Ligwina Hananto, co-founder and CEO of QM Financial.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
There are many things in life that pair well, wine and cheese, a movie and popcorn and even bed and breakfast.
But did you ever consider finance and comedy?
For Curtin business graduate Ligwina Hananto the seemingly unusual pairing is her bread and butter.
The founder and CEO at QM Financial is a popular stand-up comedian in her home country of Indonesia.
The mum of three has also participated in several marathons and dabbled in acting, appearing in three Indonesian films.
“Finance and comedy may seem worlds apart but they both allow me to do what I love best and that’s talk to people and share stories,’’ she said.
“Following high school, I moved to Perth to study Finance and Accounting at Curtin, but it wasn’t long before I changed to Marketing. Accounting just wasn’t for me.
“I actually met my husband while studying in Perth. But he went to another university, which I hold against him haha.”
Born in Bandung (West Java), Ligwina grew up in Sorowako, a small mining town in the middle of the South Sulawesi.
“My dad was a mining engineer, so I grew up outside of the city. Our home was near a large lake, and I spent a good deal of my time outdoors.
“As there weren’t many good schools in the area, when it came time to attend high school my parents sent me to live with my grandma in Bandung. Being in her mid-seventies, I soon started helping her manage the household.
“From 17 I helped manage the money and pay for the bills. I’d go to the bank all the time, as there was not digital banking back then. I actually enjoyed it.”
Ligwina said it was then that the seed was planted to follow a career in finance.
Fast forward to 2024, and she’s a global financial trainer and leader, assisting corporations, small businesses and individuals with all their financial needs.
Through in-house and online training, educational programs and classes, Ligwina makes finance fun and practical.
“I co-founded QM Financial 20 years ago to assist clients with improving their financial literacy and to continuously find improvements on how to work with money,’’ she said.
Ligwina Hananto, co-founder and CEO of QM Financial.
“When I first started teaching people about finance, I noticed a lot of people were uncomfortable to talk about money. And maybe it’s a cultural thing but talking about finances can be a bit taboo and can make you feel vulnerable.
“So, I started to make people feel more at ease by sharing stories and telling them something vulnerable to me. I’d end up making them laugh and it would immediately make them feel more comfortable.
“I found laughter to be a great ice breaker, and when I entered a class for a two-hour financial session I’d open with a few jokes and skits to make everyone laugh and feel more relaxed.”
From balancing cheque books at day to creating belly laughs at night, Ligwina is as surprising as she is talented.
Ligwina’s funny side shines in her stand-up comedy shows.
“The funny thing is my mum’s side of the family is incredibly musical. My mum used to be a singer when she was younger, and my uncles are actually a famous Islamic pop band in Indonesia. I know, there are probably not too many of those around,’’ she laughed.
“My cousins are all very musical too. One of them is a music director and another is a violinist and composer.
“So, yes growing up amongst such talent was a bit hard. I can’t hum let alone sing. And I learnt classical piano for seven years, and still can’t play a single tune.
“I was always the nerdy one. I’d often sit in the corner studying while my cousin’s played music in my grandma’s house.
“However, for the past 10 years I’ve been doing stand-up comedy and I’ve had a couple movie roles, so now I’m the famous one, and my cousins joke and tell me ‘you finally made it’ haha.”
Ligwina said while her husband and kids had seen one of her family-friendly shows, she wasn’t ready for her mum and dad to come watch just yet.
“They put me in higher education, I have a Master’s Degree in Investment Management, watching me do stand-up comedy would be a massive ‘what is she doing?” moment,’’ she laughed.
“They are both in their seventies now, and they have been asking, so maybe I’ll have to prepare a show more suitable for an older crowd.”
With International Women’s Day upon us, Ligwina reflects on her educational journey as a Muslim woman from a third world country and her incredible support system who have cheered her on throughout her life.
Ligwina encourages all women to upskill and embrace their natural talent this International Women’s Day.
“Education was always highly regarded in my family. My grandfather went to Stanford and set the example for the rest of the family,’’ she said.
“Attending university was never an option for me. It was a given.
“I am very fortunate to have a great support system. I couldn’t have launched a business or do stand-up without my supportive husband, parents, three children and mother-in-law.”
As for financial tips, Ligwina encouraged all women to learn the basics.
“It’s important to know the basics, because then you can confidently manage your household’s expenditure,” she said.
“Create a budget and set limits for how much you’ll spend per month on things such as food, rent/mortgage, holidays, entertainment and even coffees.
“More times than not, people don’t have a money problem, they have an expense problem. And they are spending more than what they are making.”
Ligwina also encouraged women this International Women’s Day to upskill throughout their life.
“Don’t be afraid to upskill. My knowledge and experience have expanded exponentially over the years, and I’ve been able to expand my credentials,’’ she said.
“Find your true inner strength and explore that further.
“For me that has always been storytelling. While finance is the knowledge I acquired at university, storytelling has allowed me to become a financial trainer and retell stories as a comedian.
“I now generate two forms of income from my biggest strength.”
Ligwina recently performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and United Nation Stand Up for Human Rights Show in Bangkok.
In 2011, she was awarded Australian Alumni Award by the Australian Embassy Jakarta and in 2021 was selected to be part of the Eisenhower Fellowships 2021.
Ligwina said thanks to her undergraduate degree at Curtin she gained the confidence to analyse, make better decisions and lead a fulfilling and rewarding life.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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