JAKARTA - The spirit of Kartini is still relevant in the lives of Indonesian women. Not only about emancipation, this spirit is also reflected in the courage of women in taking opportunities, to build an impact on the surrounding environment.
Now, more and more women are brave enough to lead, build businesses, and work in fields that were previously dominated by men.
The journey is also seen from the story of Ratna Wirahadikusumah and Dewie Kulsum. Both come from different backgrounds, but have something in common in the courage to take opportunities and grow together with an inclusive work ecosystem.
Ratna Wirahadikusumah, for example, who chose a career path that not many women are looking at, namely the development of restaurant businesses and construction. Armed with an architectural background and experience in the property world, he started his steps more than two decades ago with a simple belief: trying to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.
Now, Ratna is trusted to lead the development and construction of hundreds of restaurants as the Director of Store Development Group at McDonald's Indonesia. For him, the biggest challenge is not only building a store, but ensuring that the entire process runs through complex cross-team collaboration, from location research, design, licensing, to construction.
"The value of kinship and support from colleagues makes me never feel overlooked. I believe leadership is born from the willingness to continue to learn, discipline, and set an example through actions," said Ratna, as in the press statement "Fully Indonesian" McDonalds to VOI, Friday, May 8.
He also assessed that women have the same opportunity to develop in sectors that have been synonymous with men.
"When decisions are made based on data and mature considerations, don't hesitate to take action. Women and men have the same opportunity to grow and lead," he added.
Meanwhile, a different story comes from Dewie Kulsum who started her career journey in the late 1990s as a graphic designer at a small printing business in Bandung.
Starting from the small projects he worked on, Dewie slowly built a home-based convection business until it developed into a business that now empowers dozens of permanent employees and labor from the surrounding environment.
For Dewie, the journey is not only about business growth, but also about the importance of the courage to start and consistency in building a business from scratch.
"Don't be afraid to start from the bottom. With the will, passion, and courage to take responsibility, opportunities will come along the way. The important thing is to be consistent and not give up easily," said Dewie, who serves as a Partner for McDonald's Indonesia.
The story of Ratna and Dewie is an illustration of how an inclusive workspace can open up wider opportunities for women to develop.
Not only being part of the world of work, women are also able to take on the role of leaders, economic drivers, and open up opportunities for many people around them.
Moreover, in the momentum of Kartini Day, the spirit of Indonesian women today is no longer just about fighting for opportunities, but also how they continue to grow, lead, and make a real impact in various fields of life.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
