Her name became more popular in public when she was appointed as Minister of Finance by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Sri Mulyani was awarded as the best Asia’s Minister of Finance in 2006 on the annual session of the World Bank and IMF Meeting in Singapore. She was also named as the 23rd most influential woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2008 and the 2nd most influential woman in Indonesia by Globe Asia magazine in October 2007
She obtained her bachelor degree in Economics from Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (1986), then earned a Master of Science of Policy Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, USA (1990). She earned her PhD of Economics at the same university (1992). She began her academic career as an assistant lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Business – University of Indonesia (1985 – 1986) and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA (1990-1992). She has also been a lecturer for Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Program and Master of Management in University of Indonesia since 1986, and Chief of Master Planning Program and Public Policy – University of Indonesia (1996). She also served as Special Adviser of BAPPENAS Policy Analysis Unit (1994-1995) and a member of the Finance and Monetary Affairs’ Assistance Team of Minister of Finance, Ministry of Finance (1998).
One year before she was appointed as Minister of Finance, she served as Minister for National Development Planning (Head of BAPPENAS). Sri Mulyani is also known as an economic analyst when she served as Director of Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM). In December 2005, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced a cabinet reshuffle and Sri Mulyani was moved into Ministry of Finance, replacing Jusuf Anwar. In 2008, she served as Acting Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. Two years later, Sri Mulyani resigned to join The World Bank as a Managing Director (2010).