Increasing the Number of Women Leaders, IFG Encourages Female BOD-1 through Community Lab

In a strategic move to prepare women leaders, Indonesia Financial Group (IFG) encourages female leaders in the BOD-1 ranks to participate in the Community Lab program. This program is designed to enhance women’s leadership capacity within the organizational structure through activities that positively impact rural community empowerment.

As a state-owned enterprise (BUMN), IFG supports the government’s goal to increase the involvement of women in BUMN leadership ranks to 25 percent. One of IFG’s new policies requires female Board of Directors minus one (BOD-1) to participate in the Community Lab program.

The Community Lab Women BOD-1 program integrates experiential learning with practical application in the field. “This is one of Maxima’s strategies to cultivate leadership among leaders. The program aims not only to enhance participants’ professional skills but also to connect them with challenges and potential solutions that can be applied in the context of the community in Osing Kemiren Village,” explained Satya Aruna, Project Manager of Community Lab Women BOD-1.

Discussion of Community Lab Participants with village officials in Osing Kemiren Village, Banyuwangi

This Community Lab program is being held in Osing Kemiren Village, Banyuwangi, from February 31 to March 3, 2024. The village, known for its natural beauty and cultural uniqueness, was chosen due to the alignment of participants’ backgrounds with the issues present in the village.

“Maxima also considered the alignment of participants’ backgrounds with the issues in Osing Kemiren Village. This is a key focus for Maxima in measuring participants’ capacity development,” added Satya.

One of the program’s successes is evident in the participants’ ability to explore and find solutions to the problems in Osing Kemiren Village. Prior to this, participants received training on systematic thinking in problem-solving.

“Through this live-in program, Maxima monitors each participant in the process of problem exploration, needs analysis, and presenting various alternative solutions to the beneficiaries. This serves as a measure of the competency of each Community Lab participant,” said Satya.

Community Lab participants with Osing Kemiren Village officials, Banyuwangi

By bringing senior women leaders from the company into an environment vastly different from their comfort zones, Maxima hopes that the Community Lab will inspire positive change based on understanding and direct experience. This program is a step forward in encouraging more women to take on leadership roles and bring new perspectives to addressing socio-economic challenges, both in the corporate sphere and the wider community.