Holiparent Food Division : Ph.D for Branding and Competitive Advantage

In 2018, after working in the management of a corporate group for 16 years, I began pursuing a doctoral degree at my own expense. My goal was to foster the growth and public appeal of the vocational training institute owned by the company group where I worked. My doctoral dissertation focused on Green Management & Green Leadership.

My dissertation is closely linked to ecology, ecosystems, and environmental science—fields that have interested me since my undergraduate studies in Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology (1989–1994). It is also closely related to "green management," an area of ​​interest since my master's studies in Human Resource Management (2013–2014). My goal is to become an expert in Green Industry and Management, a role required by the vocational training institution I mentioned earlier. (My wife was a junior to me during our studies; her doctoral dissertation focused on Green Industrial Behavior.)

At the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 crisis struck. The vocational training center within the corporate group I managed was shut down because there were no longer any training programs; companies lacked the funds to finance employee training. Amidst the crisis, I told my wife that I would drop out of my doctoral program because I could no longer afford the tuition. I suggested that she be the one to continue her doctoral studies until graduation instead.

At that time, my wife replied that we would continue with the doctoral studies until completion, even if it meant living on a very meager diet. So, we pressed on with the program and collected research data while the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging.

As it happened, in early March 2022, I slipped and fell on my home's terrace. I needed to focus on my recovery and applied for early retirement on health grounds. On July 4, 2022, I officially retired early.

Since taking early retirement, I have filled my days working as a university lecturer and providing consultancy services to business owners, corporate employees, and the general public. The corporate group where I was previously employed has also become one of my clients. My expertise and doctoral degree in Green Management & Leadership have proven highly valuable: the degree enhances my professional branding across academic, corporate, and public spheres, while my knowledge of Green Industry & Management enables me to educate clients and build business ecosystems that balance environmental sustainability, the well-being of employees and the community, and financial profitability—thereby fostering sustainable corporate growth.

In conclusion: 1) University studies certainly offer benefits for working in the real world; and 2) my doctoral studies—initially intended to support the development of a vocational training institution—ultimately proved valuable for my livelihood and career during "Episode II" (spanning from my early fifties into my seventies).

Monday afternoon, July 6, 2026, at 21:20 WIB

Dr. Constantinus, S.Pi, S.H., S.Psi, M.M., M.M., M.Psi, Adv., Psi. (Green Industry & Management)