Indonesian Women Forge Leadership Skills in 'CEO for a Day' Program

Jakarta, Indonesia – Sixteen aspiring young women leaders concluded their 'CEO for a Day Indonesia: Women Shaping Tomorrow' program, a UN-backed initiative designed to cultivate leadership skills and empower the next generation of female professionals. The program, a collaboration between the United Nations in Indonesia, AmCham Indonesia Women Network, and the UN Global Compact Network Indonesia (IGCN), culminated in a closing event at Sinarmas Land Plaza Tower 2.

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Today we come together to leverage the power of women to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals. By bringing generations of women leaders together, we can advance inclusion, equality and opportunity, and help shape a more sustainable future for Indonesia.

Held to mark International Youth Day, the initiative provided participants with invaluable first-hand experience. They were paired with 15 women CEOs, senior business executives, and heads of UN agencies, gaining insights into leadership, organizational culture, career development, and critical decision-making processes. The program aimed to bridge generational gaps among women leaders, fostering a shared commitment to accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Today we come together to leverage the power of women to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals," stated Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia. "By bringing generations of women leaders together, we can advance inclusion, equality and opportunity, and help shape a more sustainable future for Indonesia." The selection process was competitive, focusing on leadership potential, motivation, and a drive for positive impact.

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To first-generation women out there: don’t let where you come from determine where you end up. Dare to dream big, seek out mentors, and keep investing in yourself.

Participant Dhea Umi Amalia, 24, found the experience reinforced her belief that background should not limit aspirations. "To first-generation women out there: don’t let where you come from determine where you end up. Dare to dream big, seek out mentors, and keep investing in yourself," she advised. Donna Priadi, Managing Director of AmCham Indonesia, highlighted the program's practical approach, noting that leadership "cannot be learned from textbooks alone. It grows through exposure, experience, curiosity and the courage to ask questions."

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Leadership cannot be learned from textbooks alone. It grows through exposure, experience, curiosity and the courage to ask questions.