Business Matters

Alvian Ade Erwansyah, ’24 came to the College of Business from Indonesia to earn an MBA in marketing.  

But his path changed after he attended a dean’s dinner and spoke to the College of Business Sara Hart Kimball Dean Tim Carroll about his own cybersecurity business back home.  

Dean Carroll and John Becker-Blease, the associate dean for graduate student development, were intrigued by Erwansyah’s expertise, and asked him to help pilot the new cybersecurity management MBA at the college.  

“I was beyond thrilled — it never crossed my mind that I’d get to study something so technical and aligned with my business interests at school,” Erwansyah said.  

 Working with professors, Erwansyah observes classes and provides feedback in one-on-one sessions on how coursework can fit the graduate level. He helps develop labs and tutorials for multiple courses in the cybersecurity management MBA and business information systems undergraduate programs.  

Soon, he also will be one of the first to graduate with an MBA in cybersecurity management from the College of Business. 

Erwansyah is the founder and CEO of an IT system integrator company, PT. Adarma Sagraha Pratama, which translates to working hard, helping each other, and being number one. They are established and rapidly growing into the leading cybersecurity firm in Eastern Indonesia. PT. Adarma Sagraha Pratama focuses on cybersecurity consulting, smart data centers and smart campus solutions.  

After 15 years of professional experience, international certifications and a thriving company, Erwansyah realized that he’d need a degree behind him to continue to grow his company.  

“In consulting, it’s all about credibility,” he said. “A lot of that credibility comes from having a solid degree. An MBA is one of the top-tier qualifications, especially with a focus on cybersecurity. I’m confident it’ll help me convince and assist my clients in improving their IT systems.” 

Having had already worked with top U.S. companies like Dell, Palo Alto, Fortinet, IBM and Lenovo, Erwansyah decided to study in the United States to better understand the market and enhance those relationships.  

Oregon State University was an easy choice for him. The CEO at his first employer was an OSU graduate, and the director at his most recent job was also an OSU alum. Erwansyah knew that OSU could give him the skills and network to forward his career.  

“This school offers so many resources and opportunities to help you overcome challenges and succeed,” said Erwansyah. Shortly after coming to OSU, he joined one of his professors in San Fransisco at a cybersecurity conference.  

There, he connected with the CEO of a data center company in Seattle, who had been in the industry for over 25 years.  

“We hit it off, and that meeting eventually turned into a partnership,” Erwansyah said. “He even flew to Indonesia to train my team. Now, we’re selling his products as part of our company’s offerings, which has become a significant addition to our product line.”  

For many students like Erwansyah, using OSU’s network has been an invaluable resource. “Building a connection with your professors as soon as you start your first class is honestly so helpful,” said Erwansyah. “Make the effort to attend their office hours and ask them questions beyond just class topics, especially about their professional background. It really helps to build a genuine connection. I wish I had done that earlier. But I wasn’t too confident with my English when I first got here.”  

Even with his initial reservations, Erwansyah has continued to expand his network and support system. He signed up for the graduate professional development program and has received ongoing mentorship from a former director at Nike — just one of many mentors he’s connected to through the College of Business. 

Experiencing the benefits of the OSU community first hand, Erwansyah decided to give back and support incoming international students by working as a graduate program assistant on the student success team. His job is to help guide students through their transition from their home countries to the United States, both academically and professionally. 

Collaborating with the team, Erwansyah develops programs that boost international student engagement, hosts events and serves as a graduate student mentor.  

Erwansyah encourages current and incoming international students to join organizations such as the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights (CMCI), and the (Cultural Ambassador Conversant Program (CACP) — a conversation-based program organized by OSU and local centers in Corvallis that pair students with domestic peers. He has found joining clubs to be a great way build confidence and grow his network through activities, company visits, and guest speakers.  

Taking the leap to move to Oregon and earn his MBA from OSU, changed Erwansyah’s trajectory.  

“Before coming here, my plan was to just get my degree, go back to Indonesia, make new collaborations with one of the U.S. IT brands and make my company the sole distributor in Indonesia, and dominate the local market,” he said. “But now that I’m here, I’ve started thinking long-term. In the future, I might even replicate my business model here in the United States. For an IT consulting company, having that degree, especially an MBA in cybersecurity management, definitely adds credibility and aligns perfectly with what my business is all about.”  

Erwansyah’s graduation is approaching, and he’s already experiencing the benefits of having an MBA.  

“Believe it or not, we doubled the company revenue compared to last year. We gained more trust.” Through the support and guidance of his professors, Dr. Omar Trinidad, professional mentors, and his perseverance, ambition and hard work, Erwansyah will graduate with a larger network and the new skills to scale his business in ways he never thought possible.  

“Dream big, and make sure that dream scares you a little, because if it doesn’t, it’s not big enough,” Erwansyah said. “Embrace the struggle, because true success comes to those with character, and character is built through hardship, not comfort.”