After finding fame as a child actress, Maudy gained further recognition for her iconic female lead roles in “Perahu Kertas” (2022), “Refrain” (2013), and “Habibie & Ainun 3” (2019), earning critical praise and a dedicated fan base.

The following year, Ayunda resumed her academic journey by pursuing a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford and graduated with honors equivalent to Magna Cum Laude.

[18] Ayunda began her career in the entertainment industry as a child actress with her debut in the 2005 film Untuk Rena, where she starred alongside Indonesian senior actor, Surya Saputra.

In 2009, Ayunda reunited with Miles Films, portraying Zakiah Nurmala, in Sang Pemimpi, the sequel to Indonesian Box office, Laskar Pelangi, directed by Riri Riza.

Showcasing not only her singing talent, in the same year, the multifaceted artist further captured attention with her modelling skills, becoming a finalist in the competition for a renowned Indonesian magazine, GADIS.

In 2011, she released her first music album, Panggil Aku…, which featured 10 songs, including  Ayunda's first self-written track, Tetap Bersama, and the pop hit, Tiba-tiba Cinta Datang.

The song, which has garnered over 16 million views on YouTube, gained its peak popularity when it was used as the opening theme for a rom-com teenage soap opera of the same name in 2014.

The following year, Ayunda reunited with Surya Saputra in Malaikat Tanpa Sayap, where she portrayed Mura, the love interest of Vino, played by Adipati Dolken.

Shortly after, the on-screen couple, Ayunda and Adipati, rejoined on set for the film adaptation of Perahu Kertas, a best selling novel written by Dee (Dewi Lestari).

In this movie, Ayunda landed her iconic role as Kugy, and also contributed as a singer for the original soundtrack, Perahu Kertas, which was also written by Dewi Lestari.

[23] Along with the album, she released three singles: "Cinta Datang Terlambat", "Bayangkan Rasakan" and "Untuk Apa" In the same year, Ayunda appeared in 2014: Siapa di Atas Presiden, an action film directed by Hanung Bramantyo, and lent her voice to the animated movie Battle of Surabaya.

[25] While managing her final year at Oxford in 2016, Ayunda successfully released the single Sekali Lagi and was also chosen to perform the official Indonesian version of "How Far I’ll Go" from Disney's animated film Moana.

The first song “Don’t Know Why” was released in July 2021, deep diving into the feelings of numbness in relationships which serves as a reminder for women to recognise their capability in redefining their own paths and love stories.

Throughout the presidency, Ayunda participated in several discussions focused on education, women and youth empowerment and sustainable development, reinforcing the importance of young people's voices in the decision-making processes.

[35] Blending entertainment and educational content, Ayunda uses this channel to foster a sense of community and encourage honest and vulnerable dialogues among her viewers.

The channel offers multiple programs such as Booklist (a book review series), Ayunda's thoughts (candid discussions about important issues), Buka Kartu (a fun spin on Q&A podcast) and vlogs (glimpses of her daily and work life).

With 32 people in the cohort, Ayunda held a series of workshops dissecting the topics of Mindset for Success, Strategic Storytelling, Building Mental Resilience, Productivity Tools and Frameworks and many more.

In addition to the mentoring, Ayunda also offered tuition and project scholarships[36] to selected mentees in hopes of creating that ripple effect in their respective spaces.

[38] Equipped with a patented technology, LUMERA,[39] Ayunda and her partner Patricia Davina aim to create a skincare experience that is effective, safe and powerful and brings Indonesia's name to a global scale.

In November 2024, Ayunda released her third and final single from the album, "Puisi Kota", a duet song with the legendary Indonesian singer, Iwan Fals.

Composed by Maudy Ayunda herself, “Puisi Kota” captures the complexities and inner turmoil of navigating the emotional landscapes of self-discovery, societal pressures and the search for meaning in an increasingly chaotic and noisy world.

[46] In addition to music, Ayunda is also making a comeback to the film industry with her new role as Laksmi in “Para Perasuk”, a supernatural drama directed by Wregas Bhanuteja, set to release in 2025.

[51] In addition to building her career in the entertainment industry, Maudy Ayunda also pays significant attention to social, political and economic issues in Indonesia, especially those impacting the lives of young people.

[52] The international event, attended by former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, focused on the theme 'The regional Conference Evaluates the Millennium Development Goals and Looks to Creating a Foundation for the Post-2015'.

[57] Ayunda, who at that time was also studying Politic, Philosophy, and Economic at the University of Oxford was recognized for her activism and given the opportunity to guide the Prime Minister during this event.

She also received the BUBU Awards for "Best Digital Influencer"[60] and was recognized as the "Most Influential Millennial" by I Fashion Festival due to her positive engagement on social media and her collaboration with CIMB Niaga for the "Kejar Mimpi" movement[61]​.

'Kejar Mimpi' movement was initiated by Ayunda in 2017, launched in collaboration with CIMB Niaga as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.