Achieve, Then Give

Born into a humble family in Batang, Central Java, Amanda Sri Nugroho never imagined he would one day stand in his current position as a finance business partner at PT Paragon Technology and Innovation. Beyond that, he is also the Founder & CEO of Naikelas, an educational startup that has helped thousands of job seekers gain better professional insights.

Behind the success story of an alumnus of the Accounting program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta in 2015, there are manyuntold stories. Stories of losing her mother at a young age, moving to Jakarta to work and fund his studies, and enduring the pain of multiple job rejections.

As a child, Aman was active, curious, and playful. Reading books felt more tedious than playing outside. His academic achievements were not particularly outstanding.

“You could say I was a bit of a troublemaker in elementary and middle school, always looking for mischief, even if it was minor,” he said in an online interview on Wednesday (26/2/2025).

However, his world drastically changed when he entered high school. His mother was diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer, a heavy blow that forced him to take on responsibilities he never anticipated.

“I realized I had to change, to become a devoted child whose prayers would reach my mother and make her proud,” he said earnestly.

Days turned into months, months into years. Aman’s mischievous streak gradually faded. He became more diligent in his studies, more devoted in his prayers, and learned that every decision he made would shape her future, the future he now had to navigate without his mother’s prayers.

After high school, Aman set his sights on university life. He tried applying to several state universities and government institutions, but the results were not what he had hoped for.

With no clear path to higher education, he made a bold decision to work first and fund his own studies at a private university later on.

He left for Jakarta and took a job as a cashier at a shopping center. Every bill he saved was a step closer to securing a seat in the undergraduate Accounting program at UMS.

“I traveled to Solo alone, without my parents accompanying me. I did everything purely on guts,” he recalled.

However, being a university student turned out to be more challenging than he had expected. Accounting felt foreign to him, and by the end of her first semester, his GPA was only 2.71, far below his expectations. “If I keep this up, I’m not going anywhere!” He grumbled to himself at the time.

Slowly, Aman began searching for more effective study strategies. His first step was joining the UMS Accounting student organization called Himatansi (Accounting Student Association) where he put more efforts to sharpen his skills.

In the 5th semester, he applied to be a teaching assistant for an accounting computerization lab work. He also actively participated in the Student Representative Council within the Faculty of Economics and Business at UMS.

His hard work eventually paid off. Aman’s GPA steadily improved, reaching 3.6 at one point. By the time he graduated, he had successfully completed his degree in just 3.5 years with a final GPA of 3.52.

“My target was to graduate quickly and maintain a GPA above 3.5. Alhamdulillah, I achieved what I had just prayed for,” he said.

With his degree in hand, Aman was eager to step into the workforce, armed with determination and enthusiasm. But the road ahead wasn’t always smooth.

“I actually applied to PT Paragon Technology and Innovation three times. The first time, I failed the Kraepelin test. The second time, I wasn’t prepared enough. It was only on my third attempt that I finally made it,” he recalled with a soft chuckle, looking back on his relentless pursuit to join the well-known FMCG company in the cosmetics industry.

After his first rejection from Paragon Corp, Aman shifted his focus to other opportunities. He landed his first job at Kalimantan Plantation Unit as Head of Administration.

For nearly 1.5 years, he was responsible for financial reporting, managing the plantation's warehouse and finances, and leading the administration team. His dedication paid off, his department was recognized as the pilot warehouse for the entire Kalimantan Plantation Unit Group.

At the end of 2021, Aman moved to Kantor Akuntan Publik Hadori Sugiarto Adi & Rekan in Surabaya as an external auditor. He worked there for six months before feeling the urge to try his luck at Paragon Corp for the third time.

"This time, I prepared everything thoroughly. I guess I’ve always been the type to stay loyal to a goal. Whenever I had free time at the dorm, I googled the latest version of the test and studied it," he said with optimism.

His persistence yielded results. Aman was officially Paragon Corp's finance business partner – commercial and new entity.

 ”It was such a mix of emotions,” he admitted.

Aman is responsible for supporting financial management, preparing budgeting, and providing financial analysis for the company's new business ventures. One of his biggest tasks is setting up a financial system for a new business unit, a highly complex task that requires an in-depth understanding of business processes.

Aman (first from right, second row) during the Paragon Corporate Gathering at JIEXPO, North Jakarta (25/1/2024). 

“I had no experience creating a system from scratch. It felt like being a child who couldn’t read but was asked to write a book. Even though there was an IT team involved, it was still overwhelming,” he admitted.

However, through this ‘difficult’ challenge, Aman learned a lot. By benchmarking with other companies, discussing with senior colleagues, and continuously gathering information, he successfully developed a system that is now running smoothly.

His desire for continuous growth pushed him to pursue further education. Without hesitation, Aman enrolled in a master’s program at Universitas Bakrie, majoring in Management.

“Alhamdulillah, I managed to complete my studies in 1.5 years with a GPA of 3.89. Then, I continued with the Certified Professional Management Accountant Review program at Universitas Indonesia,” he added.

For Aman, education holds great importance. He said, “Yes, some people succeed without higher education, but how many of us can actually achieve that? Education remains the best path to unlocking more opportunities.’

His thoughts evolved further, leading him to realize that despite having an education, many people still struggle to find job opportunities. One day, together with three classmates from Universitas Bakrie, He set out to establish Naikelas, a startup that helps job seekers better prepare for the professional world.

“There are actually plenty of job opportunities, but there is still a gap between industry needs and job seekers' readiness,” Aman explained.

Naikelas has reached nearly 2,000 participants through various training programs and webinars. With a strong focus on high-quality speakers and in-depth materials, the startup has successfully attracted many job seekers and young professionals.

At his current age, Aman continues to reflect deeply on the life he is building. When asked about his nearest goal, he confidently stated that he wants to turn Naikelas into an educational platform with a real impact.

“Success is not just about achieving personal dreams, but also about making a difference for others. Of course, we hope that people who complete these classes will soon find jobs, or at the very least, become much better prepared for their careers,” he concluded.

Writer: Genis Dwi Gustati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Designer: Salsabila Kamila Wardah