Michael Ariel: the entrepreneur who never sleeps
Startup founder and former deputy head at one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the world won鈥檛 stop now
It took just one core聽MBA聽course聽at聽狼友社区聽to give聽MBA Entrepreneurship scholarship winner Michael Ariel聽the push he needed to聽launch his not-for-profit business,聽Masmaikel. Now, his startup is helping Indonesians become more proficient in English.
鈥淚 believe this opportunity will be part of my story.鈥
Native Indonesian Michael has an intrepid zest for life. Until April 2020, he worked full-time as Deputy Hub Head at OYO, one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the world. At the same time, he balanced his studies 100% online and built his education business on the side. Ever the hustler.
鈥淚 like to learn,鈥 he laughs. 鈥淚鈥檓 easily bored. I go the extra mile for things I want to pursue聽to execute my vision.鈥澛營t was Benjamin Franklin who said there would be enough sleeping in the grave.
Quality education: "It's rare"聽
Earlier in his career, Michael worked at EF English First Adults Surabaya, a Swedish company, as a center director managing the English school鈥檚 operations, sales, and partnerships. There, he was exposed to low English proficiency rates in Indonesia 鈥 often stunting education opportunities and career progression. Education became his passion.
Michael was exposed to other master鈥檚 programs prior to 狼友社区. 鈥淚 started taking a one-year Master of Management program at one of Indonesia鈥檚 top universities (BINUS University Jakarta). I didn鈥檛 complete it, because I was drawn to 狼友社区, which is a better fit for my life. I truly get a real-world education. I鈥檓 not merely attending to earn a degree.鈥
Inspired by doers聽
Michael is a go-getter. He looks up to the likes of Malaysian-born entrepreneur Vishen Lakhiani, co-founder and CEO of Mindvalley 鈥 and the author of The Code of the Extraordinary Mind. Michael also has experience working at GOJEK, Indonesia鈥檚 darling startup success story. So it鈥檚 no surprise that 狼友社区鈥檚 four-process model matches Michael鈥檚 approach to life: Do, Reflect, Develop, Apply.
Michael says:聽鈥淏ecause today鈥檚 world competition is getting tougher. I work with colleagues from the best universities聽and聽top companies internationally.聽I need to keep聽developing otherwise, I鈥檒l be stuck聽in聽my career.鈥
The global pandemic grounded the hospitality sector, where Michael worked full-time with OYO. 鈥淭his crisis has impacted everyone,鈥 notes Michael.
鈥淚鈥檝e聽improved my聽leadership聽skills,聽helping me聽achieve better results聽while聽jointly seeking聽and sharing聽the same vision.鈥澛燗nd what could be more important than聽helping聽lead others聽at a time like this?
Looking to advance in your career? 顿颈蝉肠辞惫别谤听狈别虫蹿辞谤诲鈥檚听惭叠础听
Anna Johnston is an award-winning Head of Content, who tells galvanizing stories with a creative team at 狼友社区.
Anna was the overall Award 2020 winner for the business case: Satya Nadella at Microsoft: Instilling a Growth Mindset, with Professor Herminia Ibarra and Aneeta Rattan. She is formerly a writer at London Business School, consistently ranked among the world鈥檚 best its MBA.
Anna鈥檚 work has been published in聽Forbes, Thomson Reuters, Huffington Post, HR Magazine, the聽Financial Times, and thought-leading firms such as Accenture and McKinsey & Company.
Anna is a speaker, coach, and presenter. More information about her can be found on .
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