Handry Satriago: Creating leaders to pave way for growth
| August 31 2015 | 8:12 AM
Handry Satriago, CEO of General Electric (GE)Indonesia, believes in the power of learning, which not only keeps a leader and people highly motivated, but also helps them achieve a shared goal.
All corporate leaders are responsible for the growth of the companies they lead. For Handry Satriago, a business executive with a multinational company, creating another leader is as equally crucial as the issue of growth.
“A lot of leaders probably only think about how to become a good leader in the context of a leadership style, charisma, vision, etc. But I think there is a basic element as a leader: Creating Leaders. So, the job of a leader is to create another leader,” said the CEO of US-based GE Electric Indonesia, sitting in his wheelchair.
Creating another leader in the context of a corporation will help the company to grow in a sustainable manner as more people will have the expected leadership qualities.
Handry sees providing the required relevant training as a strategic move for creating leaders, whether they are born with the DNA of a leader or not. “Someone may be born a leader but if he or she is not trained, then he or she might not become a leader. On the other hand, someone may not have the leadership criteria but if he or she gets trained, he or she can become a leader,” he said in clear and convincing voice.
Handry started his career journey with GE in 1997 as business development manager at GE International. Following the more than 15 years of working at GE in various positions of increasing responsibility, he was promoted to be CEO of GE Indonesia in July 2010.
The executive described his career journey as ‘just flowing’, but how he was promoted to be CEO was a memorable experience for him. It was done aboard a plane, when he and several GE top officials were on their way to Indonesia following a working visit to Vietnam.
Three years after his appointment as CEO of GE Indonesia, GE made great strides regarding human capital, with more than 100 Indonesian talents recruited, specially preparing for the future leaders up to corporate management level, which is expected to help GE business in Indonesia to grow by US$5 billion in 2017.
People with leadership traits, according to Handry, are those who have a passion to do something for others, eager to create another leader and never stop learning.
“Apart from the three basic elements, a leader should also embrace corporate values like integrity, being humble and the ability to face uncertainty,” said the 46-year-old.
In creating other leaders, a leader can do it by selecting good people, coaching, mentoring, giving training, inspiration, etc., according to Handry. In relation to this, in 2013 GE announced a plan to allocate $300 million in the coming five years to establish the GE Indonesia Learning Center, which will serve as a center for leadership training and technical programs, and other iniatives to strengthen its presence in Indonesia.
This initiative will give a chance for the future leaders of the company to participate in the leadership development program, which is ordinarily only available at GE Corporate University in Crotonville, New York, the US, according to Handry.
Being a leader also means that he or she is willing to listen and keep learning and that’s why people at GE are constantly encouraged to learn. “We are a company that opens our door as widely as possible for all to learn. That’s the reason why I keep staying here because I keep learning new things. I like a situation in which I meet great people who can inspire me to do better.”
Handry Satriago was born in Pekanbaru, Riau on June 13, 1969. During his teenage years, Handry was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, forcing him to sit on a wheelchair until today. He was at first shocked and could not believe it, but the physical limitation does not lessen his spirit. “A true leader can be seen from how he handles a difficult problem and rise from it,” he once said.
Having a mindset of learning is of importance to boost one’s confidence, which will help achieve his or her goal. “Don’t be afraid of making a mistake or afraid of looking bad. If your mindset is about making improvements, then this will not easily make you feel down and lose confidence,” said Handry when asked how to enhance one’s self-confidence.
In undertaking day-day-to-day operations, Handry entrusts his solid team, with each member expected to have an “ability to inspire and empower others”, one of the company’s essential values. He also underscored the importance of communication.
“It is important to ensure that everybody can be contacted, especially in this age of high technology in which we can send and receive emails anytime and anywhere,” he said, adding, “I sometimes send emails in the middle of the night.”
Creating a fun and informal working environment with not-too-rigid regulation on, for example, when the staff comes and leaves the office is also essential to enhance people’s sense of professionalism. “People are expected to enjoy their work and do their best,” he said.
However, silos remains a major issue in corporate management as people from different divisions work hard, which leads them to be drawn into their respective jobs. “How to bridge the silos is by having fun and, for example, by having a meal together, etc. We make sure that our success is based on business success and so we have to make sure that we are part of the team,” he said.
“It is also important to be proud of what we are doing and contributing something, not necessarily related directly to business,” said Handry, also a member of IPMI Business School Advisory Board and the chairman of GE Volunteer Indonesia Chapter.
Despite his tight schedule, the highly spirited Handry allocates his time to share his thoughts and experiences with others, not only people within his company, but also students from various colleges, institutes and youth communities in the country as he wishes Indonesian people to compete globally.
“I like being engaged in educational activities because I feel alive when I do it, when I am around in the campus and when I meet people.
“I also enjoy doing volunteer activities because this unites us as social beings. I like having new friends and they do not necessarily come from a business society, as I like diversity,” said Handry, who also serves as a member of the Indonesia Committee of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
Handry has his own perspective on success.
“A success in life is when you feel it. When you feel that you can accomplish something, that’s a success. And so, each individual is different and cannot be measured by material things. There are those who have nothing, but they feel successful.”
“Don’t define a success. The more you define a success, the more you will be trapped by your own definition,” he advised.
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At Ease
Hanging out with friends
I try to enjoy things with friends. Hanging out with friends is as important as work itself as we can become robots very easily. I always have time for friends and I always have time for myself. A work-life balance is important. We have to go with the flow, find the dynamics and maximize enjoyment. I feel happy if I can share something with friends and with the community.
Morning ritual
In the morning I do my sports, cardio vascular exercises. I shadow box and then I eat chicken porridge before completing a crossword puzzle. I also just “do nothing” and make an empty space.
No favorite foods
In regard to foods, I have no particular kinds of foods that I like most. I just flow in terms of choice. I eat Padang food, Javanese foods, etc.
Career Highlights
- GE Indonesia (from 2010 to present)
- GE International (business development manager in Indonesia and Singapore)
- GE Lighting (general manager of Industrial Lighting for Indonesia and Brunei)
- GE Power Systems (regional black belt quality leader Asia)
- GE Energy (sales director for Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam region)
Education
- Ph.D from the University of Indonesia in 2010
- Dual MBA degrees from Monash University, Australia
- Master’s degree in management (MM) from IPMI, Jakarta
- Bachelor’s degree in 1993, majoring in agroindustrial technology, from the Bogor Agricultural Insititute.
Birth
Pekanbaru, Riau on June 13, 1969
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