First-Generation College Graduate

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Where are you from, or where do you consider home?

I’m from Lombok Island, Indonesia.

Three words to describe your experience at Northeastern:

Innovative. Collaborative. Empowering.

What motivated you to continue through challenging times?

What motivated me to continue was my commitment to achieving my goals and creating better opportunities for my future. As an international graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Analytics, I faced academic, professional, and personal challenges, but I remained focused on the long-term value of my education. The support of my family, professors, and peers, along with my passion for learning and career growth, encouraged me to stay resilient and persevere. Each challenge became an opportunity to grow, and earning my degree became a reminder that persistence and dedication can lead to meaningful achievements.

What has your journey revealed to you about yourself?

My journey at Northeastern revealed that I am more resilient, adaptable, and capable than I initially believed. Balancing rigorous coursework in Analytics with professional and personal responsibilities challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, embrace continuous learning, and develop strong problem-solving skills. It also reinforced my passion for using data-driven insights to create meaningful business impact and gave me the confidence to pursue new opportunities in analytics and business strategy.

Experiential learning is a core component of a Northeastern education. Describe some of the highlights for you.

One of the highlights of my Northeastern experience was applying classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges through projects, case studies, and hands-on data analysis. Working with tools such as Python, Power BI, and various analytics platforms allowed me to transform data into actionable insights and strengthen my problem-solving skills. I particularly enjoyed collaborating with diverse teams, analyzing business scenarios, and developing data-driven recommendations that mirrored real industry situations. These experiences helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, enhanced my confidence as an analyst, and prepared me to make an impact in a professional setting.

Where do you imagine yourself five years from now?

Five years from now, I see myself as a strategic leader driving digital transformation, revenue growth, and operational excellence within a global organization. Building on my Master’s in Analytics and my experience in business development, marketing, and data analytics, I hope to lead high-performing teams, leverage data-driven decision-making, and implement innovative solutions that create measurable business impact. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute at the executive level and to keep learning and growing as a leader.

Never give up on your goals. The journey may not always be easy, but persistence, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning can open doors to opportunities you never imagined. Trust the process.

Nabila Nabila

Is there anything else you wanted to say that we didn’t cover?

One lesson I would like to share: never give up on your goals. There will be challenges, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. But persistence, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning can open doors to opportunities you never imagined. Trust the process, stay focused, and keep moving forward. Your hard work and determination will eventually lead you to where you want to be.

Connect with Nabila on LinkedIn.