Friday (07/11), the Master of Business and Administration Universitas Gadjah Mada (MBA UGM) Jakarta held an Executive Series event with the theme “Female Leadership: Celebrating Courage in Diversity”. This event was attended by approximately 355 participants, including MBA UGM Jakarta Lecturers, the Secretary General of the FEB UGM Alumni Family (KAFEGAMA), the Student Association of MBA (MBA SA), as well as students, both offline (in the Samator Auditorium MBA UGM Jakarta) and online. This event was hosted by Sari Sitalaksmi, M.Mgt., Ph.D., Lecturer at the Management Department, FEB UGM as moderator and opened by Prof. Dr. Eduardus Tandelilin, M.B.A, Director of MBA UGM Jakarta. This event aligns with Sustainable Development Goals No. 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals).
On this occasion, Lucia Karina, who is often called Karin from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia, was present as a resource person. She opened the presentation by telling about her career journey spanning approximately 30 years in the public and private sectors. In 1992, while in college, Karin joined a local company focused on foundation work and joined a team repairing the tilted heroes’ monument. She got the night shift then, while the male workers got the morning and afternoon shifts. With the enormous responsibility of dewatering alone at night, she dared to take the opportunity, which had significant job consequences then.
At 34, Karin received the extraordinary opportunity to lead as Country Vice President of Marketing and Solution Engineering at BlueScope Steel (BSS), with full responsibility for developing the entire steel product program. Her dedication to continuing to face challenges and proving that, as a woman, she can take significant steps with often challenging consequences is the primary driver of her success in her career. Believing in her potential as a leader, Karin continues to make achievements.
One of the historic moments in her career was when she accepted a challenge from the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, M.A., along with the former Minister of Mines and Energy, Prof. Dr. Ir. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, M.Eng., to build 500 houses within three months. Karin accepted this challenge by providing the condition to have complete control in arranging and determining all the required materials.
With courage and high commitment, Karin succeeded in realizing this challenge by building 1000 houses within three months, inaugurated directly by President SBY. The struggle to achieve this achievement was not easy because Karin had to face the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), a free Aceh movement, which was fighting back. Even though her life was potentially threatened, Karin was not afraid to take risks to prove her intentions were sincere in helping development. Finally, with strong determination, the project went well. This success reflects Sustainable Development Goal No. 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
In serving as a leader in human resources (HR), both in the current and previous companies, Karin emphasized the importance of no difference in pay (pay gap) between men and women as long as they work with the same positions and responsibilities. She also emphasized that a woman must have the courage to voice her rights. For her, women do not need to fear being seen as dominating. However, Karin believes that opportunities should not be given based on gender. “Do not give a woman a chance because she is a woman, but because of her abilities.” This applies equally to both women and men. These principles must be pursued to realize Sustainable Development Goals No. 1 (No Poverty) and 5 (Gender Equality).
Promoting gender equality and an inclusive work culture was also a focus. Karin presented four comprehensive approaches: structural adjustments for gender equality, fair employment practices, inclusive work culture, and advocacy for men’s support in gender equality (male allyship). She also underlined that as a woman, maintaining a balance between her role as a leader in the world of work and as a wife and mother in a household is the key to the success of a career woman. “How do we make the orchestra of a career woman’s life come true and become an example for others,” she added.
Karin provides a valuable message for young women who want to start building a career. She encouraged them to continue learning, explore new challenges, and not be afraid to take risks as opportunities for professional growth. According to her, being a leader does not mean being a boss but how we can be an example and provide service. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and credibility, especially amid Indonesia’s corruption index, which is currently declining. “The realization of the vision of a Golden Indonesia in 2045 is in our hands,” she concluded, closing the presentation.
Reportage: Adella Wahyu Pradita
Watch the full video at https://youtu.be/fU4kK3PGEsc
