Three speakers from the CFA Society Indonesia highlighted the essential skills for students pursuing careers in the financial industry during a public lecture at SBM ITB, in Bandung (November 28). The three industry experts, Steve Balaban, Hany Gungoro, and Melisa Hendrawati, urged participants to build the right relationships in private equity, hone their financial literacy skills, and formulate clear career goals if they aspire to enter the financial sector.
This event bring students and professionals to highlight three key lessons: effective networking, a solid understanding of financial realities, and a well-defined career path. Steve Balaban emphasized that private equity relies on relationships, especially with “centers of influence” such as bankers and lawyers. Through the case study of Kopi Kenangan, he encouraged students to understand valuation more clearly: not simply looking for companies with “secret recipes,” but also identifying sources of value creation, for example, through multiple expansion and recurring revenue models like memberships.
Meanwhile, Hany Gungoro discussed financial acumen as the ability to interpret financial information to make decisions, not simply memorizing ratios. He emphasized that financial independence stems from personal discipline, then introduced the “Money In, Money Out, Money Grow” framework: recording spending patterns, managing cash flow, and growing assets through diversified investments.
Melisa Hendrawati, CFO of Superbank, closed the session with a message on career development. She encouraged students to shift their mindset from “just employees” to builders in organizations, boldly taking on roles, building impact, and growing. Drawing from her experience transitioning from Actuarial Science to Finance, Melisa emphasized the importance of self-reflection and finding her “why.” She believes that technical skills are essential, but soft skills, especially emotional intelligence (EQ), are often the key differentiator in long-term success.
Written by Student Reporter (Cindy R. Meilynda, MSM 2024)
