As a commitment to society, I help organize meetups of the biggest digital startup community in Indonesia, StartupLokal and try to convert more girls to use technology as the catalyst of their success via Girls in Tech Indonesia.
Who are you?
My name is Aulia Halimatussadiah and people call me Ollie. I was born and raised in Indonesia, the largest country in SouthEast Asia, with the biggest Muslim population in the world.
I’m a writer of 27 books and founder of tech startups. I have a great passion for reading and writing.
When I was 23 years old, I quit my job as a web developer to run my first company, it’s an online bookstore Kutukutubuku.com. In 2010, my partners & I create NulisBuku.com, an online self-publishing print on demand platform. Our community and members grow to more than 100,000 aspiring writers all over Indonesia.
As a commitment to society, I help organize meetups of the biggest digital startup community in Indonesia, StartupLokal and try to convert more girls to use technology as the catalyst of their success via Girls in Tech Indonesia.
Give us your favorite quote and tell us why it means so much to you:
Beg for that love expansion. Meditate only on that.
The Quran says, “And He is with you.” QS 57:4
There is a basket of fresh bread on your head,
And yet you go door to door asking for crusts.
-Rumi
There are situations in life that make me less in love with myself, and cause me to suffer, feels insecure and lonely. This quote reminds me that the Source of infinite love is with me, and that makes me powerful beyond measure.
Islamic Perspective:
What Ayahs of the Quran do you hold close to your heart? Why?
“So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?” from Surah Ar-Raĥmān.”
Surah Ar-Raĥmān reminds me to be grateful with my life, it constantly brought warmth into my heart and I consider it to be one of the most important and beautiful surah in Quran.
What Hadith do you wish more non-Muslims knew?
“Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished.”
He also said: “Make things simple and do not complicate them. Calm people and do not drive them away.” – Imam Bukhari’s Book of Muslim Morals and Manners
I’m a big believer of kindness. I believe that kindness is the foundation, the key to happiness and success in life. Kindness will lead us to peaceful life.
The “Ten”:
1. What is your favorite book?
I read 2 or 3 books a day. My current favorite is ‘The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know’ by David Richo. I found a lot of ‘aha moments’ in the book that make me understand the concept of synchronicity that happens in my life: nothing is a coincidence, there are always lessons to learn.
2. Who inspires/inspired you?
People I met every day inspire me. I make time to talk to strangers because I believe everyone has a story.
3. What is the best lesson your mother/mother figure taught you?
Kindness. From early age I watch my mom giving a glass of water to a corn seller who passes our house on his bicycle every day. She didn’t buy anything nor he pay something. It’s just a glass of water, a gesture of giving and receiving, that connects them.
4. What advice would you give your 13 year old self?
You can be everything you want to be. Be proud. You are smarter and more beautiful than you allow yourself to be.
5. What are your hopes for your daughter and son?
I want them to recognize the power inside of them. I wrote a book for them before they even born. It’s my latest book, ‘The Power in You’. This book is for them and for all the young people of my country that I love with all my heart.
I want them to know that power is knowing their core values and act accordingly, knowing what makes them happy and walk toward that direction, knowing the kind of people that will help them grow in enthusiasm and make their world a happy loving place to live.
6. What is the biggest trial you went through in your life and how has that changed you?
My divorce several years ago has changed me, spiritually, mentally and physically.
I’ve learned that the strongest and most important act you can do to yourself is to love yourself. If you’re on a verge of making a hard decision, ask yourself: “If I love myself, would I do this?”
I ask this question to myself and sometimes I take a not so popular decision, like a divorce. People would try to stop you making such decision because they’re afraid, it’s based on fear. Always choose love.
7. Any regrets? What’s something that you wish you’d thought about more before you did it?
I wish I’d start listening to my heart sooner.
8. How do you stay grounded in your work and/or spiritually grounded?
I make time to travel to new places even as simple as choosing different road and method to go to office, meeting new people, and write a journal of reflection from the experience.
9. How do you bring about real change?
I believe words and ideas can change the world. With 100 million young people in my country, I focus to encourage them to express their mind in positive way, especially through writing, productive use of technology and entrepreneurship.
I wrote self development books, building a self-publishing platform NulisBuku.com and creating community of writers and startup founders to make high quality environment available for them so they can start collaborate and create innovations.
Now, I received emails that says my book has changed their life, Nulisbuku.com has been a gate for new writers success and StartupLokal creating new success stories of founders each year made by successful collaborations and healthy startup ecosystem.
Many more goals to achieve, and with the help from Allah, I’m confident that this will be an awesome enjoyable ride.
10. What do you hope to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered as one who fall in love with life
Video Message from Ollie:
More about Ollie:
Blog http://salsabeela.com
Twitter http://twitter.com/salsabeela
Facebook http://facebook.com/salsabeela
Instagram http://instagram.com/salsabeela
Sabina Khan-Ibarra is the founder of Muslimah Montage, a platform for women to share their own stories. Muslimah Montage’s profiles are now a part of altM’s “Muslim Women Changemakers”. She is a writer, activist, women’s rights advocate and active member of Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative.
