CONGRATULATIONS, XL Axiata BOD Challenge 2015 [Selection]

On one day in March 2015, at 2 am in some lonely room at block S47, Kolej Tuanku Canselor, UTM, I was browsing and socializing with my Indonesian friends. Suddenly, I come across one of my high school friend which currently active as one of the participants in Beasiswa Djarum, a leadership program under famous cigarette brand in Indonesia.

I was envy with him, who wouldn't? He got to have all those great workshops, fancy photos, and so many friends. I decided to browse for the program myself. In the end, I came across 2 leadership program under XL Axiata, XL Future Leaders and XL Axiata BOD Challenge. I was exited at 2 am, filling all those long essay hahaha But just to ensure, I tweeted XL Future Leader twitter account asking about my chance as Indonesian student in Malaysia.

After seeing their reply, I'm a bit disappointed... I understood and I moved on from it. I didn't realize that this small things, application I've done, would have an impact in my next semester...

Months later, in the end of August, I was enjoying myself with holiday and events (Well, I've enjoyed most of it hahaha). I remember during that time, I was on my way to one of my classmate house in Pahang, Malaysia. We were planning to touring and visiting 4 states in northern Malaysia. As I'm on my way on the bus, my mom texted me.

"Did you apply for any of XL Axiata Leadership Program? I received a message stating that you have passed first stage and ought to check your email for further information..."

I was shocked, obviously... A bit regret taking a tour yet exited that I am able to pass the first stage. I didn't want to stay put yet I'm on my bus which took another 3 hours.... The email was send before I were getting inside my bus, yet it was put to my promotion folder which will not give any notification to me.

Luckily, the deadline was 6 days after my trip. I know that I had an event on 1 day before the submission day, which indeed making me a hopeless... I decided to ask one of my senior in Leadership Camp, bang Bintang. He obtained CIMB Scholarship for his degree in accounting, basically, he knew more than me regarding this selection hahaha

The first selection participants were ask to make videos regarding how to make XL Axiata to become leading telecommunication provider in Big Data Era. As an Electrical Engineer, I was directly assume that it is a internet plan hahaha Which is totally wrong, bang Bintang explain me the brief idea and asked me to do some research which I did at my friend's house hahaha I didn't really care what his family think during that time (can you imagine a guest lock himself at his friend's room just 1 hour after arrival hahaha) My friend's family understood though, my friend explained it to them...

It is only before the trip I've done my research and consulting with bang Bintang regarding my video's storyline. After that, I totally enjoyed myself during the trip hahaha

As I finished my trip, I decided to stay at my foster's family house in KL. I had exactly 1 week of holiday and video's submission deadline. Not to mention, the Indonesian Embassy program which I arranged on 1 day before the holiday and submission ends.

It's a busy week and worsen as my foster father, Uncle Kamil disagree with my storyline when I showed to him. Well, he's correct though, and I admitted it hahahah This was on 3 days before the submission. I decided to redo all the story line, do some research, and he helped me a lot in using "power" words...

I recorded the video on my second last day of submission at 4 am. As I was preparing the for going to my event,  uncle Kamil checked my video and asked me to redo it. Well, I knew it was the worse task I had ever done, yet I didn't have much time. But still, I obeyed uncle Kamil and redo all my pronunciation and wording 2 hours... My phone is ringing made me even nervous and unable to focussed clearly (my committee's friends called me)

In the end, I gave up and go straight to my event...

As I waited for my bus to Johor at the end of the day, I decided to watch all videos I had made... The last 2 hours I spent was totally spoiled. I saw myself un confident, nervous, and most of all sweating with shaking. Yes I spoke more clearly compared to the first attempt, yet this is not me...

"What the heck, I'll submitted the one I feel secured most"

I didn't do this task maximally, and I realized that I'm going to loose. I was tawakal (re: hopeless). Not to mention the other competitors was really good at expressing themselves... 

After 2 weeks, as I already had my weekend booked for First Year Student's Camp under my college's club, I received an email stating that I passed the second selection and will be call on Friday. My camp is on Friday (weekend in Johor is Friday and Saturday)

Camping committee's is one of the most tiring program in university. You get to sleep late yet wake up early to show good example towards the participants. Can you imagine the interview at 9 am which the day before I slept at 2 morning wake up at 5 am hahahah

I was like a black eyed zombie hahah Well still energetic though, but I cannot stay still or I'll fall asleep. So imagine 1 hour before the call, I was sitting trying to prepare myself with possible question and instead I was fighting not to fall asleep hahaha -_-

During the call, I walking around explaining and answering all Mr. Cipi (the interviewer) questions. I didn't know why, suddenly all the adrenalin came back and wake me up during the whole session. I was optimist and confident answering all the questions. Thank you Mr. Cipi for such a fun session :D

A few days later, I received an email which scheduled me for a video conference with XL Axiata's senior officers on the same time with the hardest subject in my course class hahaha I decided to choose library as my video calling place as the internet there are more stable.

I was 30 minutes early, and preparing myself. But all the sudden, I was nervous after receiving the call from Achmad (one of the selection committee's add me). Who won't? A sudden image seeing so many people while I was alone haha -_- I answer all their questions yet I didn't think it was good enough... I was nervous... In the end, when I saw I only spent 9 minutes instead of 15 minutes allocated for call making me even more hopeless...

Ps: I came late to class but the lecture understood my situation. Thank you Dr. Afzhan :*

Weeks goes by, I was nervous yet nothing came. I emailed XL Axiata but no response, I even followed some of the candidates to ensure when they are updating something, I will know haha -_-

3 weeks gone, I already lowered my expectations...

"I've gained many lesson from the selection and perhaps I wasn't destined to win..."

Suddenly, I received an email to attend final confirmation. I was anxious as the session was for 1 hour... I didn't know what to prepare and XL Axiata didn't reply my question... I even tweeted the last year BOD winner, Claristy and she asked me to calm down... Well, I can't haha -_-

One day before the confirmation, I had a preparation meeting for my Presidential Election in Indonesian Student Society at my campus. It was until 2 which made me sleep late...

On the day of final confirmation, I was a little bit sleepy. Especially due to I arrived 1 hour earlier and I didn't enjoyed myself browsing or anything that could entertain me... I was sleepy and adrenalin couldn't keep me up...

After 1 hour waited, I received a call from Achmad and by a surprise, CEO herself on the screen... Here's how the conversation:

"Hello Sobri, do you know me?"

"Hi mam, you are XL Axiata's CEO, that recently replace the last one, right?"

"You are correct, I am Dian the current CEO. Do you have any idea why I called you?"

"Do you want to interview me again?"

"hahaha No, I want to congratulate you for winning in BOD Challenge as Chief of Strategic Transformation.. Congratulation Sobri"

After that I kept on praising the God "Alhamdullilah" and asked her like really? hahah But I also explained to her how it is tough for Indonesian student overseas like me to join the program, and I'm grateful with XL Axiata programs...

Winning Email :D

Personal email from XL Axiata's CEO

What I learned most is that the power of hard work and pray... I didn't do much, but I've tried my best in given situation. I am optimist, but during these process, I preferred to be pessimist so I didn't put my hopes to high...

Well, I learned a lot from this selection and realize my weaknesses and strengths. I wished to win but at the same time, going through those stages also helped me a lot... It is a suprised for me to able make it top 7 competing with other 2500 participants... Thank you XL Axiata, see you in 16th November :D

Final Confirmation with XL Axiata's CEO