Through her father, Sofyan, she is the granddaughter of an influential writer, journalist, poet and Indonesian language experts, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana.
With his young sister, Mirta Kartohadiprodjo (née Alisjahbana), his wife, Pia and a family friend, Atiek Makarim and Widarti Goenawan founded the first ever women's magazine in Indonesia, called Femina in 1972.
Alisjahbana's father set up Femina and doubled as a photographer, while her aunt Mirta Kartohadiprodjo was the first editor.
Under her leadership, she launched two initiatives which have become incredibly important for the nation: Femina's Women Entrepreneurship Program and Jakarta Fashion Week.
Prior to joining the Femina Group, Alisjahbana worked for GE Capital in Connecticut for five years.