TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Caecilia Widyarti Adinoto: Success comes through striking a balance
(Courtesy of GE Indonesia)HR executive Caecilia Widyarti Adinoto makes sure to keep her professional and personal responsibilities on an even keel
Change Size
(Courtesy of GE Indonesia) (Courtesy of GE Indonesia)
(Courtesy of GE Indonesia)
HR executive Caecilia Widyarti Adinoto makes sure to keep her professional and personal responsibilities on an even keel.
In a recent report by consultant Grant Thornton, Indonesia came second in the world for the proportion of senior management roles held by women, with 41 percent helmed by female executives, just below Russia (43 percent).
What accounts for the relative success of Indonesian women in the boardroom?
Caecilia Widyarti Adinoto, director of human resources at GE Indonesia, the local subsidiary of US-based consumer and industrial products giant GE Corporation, believes it lies in the strong family support network that exists in Indonesia,
'We can give 100 percent at work but at the same time we don't have to worry about things going on back home because we have that help, that is something female executives in Europe or the States might not have,' she said, despite her light-hearted quip that 'I work for GE, I don't have a work-life balance!'.
'We can sustain a balance,' she added, using a term that she frequently refers to in describing her work philosophy.
For her own part, Caecilia, who proudly reveals she recently turned 50 and describes herself as a 'village girl' from Yogyakarta, credits her success to her Javanese cultural roots instilled by her family. Perhaps surprisingly for someone who has had successful careers in major US-based conglomerates, she says it is the quality of introspection ' the ability to listen rather than talk ' that has been her guiding force throughout her career.
'My parents taught me to reflect, to listen first before you speak ['¦] this has helped me to be more balanced. Nowadays the theory of leadership is the 'do-and-say balance', that has been my education from the very beginning,' she said.
She added that in the setup of GE, where change is occurring all the time, she takes the time to listen with her 'whole self', which allows her to be better able to strike the crucial balance and make the decisions the organization needs.
Talent search
Last year, the Boston Consulting Group warned of a potential short-fall in middle management in Indonesia in the near future if steps were not taken immediately to improve the education of young Indonesians. This is essential to equip them with the skills to play their role in the nation's rapidly expanding and more advanced economy.
On this matter, Caecilia is forthright, stating that what is looming is not a short-fall but a 'famine' of middle-management talent. GE recognized the problem years ago and has implemented policies to develop talent straight from college, even before the students graduate, with extensive contacts with the Bandung Institute of technology (ITB).
'We also have programs for experienced engineers as well at the mid-level, and we also accelerate from within, so from all angles we develop our talent, I take pride that GE is very strong in this area,' she said.
Caecilia is uncompromising in her efforts to get the best from those she is developing, recognizing that complacency can destroy motivation. She looks for 'broad-based' talent.
'This means dual function, triple function, multiple region; make them uncomfortable, go to where the problems are, to really embrace what they can do, the emphasis is on capability.'
In developing Indonesian human resources, she said multi-nationals had to work with government.
If she had half an hour with the next president, what would she say to him?
'Let's collaborate, I want to work with you to develop Indonesia. Last year we launched the program 'Menjadi Indonesia', literally 'becoming Indonesian' in a true sense, and the responsibility lies in every leader, in every one of us, and I would say to the next president let us collaberate to innovate new talent'.
Where does this innovation and development start?
'With education, with the mothers; health care and education is the priority. If we don't provide decent health care and education for the families in the rural areas then we're going nowhere, we are going to lose these generations.'
In this regard, GE has partnered with the Health Ministry to help increase the care and survival rates of pregnant women and newborns through mobile technology, and build the capabilities and knowledge of midwives in rural areas.
What advice would she give to a young Indonesian student today looking to emulate her success?
'Be greedy for knowledge,' she said without hesitation, ' experience as much as you can, and don't limit yourself to what you want to become. Because you might seek your dream but become lost and find something better.'
Caecilia Widyarti Adinoto
Place and Date of Birth
Yogyakarta, May 9, 1964
Experience
Has more than 20 years experience in human resources. From 2012 to present holds the position as director of human resources at GE Indonesia. Previously held managerial positions at various companies, including PT Pfizer Indonesia, where she was director of human resources (2002- 2012); PT Pfizer Indonesia as consultant of human resource (2000-2001); PT Warner Lambert Indonesia as director of human resources (1996 -2000); ASEA Brown Boveri Indonesia as manager (head of) human resources (1993-1996); Ongkomuulyo Medical Center as division head of human resources (1991-1993); Onko Multi Corpora ' Holding Indonesia as manager of human resources and recruitment supervisor (1989-1991). She kicked off her career with the Semarang Music Foundation as manager of the Music Foundation Program (1987-1989)
Education
Master's degree in clinical psychology from Gadjah Mada University, 1988
Certification in behavior therapy from Camarillo State Hospital-USA, 1989
At Ease
Pets & projects
Caecilia enjoys spending time with husband, San, and their two labradors Biscuit and Godiva. Coming from a family of musicians, she herself is an award-winning pianist. She also a self-taught jewelry designer.
Time to travel
She loves to travel, to Bali or visiting relations in Germany and Australia. Most of all she loves going back to her roots and enjoying the beauty of the villages and rice fields of Central Java.
