DEDICATION—A GLIMPSE of Bob Iskandar

A man whose life was never linear… but truly epic. Some people build careers. Others build a life story.

Bob Iskandar belongs to the second category.

On May, 16, 2026, the man who also well known with his name Otto Munaf Iskandar was 80 years old, was celebrated in Jakarta, attended by his families, friends, and also an Iranian ambassador in Jakarta Mohammad Boroujerdi.

“I feel very grateful and lucky to have reached this age, 80,” Bob said.

His life journey did not move along a single straight path, but crossed many different worlds: media, aviation, heavy equipment, international journalism diplomacy, national organizations, education, and business.

A broad, mature, and remarkably rare spectrum of experiences for one generation to possess.

In short:
“This is not merely a career journey.
This is an epic life.”

If life were a film, Bob Iskandar’s story would probably be a mixture of documentary, adventure, international diplomacy, a little action, and occasional subtle comedy — complete with radio studios, small aircraft cockpits, national conference rooms, gigantic heavy equipment, and global journalist forums.

Many people build their lives through one straight path.
Bob Iskandar, however, built his life through corridors of diverse experiences.
Sometimes extreme.
Sometimes elegant.
And often difficult to believe unless heard directly from him.

The journey began in his youth.
In 1966, while most young people were still searching for direction in life, he was already undergoing parachute training at the Pusdik RPKAD Batujajar as a member of the UI Mahadaya Regiment Battalion I.

An experience that early on shaped his discipline, courage, and readiness to face risks.

While many people his age were busy searching for their first love,
he chose to jump from an airplane first.

Not long afterward, at a very young age, he was trusted to become the youngest Acting General Manager at PT Fortune Indonesia — a foreign investment advertising company owned by Mochtar Lubis in partnership with British and Australian firms.

Imagine leading dozens of senior staff members in an industry demanding both communication intelligence and decisive leadership.

It was one of many proofs that for certain people, courage arrives earlier than grey hair.

One of the most monumental phases of his life came when he joined Trakindo Utama as part of Caterpillar heavy equipment marketing.

He did not merely sell excavators, but also tractors, wheel loaders, and giant dump trucks for various strategic national industries.

His achievements were extraordinary.

During that period, he successfully recorded sales approaching 12 million US dollars and earned recognition from Caterpillar headquarters in the United States as one of the world’s best salesmen from Indonesia.

That accomplishment brought him across Europe and Latin America — not simply as a tourist, but as an Indonesian professional recognized on the global stage.

A true testament that communication skills, persistence, and strong mentality often matter far more than polished presentations alone.

His love for challenges also led him into aviation.

As a holder of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), he flew small Cessna aircraft for operational needs throughout Kalimantan — from Tarakan, Balikpapan, Samarinda, and Banjarmasin to Pontianak and Palangkaraya — reaching areas that at the time still faced limited access and infrastructure.

So while many people are proud of frequently flying on airplanes,
Bob Iskandar has already sat in the front seat holding the controls.

At the same time, public communication became an inseparable part of his life journey.

Starting from radio broadcasting, he became active as an announcer for numerous prominent stations such as Voice of Indonesia, RRI, Radio Delta, Tri Djaya Shakti, Antara Nusa, and many other national private radio stations.

Some paid him with honorariums, while others paid him with personal satisfaction — although, of course, honorariums were always more comforting.

He later continued his career in television as a broadcaster for QTV owned by Peter Gontha and as a news presenter for Metro TV.

These long years of experience shaped his ability to build calm, elegant, warm, and authoritative public communication.

He is the type of speaker who does not need to raise his voice to gain attention.

Yet his contributions did not stop within Indonesia.

In international journalism, his involvement has been long and consistent.

As a board member of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI Central) for foreign affairs and Senior Director of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ), he actively built strategic relationships with global media organizations.

His professional network includes the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK), Asia Journalist Association (AJA), All China Journalists Association (ACJA), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), NHK World Japan, and many other international journalist associations.

In short:
if there was an international journalists’ forum, chances are he had attended, spoken, discussed ideas — or at the very least, shared coffee with the people inside it.

More than one hundred countries have been visited throughout his lifetime.

Yet perhaps the most impressive thing is not the number of countries, but his ability to maintain broad perspectives without losing simplicity in character.

He remains equally comfortable speaking with diplomats, foreign journalists, senior pilots, bulldozer operators, lecturers, students, and even coffee stall keepers — and somehow everyone can still laugh together at the same table.

Because there are people who become great through titles—Dr/ Ph.D—, and positions. And there are those who become great through the way they treat others.

Bob Iskandar seems to have chosen the second path.

Until today, he remains active teaching International Relations while also serving as a management consultant.

He continues participating in numerous professional, aviation, alumni, national, state defense, and social organizations.

For Bob Iskandar, retirement may simply be an administrative term.

Not a lifestyle.

He represents a generation that believes experience is the greatest university in life.

A man who has sat inside small aircraft cockpits, national conference rooms, television studios, international journalist forums, and heavy equipment project sites — yet still speaks warmly to anyone without creating distance.

Because in the end, true class is not born from long academic titles or high positions.

It is born from life experience, personal character, and the ability to remain humble after seeing so much of the world.

And fortunately…
Bob Iskandar has countless stories left to share.