Ali Alexander, an undergraduate student from the Management program at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM), has become one of the university’s outstanding students.
To date, he has achieved 41 victories in various national and international competitions throughout his studies at UGM.
Known as a student with strong principles, Alexander was tenacious and persistent in his learning journey. His success in numerous competitions was not easy; it was not a case of winning at the first attempt.
He had to face multiple failures along the way. For him, failure and challenges are opportunities to grow, learn, and evolve further. With high resilience, Alexander has won 41 competitions during his studies, including 32 equity research competitions, 4 business plan competitions, and 5 business case competitions.
“I failed seven times, but I kept learning from those failures, and eventually, I managed to win many times,” he said on Monday (Jan. 6).
Alexander is committed to living life without regrets. Hence, he constantly strives to engage in productive activities during his studies, one of which is participating in various competitions. By participating in competitions, he gains numerous learning opportunities.
Although he has participated in many competitions, Alexander admits that most are finance-related. He is highly interested in investment and finance, and this passion drives him to conduct many evaluations and stock research.
“It all started in 2020 when I read and heard about the success story of Andika Sutoro Putra, a young billionaire and founder of FOLK Group. That’s what strongly fueled my interest in the world of investment,” he explained.
Andika Sutoro Putra’s success in achieving financial freedom at a young age inspired Alexander to delve deeper into the world of investment. He began learning about financial investments through various books, seminars, and YouTube videos.
From these sources, he gained an understanding of company fundamentals, how to read financial statements, valuation, and company prospects and risks.
Alexander’s interest in finance and investment grew even more when he began his studies at FEB UGM in 2021. Since becoming a student, he has actively participated in various finance competitions. Although his early attempts were not smooth, and he faced some failures, he persevered.
“Keep trying, never give up, and keep learning. That’s the key to staying motivated,” the student admitted.
Alexander considers himself fortunate to have met Dr. Eddy Junarsin, a lecturer from the Department of Management at FEB UGM, in his third semester. That meeting, according to Alexander, broadened his understanding of finance significantly.
“I learned even more about valuation, which became the key to winning in equity research competitions,” he revealed.
Balancing lectures, internships, and actively participating in various competitions is certainly not easy for students. The same applies to Alexander, who manages his time well and sets clear priorities.
“Because this is my hobby, I voluntarily conduct stock analysis and participate in competitions during my free time. I am grateful that the asset allocation material I received during my lectures has further strengthened my understanding of the investment world,” he said.
Alexander is also happy to share some tips for students who wish to start participating in competitions.
According to him, the most important thing is not to be afraid to try and to understand that failure is part of the learning process. Finding a mentor relevant to the competition field you want to pursue is also crucial.
“It’s important for us to get the right guidance. Don’t hesitate to make the most of the facilities available on campus,” Alexander advised.
Reporters: FEB UGM/Najwah Ariella Puteri & Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya