For Indra Ginandar Sebayang, a career is not simply a straight path toward success, but a process of finding a role that creates meaningful impact for Indonesia. Currently serving as a Portfolio Manager in the Reserve Management Department at Bank Indonesia, he arrived at this point through a series of important decisions, including stepping out of his comfort zone in the banking industry.
Indra began his undergraduate studies at the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB) in 2009 and graduated in three years with a major in Finance. He believes that SBM ITB provided not only a strong academic foundation, but also broadened his perspective through diversity and applied learning. Students are not only taught theory, but are also encouraged to build real initiatives, from starting real businesses to seeking funding.
He started his career in the Treasury Group at Bank Mandiri through the Officer Development Program in 2013. However, after three years of working, he entered a “quarter-life crisis” period that led him to question his direction in life. This was also influenced by advice from his father, a police officer, who emphasized the importance of loyalty and consistency in one’s career. In 2017, Indra took a major step by joining Bank Indonesia through the PCPM program, even though it meant restarting his career from the beginning. There, he became involved in managing foreign exchange reserves, a strategic responsibility that requires balancing return optimization with maintaining economic & monetary stability.
In 2022, he was assigned to Bank Indonesia’s Representative Office in New York, which became a defining moment in his professional journey. Being in one of the epicenters of global financial markets, Indra was not only challenged by time zone differences, but also gained direct exposure to global market dynamics and translated those insights into strategies for managing Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves. This experience broadened his perspective on the relationship between global markets and domestic policy.
After more than a decade of professional experience, Indra decided to pursue a master’s degree in 2026. He admits that he initially had concerns about the long gap since completing his undergraduate studies, which was around 12 to 13 years. However, he believes that learning is not limited by age and chose to move forward with that conviction.
Interestingly, Indra chose to pivot from finance to public policy. This decision was shaped by his professional experience, where he observed that policy formulation in Indonesia often faces challenges in terms of analytical depth and data foundations. Motivated by this, he aspires to contribute to building policies that are more evidence-based and data driven, rather than relying solely on intuition or short term or group interests.
He applied to several top universities around the world and was ultimately accepted to Harvard Kennedy School in the Master in Public Administration (Mid-Career Track) program. For Indra, this achievement is not only the result of academic and professional preparation, but also part of a process that he believes unfolds according to God’s greater plan. He believes that when intentions are carried out with sincerity, the path will open at the right time.
Looking ahead, he hopes to deepen his understanding of public policy grounded in research and data, and to bring back these insights to contribute to strengthening Indonesia’s economy. After completing his studies, Indra is committed to returning to Bank Indonesia and applying the global perspective he gains to support stronger and more sustainable policymaking.
“For me, what matters is not how fast we arrive, but whether we truly understand the work we do and are able to make a meaningful contribution to Indonesia,” he said.
