Roby started his career as a physics graduate from Bandung Institute of Technology. He decided to take physics because of his own choice. His parents didn't force him to make his decision. Both of his parents are medical doctors, which makes Roby's growing up days filled with books and science-related stuff, but Roby didn't follow their path in the medical fields, so then he chose to be rebellious, and physics was his choice. Roby's parents are open-minded, and so they let Roby do and choose whatever he desires to do as long as it's not dangerous to himself or other's life. That affects Roby, although it wasn't precisely a repression type of parenting, his childhood plays a role in gaining his confidence.
He then gains a lot of confidence because his parents have faith in whatever he chose to do.
Before physics, when he was in high school, he was a guitar player who is very active in band activities some of his band teammates now are professional known band players. The band era was his first confidence test, he realized that that confidence isn't widespread to be seen in most Indonesian people, and so that phase shaped him up into the person he is now. (Icha)
In Indonesia, people often choose their major because of the pressure from their parents. We were wondering if that also happens to Roby because looking at his journey of studies, Roby Muhammad earned his bachelor's degree in Physics and his doctorate in Sociology, which was two very different majors. The reason behind it is that because Roby is an inquisitive person and will study anything except medical. But, his parents are very open-minded and let him explore whatever he likes as long as it is beneficial for him and other people. (Luthfia)
Mr. Roby Muhammad, who well-known as a scientist and tech entrepreneur. Roby is the founder of the Yogrt App. Roby's curiosity to understand how things work, especially about the universe and the people, this reason has driven him to choose a Ph.D. in sociology at Columbia University, New York. When he was asked how and why he still is thriving. Roby explained how he arrived at this point simply because he got lucky.
First, He accepted at prominent universities with professors who are experts in their fields. Then, His dissertation, when he was a student on Sociology at Columbia University, was something many people want to know, not only academic people. Roby did not know back then that the topic would draw attention to many people. Third, living in New York at that time makes it easier when reporters or TV stations wanted to meet and interviewed him. Everything changed when a reporter from the New York Times called, the reporter saw and fascinated by Roby and the team's website, to write an article for Roby and the team. He also added New York, which is a dance network that exposed to many things.
Behind his success actually, Roby experienced several struggles. Indeed, after graduating from ITB, Roby had a low GPA and rejected when he applied to become a lecturer at ITB. But then he got in and (also) out from Columbia University. Roby explained it took seven years to finish his dissertation. Also, It was a hard time back then for both Roby and his wife because they were doing a Ph.D. when His first child born (Toby). However, both Roby and his wife managed to handle everything with the right support. Additionally, He thinks his individual accomplish is an ordinary achievement but somehow in the right network, at the right moment, at the right time, and the right places. (Carissa)
Regarding raising Toby during a hard time, Roby does not have any teaching methods for him. He believes that giving his child the freedom to do anything will be more beneficial for Toby because that's what he got from his parents when he was a child. Toby also looked up to his father and saw that he have a broad interest in a lot of things, and so he applied it to himself. For Roby, the tough part is not teaching his son the cognitive lessons, but instead, it is about the cultural stuff like in a social context. (Luthfia)
Roby have an image as a scholar student and also an entrepreneur. Hence Roby has to manage to take care of both his image. Roby mentioned that he never really tries to craft his vision, but he has been a student for 35 years, and people notice that. He also said that he is in a challenging position to define who he is when it comes to the public's point of view. Roby has had several careers in his life. Still, he never sticks into one particular job, Roby said that image management is kind of tricky if you leave several career paths. "It's very difficult because society likes to put boxes, and I have been to so many boxes," Roby said. (Yollanda)