Isti Raafaldini Mirzanti has been a full time lecturer at the SBM ITB since 2008. After years of pursuing a career in companies, she decided to apply as a lecturer at SBM ITB. In the teaching world, she rediscovered her passion for learning and sharing. In the world of education, she rekindled her passion for learning and sharing knowledge. Alongside her journey as a teacher, Isti is dedicated to contributing to the academic community and the development of SBM ITB, a business school accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Growing in Bandung, Growing because of Bandung.
Born and raised in Bandung, Isti feels her city provides a comfortable growth space. Since high school, she has been determined to further her education in Bandung. After exploring different options, she chose to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Padjadjaran University, graduating in 2000. “The work culture in Bandung is productive while still allowing for a balanced lifestyle,” she remarked.
After completing her studies, Isti began her professional journey in the corporate sector. However, her deep-seated love for learning eventually steered her back to academia. She continued her studies in the Master of Management of Business and Management of Technology (MMBAT) at ITB and graduated in 2003. Though she briefly returned to the corporate world, she found her true calling in education and joined SBM ITB as a lecturer in 2008.
For Isti, the management world is interesting because of its dynamic and applicable nature. Every day, there is always something new to learn. This enthusiasm also led her to continue her doctoral studies. And in 2016, she completed her doctoral education in Science in Management at SBM ITB with a focus on entrepreneurial policy. According to Isti, school is about enjoying the learning process, not just pursuing a degree. “Learning is a process, I feel more ‘content’ when going through the learning process,” she said.
After completing her doctoral studies, Isti actively wrote and published scientific works. Some of her works include A Conceptual Framework of Entrepreneurship Policy (2015), Business Model Innovation Strategy for Creative Industry in Indonesia (2023), and Toward A Business Resilience Framework for Startups (2021). She hopes these works can contribute to the academic world and business practices, especially in Indonesia.
Developing Student Affairs, Careers, and Alumni
Beyond her role in the classroom, Isti plays a vital role in developing the Student Affairs, Careers, and Alumni Division at SBM ITB. She is responsible for organizing various activities, including the Graduation Parade and the Ganesha Business Management Festival (GBMF).
“Originally called the Ganesha Business Festival, this event was created to unite various exhibitions at SBM ITB. At that time, many courses were hosting similar events, so we integrated them into one main festival,” she explained.
GBMF has become the flagship event of SBM ITB. Isti envisions that just as the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design ITB has its own Art Market, SBM will have GBMF. This event is not only a platform for exhibitions, but it is also designed to foster ongoing reunions and collaborations between students, alumni, and the industry.
Isti’s story serves as a reminder that comfort should not be a reason to stop growing. In fact, the desire to keep learning and contributing often emerges from a comfortable career.
“While you have the opportunity and motivation, persue your education and personal growth,” she advises. “it only brings deeper wisdom and a greater ability to positively impact others.”