Cara Riantoputra is an experienced leader with a strong record across business, government, and nonprofits. Most recently, Cara served as Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Education’s digital transformation unit, before founding Teach First Indonesia. She has also worked at the Indonesian President’s Office, helping implement the USD $4 billion Village Fund program across 17,000+ islands, and has volunteered with Wadah Foundation to train microbusinesses in low-income communities.

Also experienced in business and fintech, Cara led country expansion and market launches in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia at Xendit, one of Southeast Asia’s leading fintech companies, overseeing product, partnerships, and operations to establish new regional entities from the ground up. Earlier, as Chief of Staff to the CEO, she supported Xendit’s fundraising and strategic initiatives that raised over USD 300 million in capital. 

Cara now brings her experience launching and scaling impactful initiatives across sectors to Teach First Indonesia, aiming to build a generation of leaders who transform Indonesia’s education system and expand opportunities for children in every corner of the country.