Kiara Zalfa’s Personal Development Journey at Media Buffet

While most of her peers were starting their careers by moving from one company to another, Kiara stayed at Media Buffet PR for more than three years. Of course, that decision wasn’t a popular life choice for most young people her age. However, Kiara had her own reasons for staying at Media Buffet, a relatively young PR agency in Jakarta that has managed to hold its own against the fierce competition from other PR agencies.

Hi Kiara! What’s your day-to-day like at Media Buffet PR?

At Media Buffet, at first I was challenged to tackle graphic design, video editing, and creating social media content. Now, together with the rest of the digital team, I also deal with digital marketing strategies and all the processes involved for Media Buffet’s digital clients on a daily basis. These are things I’m good at, but I never expected my first job would involve so much of this. Come to think of it, I’ve always admired people who are skilled at design and visual work. Back in high school, we’d often get free magazines, and what caught my attention wasn’t the celebrities inside, but the layout and color palette.

Why were you interested in applying to the Jakarta public relations agency, Media Buffet PR?

I ended up at Media Buffet through a mandatory college internship program around 2018. The university selected and scheduled its students for interviews at various places. Before that, I’d never even heard of Media Buffet—there was a moment when I doubted myself, wondering if I was even qualified to work at a PR agency in Jakarta.

After getting through the first six months of my internship at Media Buffet, I was convinced that Media Buffet was the right choice—phew! Just like “My Trip My Adventure,” my internship was full of life’s twists and turns. I was involved in so many things—even though interns usually just do menial tasks. Before I knew it, more than three years had passed, and now I’m no longer an intern; I’ve become part of the Media Buffet family, which is also my first job.

Wow, almost four years? I’m impressed by your dedication! What has kept you going this long at Media Buffet?

A healthy work environment is probably the main reason I’m at Media Buffet PR. My supportive coworkers, who look out for one another, make me feel like I’m part of not just a “team” but a “family.” Here, we’re always encouraged to improve our capabilities and challenged to take on more—that’s the “Kaizen Mentality,” as the Japanese say. With a healthy work environment, work becomes a source of enthusiasm.

Maybe some people don’t really like being pushed—and sure, if it’s too much, you’ll burn out—but I try to remind myself not to settle for less because I believe that the only thing truly limiting our abilities is ourselves. On top of that, I’m currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, since my previous degree was an associate’s. As I expected, Mas Bima and my colleagues here are very supportive and understanding about the need to balance work and school.

That’s why I’m still at Media Buffet PR Agency Indonesia.

What life values do you want to share?

So recently I came across a quote that really struck a chord with me:

“Failure is proof that you’ve tried.”

Cliché, isn’t it? But it’s true—don’t be afraid to fail, even though it’s truly terrifying. Failure is proof that we’ve tried something; the important thing is to try first, rather than spending your whole life wondering, “What if…?”