Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

CEO of Shoes and Care, dr. Tirta Mandira Hudhi shared the inspirational story of his life journey, including developing a business in YES! We Talk 2024, organized by the Management Student Family Association (IKAMMA), the Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, Saturday, October 9, 2024, at Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK) UGM.

"Fifty percent of the problems in our lives go away when we have money."

This was Dr. Tirta's lighthearted comment when asked why he started his business. During the YES! We Talk session on Saturday (11/09/24), Dr. Tirta, CEO of Shoes and Care, shared the story behind his transition from doctor to entrepreneur. He explained that becoming a specialist, especially an orthopedic surgeon as he aspired to be, was a long journey that required significant funding. In addition, his parents were elderly at the time. "I was just being realistic because, at that time, my parents were old and didn't have many privileges. In the end, I decided to continue with the Shoes and Care business," he said.

He then offered tips to business owners on how to communicate with employees. According to him, each generation has a unique communication style, so business owners need to adapt to each generation, especially Generation Z, which is now entering the workforce.

"Understand that each generation has strengths and weaknesses. For example, Generation X has a stronger work ethic than Millennials and Gen Z, but Gen Z excels in a fast-paced environment," he explained.

Dr. Tirta also pointed out a common weakness in many companies today: a reluctance to adapt to Gen Z's communication style, even harboring negative views about them. Dr. Tirta says this is a significant mistake, as companies should be open to change and adaptation. Companies unwilling to adapt will lose out in the competition in today's fast-paced world. In addition, Indonesia's population is mainly dominated by Gen Z, meaning that the workforce and consumers are primarily young. For him, therefore, human resource management within a company is a valuable long-term asset.

Finally, Dr. Tirta provided essential tips for CEOs on how to run a company. First, a CEO should delegate and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each task. Second, a CEO should understand the company's basic financials. Third, a CEO should understand the roles of each job or at least understand the hierarchy of each position. Fourth, a CEO must understand legal issues. Fifth, a CEO must have strong public speaking skills and be able to brand himself and his company effectively. And sixth, a CEO must be active in social media.

"We can't control all the complaints that come in, whether internal or external. By being active on social media, we can at least monitor the complaints that appear there," he explained.

Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri

Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum

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