Three MBA ITB students made a remarkable achievement by winning the 2024 International Gadjah Mada Business Case Competition (GAMABCC). The event, organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business at Gadjah Mada University in collaboration with PT Pupuk Kaltim, took place on November 24, 2024, in Jakarta. The 3Mpower team is a newcomer who immediately emerged as the champion in the prestigious event with the theme “Indonesia Food Sustainability”.
The team comprised Annisa Wulandari, a Young Professional MBA 69 B student, Zulfa Berliana Pratiwi (YP 70 C), and Yulia Dwi Rakhmawayi (YP 70 C). They outperformed competitors from both domestic and international universities.
“I’m so happy, incredibly proud, and never expected we would win! This is an international competition, and we faced opponents from abroad. The selection process was also rigorous—starting from the top 12, then the top 5, and finally the grand finale,” shared Zulfa Berliana Pratiwi, a Young Professional 70 C student from SBM ITB, during an interview on Monday (11/25).
Zulfa highlighted that their journey was full of challenges and obstacles, but commitment and hard work delivered extraordinary results. The competition required participants to solve real-life cases faced by Pupuk Kaltim, particularly regarding challenges in production sustainability and supply chain management.
In the initial stage, the 3Mpower team identified the company’s high dependency on natural gas and ammonia, significantly contributing to carbon emissions. They proposed a green, hydrology-based solution to reduce the environmental impact.
In the second stage, they tackled a more complex task—designing an integrated supply chain system from start to finish. During the final stage, they focused on crafting a marketing strategy for bio-fertilizers as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers for modern farmers.
This success was built on strong teamwork. Although the team encountered differences of opinion, they turned these into strengths.
“Differences of opinion are normal. They serve as an unbeatable strength. Broad brainstorming from these differing perspectives is accommodated, filtered, and executed into an exclusive solution. None of us harbored a sense of egocentrism,” explained Zulfa.
The team divided roles effectively, with each member contributing according to their expertise. Despite not having a permanent mentor, they developed a well-thought-out strategy and maintained high morale throughout the competition.
A shared passion united all three team members for sustainability. Zulfa became interested in this issue after being invited by Annisa, who has been passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since her undergraduate studies. Meanwhile, Yulia, who recently started studying sustainability in the MBA program, found the topic highly relevant to shaping the future.
“Sustainability is an important issue that must be fought for, and GAMABCC provided a golden opportunity to showcase our ideas,” said Annisa.
The competition also left valuable lessons for the team. Yulia emphasized the importance of teamwork as an irreplaceable experience and encouraged SBM ITB students, especially undergraduates, to seize opportunities and take on challenges.
“This is the best time to try something new. Don’t be afraid of failure because that’s where we learn,” Yulia remarked.
Zulfa added, “If you don’t try, there’s only one outcome—failure. But if you try, you have two possibilities: success or failure.”
Annisa echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the value of taking risks. “Trying is about opening the door to opportunity. If we fail, we learn; if we succeed, we grow,” she said.
The success of the 3Mpower team goes beyond winning the competition. It is a testament to how collaboration, perseverance, and a vision for sustainability can drive meaningful change. GAMABCC 2024 provided a platform for the younger generation to showcase their innovative ideas, and the 3Mpower team proved that the courage to take risks is the first step toward great achievements.