Mardiana Chooses to Grow with PNM Mekaar, Discovers Opportunities to Develop Her Business

In a corner of Cimanggis, Depok, Mardiana’s story is not just about selling rice. It is a tale of how knowledge can change the course of one’s life, about a woman who not only works hard but also continuously learns to find new ways to grow. Her initial steps were very simple. Starting from her home kitchen, she ran a brown rice business like many other ultra-micro entrepreneurs. However, the turning point came not only from additional capital, but from the learning spaces she encountered with PNM Mekaar. For Mardiana, every training session was more than a formality. From digital marketing and sales training to social media management, she found new light to open opportunities that she had never considered before. Ideas began to emerge one after another, from ways to market products and expand networks to processing brown rice into higher-value ready-to-eat products. “From the training, I realised that selling is not just about the goods, but how we offer and package them,” that is roughly the spirit she embodies. It is this knowledge that makes her steps different. She no longer just waits for customers but actively seeks out the market. She participates in various bazaars, from the local neighbourhood, sub-district and village activities, to reaching out to campuses in Depok and Jakarta. She turns every opportunity into a testing ground to hone the strategies she has learned, while also gauging market needs. From there, simple yet impactful innovations were born. Her “Cak Har” Sosoh Brown Rice is processed into brown rice liwet complete with side dishes. This product not only meets practical needs but also creates a new experience for consumers. The small decision born from the training became a big gateway. Now, Mardiana is trusted as the person in charge of the canteen at the Cimanggis Sub-District Office. This role is not just about her, but also about how she helps market the products of other business fighters. She grows, while also inviting others to rise together. Her liwet rice has now become a favourite among workers in the sub-district environment. It even regularly appears in various monthly activities. From a simple home kitchen, she now serves daily and monthly customers, with a delivery system that makes relationships with customers feel closer and more personal.