Name: Eddy Setiawan

Title: Chairman and Founder

Organisation: Indonesia-ITU Concern Forum

I have been a telecommunication engineer by profession for about 30 years now, including 13 years of tenure in PT Telkom Indonesia, currently, I am chairing the Indonesia-ITU Concern Forum (IICF) which I co-founded in 2013. Currently, I am a member of the Advisory Board of the Satellite Industry Association of India (SIA-India) and Antarexxa.

My daily activity is practicing professional telecommunication consultancy services such as on the satellite communication system, subsea cable system and radio-frequency spectrum regulatory matters. I have extensive yet intensive experience working with the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics on various telecommunication projects. I graduated from ENSAE / ISAE-SUPAERO, Toulouse France in 1999 on Satellite Communication Engineering.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Eddy's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

The first challenge is to maintain professionalism and personal integrity, then build trust and motivate team members or work units to always be focused and innovative in carrying out a task. The second challenge is to build healthy and harmonious relationships with all stakeholders, including family.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

In my opinion, perhaps this is the result of a continuous learning process to build my professionalism and integrity and, most importantly build relationships and trust with many people who have also inspired me over the years. Furthermore, I am the type of person who loves challenges and change, which makes me not happy in my comfort zone, and always think critically and innovatively. Maybe this is also what encouraged me to dare to take the initiative and lead.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

In my daily life, I usually just make a big plan and make several detailed plans which I then work on dynamically while improving one thing or another based on the big plan, if any. Usually, I start the day with morning meditation a cup of coffee and a light breakfast, then check some e-mails and final work progress. In the morning I focus on continuing or improving the existing work and in the afternoon after lunch I continue with several meetings until the afternoon, and in the evening I spend time with my family until bedtime around 10 o'clock.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Don't stick to old routines and thinking paradigms, but continue to update our thinking paradigms and use the latest work methods.