INSPACE 2026 Talkshow Features Leonardo Edwin, Discusses Personal Branding in the Creative Industry

Berita - 28 September 2026 - 12:00 AM

Balikpapan, September 27, 2026 — The Information Systems Study Program at the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) once again held the INSPACE 2026 Talkshow (Information Systems Path to Creativity) as the culmination of the INSPACE series of activities, which had been held over approximately six months. Carrying the theme “Personal Branding as a Strategy for Building a Reputation in the Creative Industry by Leveraging Digital Technology,” the event featured content creator Leonardo Edwin as the main speaker.

Held on Sunday (September 27) at the Balikpapan Arts Building, the event was attended by approximately 460 participants. The program included an opening session, welcoming remarks, a traditional dance performance, the talkshow, presentation of plaques to the speaker and sponsors, competition winner announcements, award presentations, and closing entertainment. ITK Rector Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc., also attended and delivered remarks at the event. The Rector's presence also marked the official closing of the INSPACE 2026 series, bringing the entire program and competitions to an end.

The talkshow was moderated by Eagan Ferdian, a 2024 student of the Information Systems Study Program who also serves as Putra Duta Wisata Manuntung Kota Balikpapan 2026. Participants showed great enthusiasm throughout the session, particularly during the question-and-answer session with Leonardo Edwin.

During the main session, Leonardo Edwin shared his career journey as a content creator and the process of discovering his content identity, which eventually became an important part of his personal branding. Leonardo began creating content while pursuing his studies in the United States, where he shared his experiences of college life. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought him back to Indonesia, prompted him to reconsider the direction of his content. He realized that content focused on college life had a limited lifespan, as he would eventually graduate.

After going through a process of self-discovery and brainstorming, Leonardo shifted his focus to travel content. Over approximately eight years of content creation, he has built his identity through travel content featuring relatively off-the-beaten-path destinations, including Suriname, Madagascar, Mauritius, and various other locations. These destinations have also served as sources of educational content covering culture, history, local communities, and everyday life.

His consistency has helped him build a substantial audience, with more than 1.6 million followers on Instagram (@leo_edw) and more than 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube (@LeonardoEdwin).

Leonardo also shared a simple approach to building personal branding through three key questions: “what, who, and how.” What refers to the issue or problem one aims to address, who relates to the identity of the content creator, while how concerns the way a solution or value is delivered to the audience. These three aspects can serve as a foundation for developing an identity that distinguishes one piece of content from another.

INSPACE (Information System Path to Creativity) is an annual program organized by the ITK Information Systems Study Program, which in 2026 entered its seventh year. INSPACE was first initiated in 2020 as a platform for channeling student creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the years, INSPACE has developed into a national-level competition involving students from various higher education institutions across Indonesia. In 2026, a total of 111 teams participated in three INSPACE competitions (Business Plan Competition, UI/UX, and Creative Video Competition) representing 58 universities and higher education institutions from 20 provinces across Indonesia.

The competition series, which ran for approximately six months, featured four categories: Business Continuity Plan (BCP), UI/UX, Creative Video Competition, and E-Sports. The talkshow served as the culmination of the program and provided the occasion for announcing the competition winners.

The winners in each competition category were as follows:

Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

  • 1st Place: NDUTUY – Institut Teknologi Bandung

  • 2nd Place: Kicau Mania – Universitas Brawijaya

  • 3rd Place: RnD Capital – Universitas Bina Nusantara

UI/UX Competition

  • 1st Place: kicau mania – Universitas Indonesia

  • 2nd Place: Pennywise – Universitas Bina Nusantara

  • 3rd Place: Gambit – Universitas Bina Nusantara

Creative Video Competition

  • 1st Place: ProResLog – Institut Teknologi Kalimantan

  • 2nd Place: Tim SAR – Institut Teknologi Kalimantan

  • 3rd Place: Lambe Turah – Politeknik Negeri Samarinda

E-Sports Competition

  • 1st Place: PlayBox Joy

  • 2nd Place: Abu Nawas

  • 3rd Place: Aeternum

Through INSPACE 2026, the ITK Information Systems Study Program continues to provide a platform for students and participants from various higher education institutions to develop their creativity, competencies, and innovation. Leonardo Edwin's presence at the talkshow also provided valuable insights into the importance of building a distinctive identity and personal branding amid the growth of the creative industry and digital technology.

The ITK Information Systems Study Program also extends its appreciation and gratitude to all sponsors, partners, social foundations, youth organizations, and other parties who contributed their support to the implementation of INSPACE 2026. Their support and collaboration played an important role in the success of the entire event. Without the support of these various parties, INSPACE 2026 would not have been able to take place successfully and provide a meaningful platform for young people to create, collaborate, and develop their potential.

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