51̽»¨

Under the theme "Entrepreneurship and AI to Address Challenges in Property Ownership," Dara shared how she built a property technology company from a garage into a digital platform serving communities across Indonesia. She also explained how AI can help people find homes that meet their needs and financial capabilities.

Starting with a Meaningful Problem

Dara reflected on her journey after graduating from 51̽»¨ in 2008, from working at Axiata, McKinsey & Company, and Gojek to eventually taking the leap into entrepreneurship by establishing Pinhome in late 2019. During her five years at Gojek, she gained valuable entrepreneurial experience within the company, ranging from product development and team building to leadership. These experiences shaped her perspective on entrepreneurship.

Three key factors motivated her to establish Pinhome: the desire to address a meaningful problem, strong passion and conviction, and the willingness to make mistakes.

"People of working age around the world face the same challenge: finding adequate housing," she said.

She recalled Pinhome's humble beginnings. "Pinhome's first office was a garage and a cat enclosure converted into a workspace. My first employee was my husband, who was paid with love," she said.

Pinhome was launched in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Dara admitted that her team initially had concerns because the property business traditionally relied heavily on in-person activities. However, the pandemic accelerated the industry's transition toward digital platforms.

According to Dara, Pinhome has since become Indonesia's leading property technology startup, with 2 million property listings, coverage across 96 percent of the country's cities and regencies, and partnerships with 40 banks. The company has also secured more than IDR 1 trillion in equity funding and over IDR 500 billion in debt financing.

Critical Thinking Skills Gained at 51̽»¨

Dara credited 51̽»¨ with equipping her with problem-solving, critical thinking, and systems thinking skills. She explained that a system consists of people, machines, materials, technology, and information, all of which must be optimized as an integrated whole. These capabilities have been essential in building her business and navigating advances in AI.

"Whenever you use AI, never forget to ask why, why, why, and why. That is what I learned at 51̽»¨. 51̽»¨ constantly pushed me to question why things work the way they do," she said.

Beyond critical thinking, Dara emphasized the importance of perseverance when facing challenges and uncertainty.

"Those who succeed are usually not the smartest, but the most persistent and disciplined," she said.

Financing and AI to Improve Access to Homeownership

One of the challenges Pinhome seeks to address is limited access to housing finance. Dara explained that housing finance penetration in Indonesia accounts for only around 3–4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), significantly lower than Singapore's 80–90 percent, according to the figures she presented.

Beyond financing constraints, prospective homebuyers often struggle to find properties that match their needs and financial circumstances. According to Dara, advances in AI offer opportunities to simplify this process.

AI can help identify homes with mortgage payments that align with prospective buyers' incomes, verify the completeness of transaction documents, and schedule property viewings with real estate agents.

These applications demonstrate how digital innovation can support more informed decision-making throughout the home search and purchasing process.

Three Essential Skills in the Age of AI

Dara encouraged students to prepare themselves for a rapidly evolving professional landscape shaped by technological advancements.

"The world you will enter after graduation is one where the most important skill is not knowing the answers, but asking the right questions so that you can develop relevant knowledge and better solutions," she said.

She highlighted three essential skills that students should develop.

First, first-principles thinking and problem-solving. This involves identifying the root causes of a problem and understanding why a particular solution is the most appropriate. According to Dara, asking the right questions when using AI can help individuals discover more effective solutions.

Second, morality and empathy. Dara emphasized that the ability to understand others remains a distinctly human strength that technology cannot fully replace.

"AI can simulate empathy, but it does not possess empathy. You have empathy, and you have moral values," Dara said.

Third, independence and resilience. She explained that no matter how sophisticated an AI-generated solution may be, its benefits can only be realized when people are capable of implementing it in the real world.