Article: Yussy Santoso, one of Jakarta’s brightest stars in HR, on the power of kaizen

Leadership

Yussy Santoso, one of Jakarta’s brightest stars in HR, on the power of kaizen

HR leader Yussy Santoso on how the concept of kaizen is a factor of success in business and life
Yussy Santoso, one of Jakarta’s brightest stars in HR, on the power of kaizen

A great professional doesn’t work hard to get recognised. They work hard because it’s who they are and what they do.

That’s one of the powerful mantras Jakarta-based HR leader Yussy Santoso believes in. He is a living example of this philosophy being one of the most inspiring and influential voices in the space of HR in Indonesia.

Yussy is recognised as one of the top 10 CHROs in Indonesia by CEO Insights Asia.

Yet, his success as a leader emanates from his passion for the profession and his ethic of discipline and purposeful work.

Success is earned and never given,” Yussy said.

“The question is always about, ‘Have you worked for it or deserve to earn it?’”

Having been in the HR industry for two decades – half of which has been in leadership roles in Indonesia and across Asia and Europe – Yussy is well-versed in how the CHRO is both a champion of the employee community and an important strategic business partner who looks after an organisation’s prime wealth: the human capital.

The alignment happens when the CHRO helps to drive both employee satisfaction and organisational performance. To achieve this, the CHRO must build a foundation of trust in people and a commitment to their growth and success.

“This includes developing and implementing policies that foster a positive work environment, driving talent acquisition and retention, and overseeing employee development programs,” Yussy said.

Also Read: Indonesia's Jessyca Sentosa of Kalbe Farma on building a winning EVP

Integrating HR and business functions

Yussy is currently the HR Director of Mandala Multifinance, which makes financing solutions accessible to consumers in communities across Indonesia. The corporate mission is reflected in his down-to-earth leadership style.

As an HR professional, his expertise lies in connecting the dots between the overall HR function and the goals of the business.

But while Yussy has made a mark in Indonesia’s HR community, this thriving leader, however, started in engineering by training.

“My background education is in Engineering Mechanics,” Yussy said. He also holds a Master’s degree in Management in Marketing and a Doctoral Research degree in Management.

Yussy represents a new generation of HR leaders who see the value of inspiring, motivating and developing employees to build the success of the business.

The power of kaizen, investing in small incremental changes

The belief in continuous improvement shines through in how Yussy values the concept of kaizen in the workplace and beyond.

Not only is he classically trained in the more technical aspects of strategic management, but he is also living out the principles of kaizen in his everyday life as a leader.

“If you want to progress rapidly,” Yussy said, “take a greater risk than what others think, those who tend to look for safety. Pay more attention to what others think is ‘enough’. And dream of something more than what others think makes sense.”

Also Read: Indonesian CXOs on innovation and agility in HR

It’s this daily investment in small but meaningful improvements that makes the greatest positive impact on his professional and personal growth.

The key is to focus on the process, not the outcome,” he said.

“Examples of kaizen I include in my daily life are practising a skill for 10 minutes; reading for 30 minutes each day; and exercising for two hours three times a week.”

In the context of business and the workplace, the purpose of self-improvement creates greater value not only for the individual but also for the organisation they are part of.

As Yussy advised: “It’s not about just being better, but it’s also about being different. You need to give other people a reason why they picked you.”

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Topics: Leadership, Strategic HR

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