I’m touched & proud to be inaugurated as one of the top promising young leaders, daring entrepreneurs and game changers in prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list for my beauty startup BloBar Salon.

Thanks God 🙌🏻

BloBar was initially started when I pursued my MBA degree in 2014 & met Ninda, my cofounder.

At one particular night, I was sitting in my ugly small 9sqm dorm room & thinking how to get out from this suffocating situation where I struggle to live day by day without fix income I used to get from working & just survive from my scholarship loan.

That moment, I decided to make a move, start to do something to build my startup & change my life. I knew Ninda for quite sometime & asked her to be my team on 1 AM in the morning. And she said yes! (Later, I found out that one was a magical night for both us when she was thinking in her room about making her life better with starting her own business. And when my chat popped up in her phone, she just knew that was the moment to jump in). And the rest was in history.

Together, we founded  the company to offer beauty services with best value using unique technique, such as Ombré, Balayage, Babylight, and more cutting edge technique. We start small but we point our strength in skill.

BloBar strongly empowers Indonesian young creative talent to cultivate their art skill without limit where our hairstylist become artisan & well-respected for their masterpiece.

The business as a whole, which includes partnership with local beauty brands to launch & sell the products faster in BloBar rather than online shop, currently employ six people & broke even in its ninth month which become satisfying personal record for us and even national sensation.  

There are many ups & downs during the process. I have taken a lot of rejections, friends/family/colleague bullied & mocked me as “ambitious kiddo”, I have very less playtime and even no more me-time. Many friends left because I simply couldn’t afford hangout together in fancy places or vain fun. People befriended with me just to take advantage for their self-interest. But, it’s okay. To have good things in life, we need to let go bad things that weight us down & survive on our own. 

When under pressure, I ask myself if I don’t do it, who will do it for me?

If I don’t do it now, when?

Do their comment pay my bills?

It’s still long way to go. There’s still many things to do.

Wish me luck, wisdom & strength.

I will do my best and keep up the spirit.

I’m grateful for endless support from my boyfriend, best friends & hearty family.

At first, I didn’t believe I was in this prestigious list together with young successful & inspiring figure in Asia. When I wrote this, some of my friends/family/colleague questioned how I was chosen to be in that exclusive list.

Some said jokes that I bribed the judges, the other was challenging my qualification that I am not a supermodel or star, not even close to famous gorgeous person in internet, rich young tycoon with million dollar startup or IT genius graduated from acknowledged Ivy League university.  LOL!

So, I will take advantage at this moment to clarify that:

1. I didn’t apply to be in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia neither I pay for anything
2. Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia is not open for public submission and never will be
3. Every person in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia is handpicked based on their endeavour, business growth & personality

What it means for me to be in the list?

Well, I simply hope that :

1. Nobody will bully me again just because I’m driven to work hard
2. Nobody will put me in such a tough situation just because I’m girl
3. Nobody will disrespect me in bargaining, negotiation or even job pitching just because I’m newbie
4. Nobody will undervalue me just because they can’t respect people equally & genuinely
5. and no more ex-boss called me 1 AM in the morning to book hotel room for her kids immediately while I’m still up to prepare my grand opening. She was very selfish & not even bother to say thanks! LOL

One perks of being in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia is the powerful network with future potential milennials. I can’t wait to actually meet my new family from Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in Forbes Conference this May in Singapore & learn from them.

Young talented Indonesian in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia: 

Entertainment & Sports

Joey Alexander, 12 – Musician

Arts

Peggy Hartanto, 27 – Designer
Helga Angelina Tjahjadi, 25 – Cofounder Burgreens

Retail & Ecommerce

Carline Darjanto, 28 – Founder Cottonink
Merrie Elizabeth, 28 – CEO & Creative Director BloBar Salon
Yasa Paramita Singgih, 20 – Founder, Men’s Republic
Ferry Unardi, 28 – Cofounder & CEO Traveloka

Finance & Venture Capital

Moses Lo, 27 – Founder & CEO Xendit
Abraham Viktor, 23 – Cofounder & CEO Taralite

Entreprise Tech

Abraham Ranardo, 25 – Cofounder Mailbird

Consumer Tech

Kevin Aluwi, 29 – Cofounder & Chief Financial Officer Gojek
Benny Fajarai, 25 – Cofounder Qlapa
Arief Widhiyasa, 28 – Cofounder Agate Studio

Social Entrepreneurs

Heni Sri Sundani Jaladara, 28 – Founder, AgroEdu
Muhammad Alfatih Timur, 24 – Cofounder & CEO KitaBisa

Healthcare & Science

Mesty Ariotedjo, 26 – Cofounder, WeCare.id
Leonika Sari Njoto Boedioetomo, 22 – Founder & CEO Reblood

Andddddd there are more inspiring figures from another Asia countries!
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🚩 See full awardee list with their aspiring business, project & social ventures in Forbes website here

#Forbes30Under30Asia
#blobarhair
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