Starting Over at 30: My Journey into Digital Development

When you’re reading this, you might wonder, “What’s in it for me?”.

For this 3-minute reading, I hope you gain a little insight into who I am, what I’m studying, and why I think it matters.

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Every time people ask me what I’m studying and I reply, “Digital Development,” the reactions usually fall into three categories:

1. A confused frown followed by a hesitant, “What?”
2. “Oh, so like IT and computers?”
3. Or my favourite, “I didn’t know that was even a thing!”

Back then, explaining my undergraduate study in psychology to my grandma was already a challenge — “Why did you study psychology in the first place?” — but explaining Digital Development to people feels like a level-up. So, let’s start with the basics.

What Is Digital Development?

At its core, Digital Development is about using digital tools and solutions to tackle social, economic, and environmental challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (Heeks, 2016).

Imagine you’re in a rural area with limited access to healthcare. Digital Development might involve creating an app that connects patients with doctors for remote consultations, reducing the need to travel long distances. Or, it could mean using satellite data to help farmers predict weather patterns and improve crop yields.

In practice, it blends concepts from ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and development studies. While it may seem similar to IT management or MIS (Management Information Systems), the goals in Digital Development are much broader. It’s not just about running efficient systems — it’s about addressing real-world challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, or access to healthcare.

Here’s an analogy: think of IT management as building a road network. Digital Development isn’t just about the roads — it’s about figuring out how those roads can connect people to schools, markets, and hospitals in a way that transforms communities.

How I Got Here?

So, why did I choose Digital Development when my bachelor’s degree was in psychology? Let me take you back a few years.

It all started during my quarter-life crisis (as cliché as that sounds). I was working in HR — a field I genuinely enjoyed — but I wondered: Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?

An opportunity came along to work in project management for a government initiative, and I jumped at the chance. It was an eye-opening experience. I learned how government programs are designed, managed, and (sometimes) derailed by real-world challenges.

Later, I joined a digital transformation organization as a Program Manager for the Health Workers Tribe. My role? Working directly with stakeholders — mostly public servants — to help them digitize their processes. It was a steep learning curve.

On Day 1, I was completely out of my depth. Healthcare and IT were entirely new to me. But slowly, I adapted, learning to navigate tech-driven processes while bringing in my psychology and people-focused perspective. I started understanding how technology could improve systems, not just in theory, but in practice.

Still, I realized something important:

1. I didn’t have a formal background in IT. I could learn through experience, but I wanted to deepen my understanding, especially in the context of low- and middle-income countries.
2. Practice alone wasn’t enough. I needed structured learning to sharpen my skills and see the bigger picture.

And that’s how I ended up here, at 30 years old, pursuing a Master’s degree in Digital Development.

Why Write About This?

As a recipient of a government scholarship from Indonesia, I feel a sense of responsibility to “pay it forward.” Sharing my experiences and knowledge through writing is one small way to give back to the people who made this opportunity possible.

In this blog, I’ll share the insights I’m gaining — about Digital Development, managing projects, product development, and even tips for surviving and thriving as a Master’s student.

This is my digital journal, documenting the journey of studying Digital Development at 30. My advice? Don’t take my words as gospel. Always triangulate: read journals, ask others, and observe for yourself.

Of course, I hope you’ll find something useful in my writing. But if not, at least this is good practice for me to explain my field better than just saying, “Yeah, it’s IT-related.”

Let’s figure this out together!

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References

Heeks, R. (2018). Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). Abingdon: Routledge. Available at: www.routledge.com/9781138101814 (Accessed: 5 January 2025).