Eko Bianto Putra

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“Trilingual international strategist, ambitious to become a transformational leader, and obsessed with perfecting my golf game.”

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand (where I consider home) / Jakarta, Indonesia (where I was born)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I grew up balancing my Indonesian roots with Thai culture, speak three languages, and carry a multicultural mindset that shapes how I approach challenges globally.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Business Administration majored in International Business at Mahidol University, Thailand

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Assistant Vice President in the World Business Strategy Group at KASIKORNBANK Public Company Limited, Thailand

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Los Angeles is such a great place to earn an MBA because of the following:

* It offers exposure to diverse industries, such as Finance, Tech, Entertainment, Healthcare and more, including access to high profile industry leaders and a number of Fortune 500 companies as networking opportunities.

* Los Angeles provides global connectivity, acting as a global hub with its strong links to Asia, Latin America and other global markets.

* In Los Angeles, the MBA experience extends far beyond the classroom. The city offers year-round sunshine, vibrant cultural scenes, and the thrill of being able to Ski in the snow at Big Bear and surfing in Santa Monica, all in one day!

I have long been a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the city of Los Angeles as a whole. Throughout my career, I’ve met numerous impressive executives and industry leaders who graduated from USC Marshall. Additionally, a colleague who spent a brief time at Marshall often shared how it was one of the most memorable periods of his life. USC has always been on my radar as a top school, and I am incredibly proud and excited to have made this dream a reality.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of USC Marshall’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? USC Marshall’s MBA offers a comprehensive approach to shaping global leaders, making it an ideal fit for me as an international student deeply involved in cross-border business. The program’s hands-on learning experiences, rigorous strategy and finance curriculum, and emphasis on leadership development align closely with my career aspirations and were key considerations in my decision.

I see the Marshall MBA as the right stepping stone to becoming a more comprehensive and holistic leader, particularly as I am on a management track at my company and expected to return to take on an impactful leadership role in driving our regional business ambitions. The program’s experiential learning opportunities, including consulting projects, global immersions, and case-based learning, will allow me to apply strategic and financial concepts to real-world challenges. At the same time, its leadership focus will equip me to guide teams, influence organizational change, and navigate complex cross-border environments.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at USC Marshall? I am particularly excited about courses such as Contemporary Issues in Competitive Global Strategy, Interpersonal Influence and Power, and the Global Context of Business (PRIME), as they align closely with my goals of developing strategic, leadership, and global management capabilities.”

In terms of Clubs and Activities, I am highly interested in joining and applying for committee positions in MGSA, MLFP, Marshall Golf Club and in joining the Finance and Investing Career Club. I would like to also join Marshall Wine Club and Marshall Gives Back. Additionally, I am extremely excited to be attending all the sport events that USC Trojan athletics has to offer, especially Football, Basketball, Golf and Soccer.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized that USC Marshall was the right program for you? Why? The moment I knew USC Marshall was the right fit for me was during Launchpad Week, when the program brought in panelists and seasoned industry veterans who dedicated their time to engage with newly-admitted students. I was genuinely impressed by how Marshall was able to mobilize such a strong network of professionals and create meaningful opportunities for students to learn directly from their real-world experiences. As an experienced professional myself, witnessing this level of commitment and the depth of the Trojan Network left a strong impression. It demonstrated not only the school’s dedication to its students, but also the collaborative spirit and influence of the Marshall community. Seeing this firsthand confirmed that USC Marshall provides the kind of supportive, connected, and high-impact environment that aligns perfectly with my aspirations to grow as a global leader and take on a broader regional leadership role in my company.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my proudest career achievements was spearheading the strategic proposal that led to KASIKORNBANK’s first-ever M&A deal, valued at over $650 million over five years. Before this, the company had never pursued M&A as part of its regional expansion strategy. I identified and evaluated the opportunity, built the business case, and secured senior executive approval to acquire a small bank in Indonesia. This landmark deal not only established our market presence, but also set a new precedent for how the company approaches growth across the region.

What is your long-term career goal? In the immediate term, my goal is to become CEO of KASIKORNBANK Indonesia, leading the company’s growth and transformation in one of our key regional markets. This role will serve as a critical stepping stone toward my long-term ambition of becoming an impactful and transformational leader, driving strategic growth, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable value for organizations and the communities they serve.

DON’T MISS: MEET USC MARSHALL’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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