paramadina, Spirit of Majapahit Cultural Ambassador, ASEAN Blogger Ambassador, and Young Leaders for Indonesia. In 2022, I was honored globally as one of the Global Change Makers by SDG Startups and Funds for my contributions to Human Rights, Inclusion, and Innovation.
As the third of four siblings, I see my life as more than just a series of achievements. For me, it is a mission—a mission to grow through learning, and to glow by inspiring others.