Arifa Tan

Arifa

Arifa is a third-generation Chinese-Indonesian whose grandparents migrated from China and settled in Tembilahan, Indonesia, where they worked as traders. This heritage forms an integral part of her family’s story. However, Arifa has expressed discomfort with being narrowly labelled as “Chinese,” as the term often reduces her identity to ethnicity alone. She prefers to be recognised as a true daughter of Indonesia — someone who upholds strong national values and is deeply committed to contributing to the country’s progress. For her, identity is not merely about ancestry, but about loyalty, spirit, and purposeful dedication to the nation she calls home

Binus University – Bachelor of Management Information Systems (1988–1993), Pelita Harapan University (UPH) – Master of Education (2013–2017), Oracle University – Siebel Certified (2007), Newfield Asia – Certified Coach (2020–2021), CXO Rapid – Business & Management Program (2021–2022)

Founder – IStar Technology (2024 – Present), Strategic Advisor – Simplyfi.sg (2024 – 2025), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – IFT World (2021 – Present), President Commissioner – PT. IDStar Cipta Teknologi (2022 – Present), Commissioner – Solutif (2021 – Present), Commissioner – Digital Center Indonesia (2020 – Present), Commissioner – PT. Orbit Nasional Edukasi (2016 – Present), Board Member – PT. Gema Inovasi Teknologi (2019 – Present), Group CEO – Mitra Teknologi Kreasi (2021 – 2022), President – BINUS Alumni Association (IKA BINUS) (2018 – 2022), Founder & Advisor – PT. Orbit Nasional Edukasi (2018 – 2023), Board of Advisors Member – PT. Drife Solusi Integrasi (2018 – 2021), Director of Operations – PHINCON (Phintraco Group) (2008 – 2018), Founder – Yayasan Tangan Kasih (2016 – 2018), Shareholder – PT. Menumate Indonesia (2012 – 2017), General Manager – Sigma Solusi Integrasi (2000 – 2007), Project Manager – Ardigraha Infolestari (1996 – 2000), System Analyst – Indomarco Adiprima (1990 – 1996)

IStar Technology – Founder of IFT World – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PT. IDStar Cipta Teknologi – President Commissioner at Digital Center Indonesia – Commissioner at Solutif – Commissioner at PT. Orbit Nasional Edukasi (ONE) – Founder, Commissioner and Advisor of PT. Gema Inovasi Teknologi – Board Member of Simplyfi.sg – Strategic Advisor at PT. Menumate Indonesia – Shareholder

Arifa Tan has been involved in various publications and creative initiatives focussed on talent development and digital transformation in Indonesia. She contributed to the book Profesiku and helped launch the BINUS Alumni Association (IKA BINUS) to strengthen alumni networks. She also co-authored business articles like Josys x IDStar, promoting tech collaboration and innovation. Arifa led major Groups such as IFT (Indonesia’s Future Technology) and Charities through Yayasan Tangan Kasih, integrating technology with social impact. She also helped establish Digital Centres across Indonesia to empower communities. Her work actively promotes AI, robotics, and automation to grow Indonesia’s digital talent for the global stage

Arifa Tan is deeply committed to social and humanitarian work. She was Chairwoman of Yayasan Tangan Kasih (2016–2018), supporting children to become independent. She founded Rumah Baca Indonesia to provide literacy and informal education for underprivileged youth. Through Yayasan Tangan Kasih, she shares God’s love through real, impactful actions. She also volunteers in church and mentors Indonesian women, especially low-income workers, through the IGNITE community, helping them to grow professionally and emotionally

Arifa Tan’s greatest achievement is building IDStar, a company that started with just four people before the COVID-19 pandemic and grew to almost 400 employees in just seven years. It is now preparing for an IPO and has created hundreds of jobs. Even during COVID-19, no salaries were cut, and all benefits were maintained. Arifa credits this success not to herself, but to God’s grace. After surviving cancer, she learned to fully surrender and trust God. For her, IDStar is not just a company — it’s a testimony of faith and transformation. Her story will be shared in her upcoming 2025 book

Indonesian, English, Mandarin

Arifa Tan has two main hobbies: travelling and reading. She has visited over 40 countries and nearly 400 cities, not just for fun, but to learn from different cultures and expand her global outlook. Travelling helps her reflect and grow personally, and she aims to visit at least 100 countries in her lifetime. She also reads every day to enrich her mind and support self-growth. Her favourite topics include leadership, technology, spirituality and personal development

About ten years ago, Arifa Tan faced one of the most life-defining challenges when she was diagnosed with cancer. The disease affected the nerves in her throat, which had to be partially removed. Since then, she has lived with a unique condition — whenever she experiences intense emotions such as happiness, sadness, or anger, her voice disappears. This was a deeply personal trial, especially as her career revolves around speaking, consulting and leadership — roles that depend heavily on her voice and communication. At the same time, while pursuing her Master’s degree, she lost her company and had to start all over again at the age of 48. Rather than be defeated by these setbacks, Arifa embraced the hardship as part of what she calls the “eagle philosophy”: Just as an eagle must go through a painful transformation to renew itself and fly higher, she believes God allowed her to undergo this difficult process in order to be refined and elevated. She trained herself intensely — physically, mentally, and emotionally — to manage her emotions, regain control, and continue serving her purpose. This long and painful transformation reshaped her entirely. She became more resilient, more grounded, and more determined. She refused to let people’s judgments define her; instead, she let God's process transform her. The company she lost was replaced with a new one. The tough character she once had was reshaped into wisdom and strength. All of this has shaped the Arifa Tan we see today. Her story of pain, rebirth, and spiritual transformation will be published in a book she plans to release in 2025 — a book that carries not just her journey, but a message of hope, strength, and the belief that to fly higher, we must first allow ourselves to be broken and transformed

Outside of her roles as an entrepreneur, business coach, and leader across multiple companies, Arifa Tan is deeply involved in social impact activities, character development, and ministry work, particularly focussed on women and underserved worker communities. Through the IGNITE programme, she actively mentors Indonesian women, helping them discover their identity, build confidence, and develop their leadership potential in their respective fields. She also dedicates time to mentoring and supporting workers at the lower employment levels, especially those below KITAS status, who often lack access to personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, Arifa is actively involved in church ministry, grounding every step of her life in her faith and spiritual commitment. More than just additional roles, these activities are part of what she sees as her life calling. She feels deeply compelled to develop people, especially entrepreneurs, so that they can live with greater meaning and impact, not only for themselves but also for others. Through her role as both a mentor and an investor, Arifa aspires to be a vessel of blessing, helping more people experience transformation, unlock their potential, and live lives that positively impact many

For Arifa Tan, success is not defined merely by the outcome, but rather, by how fully and sincerely one embraces the process. She firmly believes that we should never seek shortcuts in life or in business. Shortcuts may take us to the destination faster, but they often strip away the depth of learning, growth and character that only the journey can build. In her words, “The harder the process, the more meaningful the success.” She emphasises that when we go through challenges, failures, and breakthroughs with full dedication, the achievement that follows becomes deeply rewarding, both internally and externally. She warns that reaching a goal through shortcuts can feel empty: “If you arrive without the process, you often don’t feel successful.” To truly own success, one must respect the journey, embrace the struggle, and grow through it. It is the process that refines, humbles and prepares you for a higher purpose.

https://istar-technology.com/, www.instagram.com/coach_arifatan, www.instagram.com/arifatan