Firdaus Nur Pratiwi 

“I grew up in a family ice cream business, and during the pandemic, I helped expand it by building a gelato brand that allowed us to serve customers directly, in addition to our B2B (Business to Business) model. I still genuinely enjoy staying close to daily operations, such as interacting with customers, resolving operational issues and occasionally sampling new flavours”

Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia

Undergraduate School and Major: Universitas Indonesia – Industrial Engineering (B.Eng)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Co-Founder, FK7 Gelato & Ice Cream (Indonesia)

What makes London such a great place to earn an MBA degree?

London feels very real and alive to me as a place to study business. It is a city where global companies, start-ups, investors and policy makers operate side by side, and where conversations about business often extend beyond the classroom. For someone who wants to work across emerging and developed markets, London constantly exposes you to different perspectives, industriesand ways of thinking. This daily exposure is what makes it an ideal place for me to grow during my MBA.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Imperial Business School’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

Imperial’s approach to combining business fundamentals with technology and entrepreneurship was a key reason I chose the Business School. I have worked on digital initiatives both in a large FMCG company and in my own business, and I have seen first hand that transformation is rarely just about tools. It requires a clear strategy, strong execution and the ability to bring people along through change. Imperial’s applied and innovation-driven curriculum closely reflects the challenges I have faced in scaling businesses.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Imperial Business School?

I am most excited about a combination of entrepreneurship-focused learning and Career Clubs that closely align with my background. Academically, I look forward to modules and activities like the Entrepreneurial Journey, where ideas can be tested, challenged and shaped with practical feedback. It’s a chance to pitch a proposition to a panel of venture capitalists and connect with other faculties in Imperial in order to create a fully-fledged business proposal.

Beyond the classroom, I am an active member of the Family Business Careers Club. The club creates a space where members understand the unique challenges of family businesses, such as governance, succession and balancing tradition with innovation. It also offers the opportunity to learn from my peers, mentors and global family business leaders through discussions, workshops and networking sessions.

I am also part of the FMCG, Luxury Goods & Retail Careers Club, which offers direct exposure to how these industries operate, from understanding future trends to engaging with companies and alumni through industry-focused events. For me, it is a practical way to stay close to the industries I know well while continuing to learn and refine my career direction.

The Imperial MBA is known to strike a balance between core business knowledge and skills that emphasize vision, judgment, and innovation. What area do you hope to strengthen during your year of business school and why?

I want to strengthen my strategic thinking and leadership judgment, particularly in complex scaling situations. While I have practical experience building and operating businesses, the MBA is an opportunity to step back, reflect and sharpen my ability to make long-term decisions that have a big impact, especially when balancing growth, people and sustainability.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026?

I bring a combination of corporate FMCG experience and hands-on entrepreneurship in an emerging market. Having worked in structured multinational environments, as well as building a business from scratch, I enjoy bridging theory and practice. I am always happy to share real-world lessons, such as what worked, what failed and why, while learning just as much from others’ perspectives.

The Imperial MBA is also known for its strong emphasis on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Why does the program’s focus on technological insights and mindful leadership appeal to you? How have been able to leverage this approach in your career so far?

I have worked closely with technology throughout my career, but I’ve learned that its success depends on people. Whether implementing an innovation tracking system at a large FMCG firm or introducing digital tools to small business owners, results only occur when technology is combined with empathy and clear leadership. Imperial’s emphasis on combining technological insight with responsible and reflective leadership aligns perfectly with my approach to business transformation.

When you think of Imperial, what is the first word that comes to mind?

Impact. Imperial consistently focuses on applying knowledge to solve real-world problems, and that practical and impact-driven mindset is exactly what I value in business education.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest accomplishment has been leading the growth of FK7 Gelato from a single outlet into a multi-store business while maintaining operational discipline and social responsibility. Building standardised processes, managing teams and dealing withuncertainty (especially post-pandemic) reinforced my belief that sustainable growth requires both strong systems and human-oriented leadership.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Imperial Business School’s MBA program?

Be authentic and reflective. Imperial values candidates who understand their own journey, including their failures, and who can clearly explain how the MBA aligns with their future goals. Rather than trying to write what you think Imperial wants to hear, be honest about your experiences and goals, and show how they align with Imperial’s values around innovation, collaboration and impact.

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