Empowering Innovation Through Connection: My Path to Chevening

Relationship building and shared learning
Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future.

In scientific research, building meaningful professional connections is essential for driving impact and innovation. My experiences in academic and professional environments have strengthened my ability to cultivate and maintain relationships that further my field and support mutual growth. I am excited to bring this mindset to the Chevening community, where I aim to foster collaborative networks that contribute to global progress.

A significant example of my relationship-building skills came during my internship with PT Martina Berto, a leading cosmetics company in Indonesia, where I was selected to represent the Research and Development division in a high-stakes presentation to the board of directors. This opportunity-attended by over 100 industry professionals, mentors, and fellow interns-was a direct result of the trust I had established through proactive engagement and consistent contributions to team discussions. By collaborating with colleagues to enhance our research presentation, I effectively communicated our findings and demonstrated the power of shared expertise. This experience reinforced the importance of building professional relationships based on mutual respect, shared goals, and the exchange of insights.

Additionally, I had the privilege of representing the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) at the 2023 National Seminar and PERIPI Congress KOMDA West Java, where I presented my research paper, "Mini Review: Pendekatan Molekuler DNA Barcoding: Studi Kasus Identifikasi dan Analisis Filogenetik Alpinia Zingiberaceae." Engaging with researchers, professors, and students from various institutions expanded my network and broadened my scientific perspective, enriching my understanding of molecular biology. This experience highlighted the power of networking to drive professional and personal growth, and the publication of my paper in the seminar proceedings marked an important milestone in my research journey.

I have also actively cultivated relationships within my university community. As a participant in AIESEC Future Leader at Jenderal Soedirman University, I connected with driven students from diverse academic backgrounds, learning to collaborate across disciplines. This exposure taught me valuable insights about effective teamwork and strengthened my communication skills. Similarly, my role as a Biological Data Curator with the Indonesian Consortium of Biology (KOBI) enabled me to work with students from various universities on complex data management projects. These collaborative experiences underscored my belief in the potential of networking to achieve shared goals and to advance our collective knowledge.

As a Chevening Scholar, I look forward to leveraging these relationship-building skills to actively engage with the global network of scholars and leaders. The Chevening community offers a platform where ideas and expertise can converge, and I am eager to contribute to this exchange. I hope to collaborate on projects that address pressing global challenges in health and sustainability, especially within the fields of genetics and biotechnology. By connecting with experts and scholars who share these interests, I aim to contribute insights and practical solutions that can benefit from my research background and industry experience.

In conclusion, my journey has shown me that professional relationships are the foundation of impactful achievements. As a Chevening Scholar, I am committed to cultivating a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning within the Chevening community. By connecting with others and contributing my own perspectives and networks, I aspire to create a positive, lasting impact that extends beyond individual accomplishments and strengthens our collective progress in addressing global challenges.

You have not shown any actual use for these so-called networks that you think you have created. You are only discussing the skills you built through these events that you attended. There is no evidence of how you have used these networks in a professional setting. The network you claim to have built cannot be considered as one that might be useful for the Chevening network due to your lack of proper cultivation and utilization narrative in this response statement. While you have attended these events and learned from them, what Chevening needs are actual working networks that show how you can assist the past, present, and future scholars by having a network that can support them as needed. If you have not used these networks professionally and can prove evidence of that usage, then this is worthless to your application.

@Holt
Thank you for your valuable suggestions and corrections. I have rewritten the essay based on your feedback, and I would greatly appreciate any further input or corrections you may have. Thank you!

Building professional relationships is crucial for fostering innovation and driving positive change. My academic and professional experiences have sharpened my ability to cultivate networks that not only support mutual growth but also lead to impactful outcomes. I am excited to engage with the Chevening community and leverage these skills to advance healthcare and genetics.

At the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), I established a significant network while interning on DNA barcoding projects. Collaborating closely with senior scientists allowed me to develop relationships built on trust and shared goals. A key achievement was presenting my research at the 2023 National Seminar and PERIPI Congress KOMDA West Java. This experience expanded my professional network, connecting me with researchers and professors across diverse institutions, ultimately leading to collaborative opportunities and enhancing my credibility within the scientific community.

My relationship with a senior researcher at BRIN evolved into a mentorship, profoundly impacting my academic journey. They later became my thesis advisor, guiding me through my research and reinforcing the importance of mentorship in developing future leaders in our field. This mentorship is a testament to how effective networking can result in long-lasting professional relationships that promote both personal and academic growth.

Additionally, my internship at PT Martina Berto provided me with a platform to build relationships in the corporate sector. I was chosen to represent the Research and Development division in a presentation to the board of directors, where I effectively communicated our research findings to industry leaders. This experience enabled me to forge connections with professionals who later provided mentorship and support for my initiatives, illustrating how I bridged scientific research with practical applications in the cosmetics industry. Plans for co-authoring publications with my mentors based on my research further highlight the tangible outcomes of these relationships.

My involvement with AIESEC Future Leader at Jenderal Soedirman University also enhanced my networking capabilities. Collaborating with students from various disciplines, I played a pivotal role in organizing a community health initiative that raised awareness about genetic disorders. Utilizing my connections in the healthcare sector, we facilitated workshops that educated the public on prevention and early diagnosis. This initiative demonstrated the power of collaboration and underscored my commitment to leveraging my network for community impact.

As a Chevening Scholar, I am eager to engage with a global network of leaders and scholars dedicated to addressing pressing challenges. The Chevening community provides an exceptional platform for exchanging ideas and expertise. I plan to contribute to collaborative projects in genetics and biotechnology, focusing on improving healthcare access and outcomes in Indonesia.

In summary, my journey has reinforced the critical role of professional relationships in achieving meaningful impact. I have effectively built and leveraged networks, leading to significant accomplishments in research and community initiatives. As a Chevening Scholar, I am dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration and shared learning, driving positive change that extends beyond individual achievements and contributes to our collective progress in tackling global challenges.