Wise Woman

Amid her busy schedule, Lauren Sulistiawati sits and shares her story with Edith Emeralda and talks about women’s empowerment and the WISE programme

resident joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla declared economic independence as part of “Nawacita”, their nine-point priority plan to be achieved by 2019. Financial inclusion for, and the literacy of, at least half of the population by then is one aim, aided by technology. Women are among the main groups left behind, although many now work in jobs other than that of housewife— although that’s not to knock the important role that home-making has in family lives.

“At the end of the day, women administer and care for their families’ financial matters,” Lauren Sulistiawati, President Director of Commonwealth Bank Indonesia, says. “Commonwealth Bank helps equip them with the necessary tools, all delivered as simply as possible through WISE, which stands for Women Investment Series.” Indonesia is already quite advanced and structured in its efforts to empower women, although efforts are not evenly distributed and are more focused at the top level, according to Lauren. She has worked for 25 years in local and international banks. The real challenge in her journey till now is not about gender, she reveals.

“As far as I’ve experienced, it’s more about capability and credibility—how to earn the trust and respect from those above, around and below,” Lauren says. “It’s true that there are more men in most companies’ top positions, but I believe that women can do it with confidence and courageousness, plus trust and credibility.” Women are empowered in the sense that they have “irons in many fires”, according to Lauren. Some are both heads at home and work, besides executing roles as mothers, daughters, in-laws, and more. “Those roles are given to us and it’s up to us to do the best in each one,” says Lauren, “It’s not easy, because it’s all about how you balance it, embrace it, take it forward and deliver it above and beyond expectations.”

This is why Lauren is keen on expanding and spreading Commonwealth Bank’s WISE—A 2-year-old financial literacy educational programme for women and by women. Research, seminars, smart-phone applications and a financial-literacy course are just a few tools used to spread the knowledge through WISE.

“We are widening the scope to include women from many social circles and ages,” Lauren says. “Now, there are more than 3,000 people who have joined, and they don’t need to be with the bank.” WISE’S topics now includes financial literacy and other womencentred topics such as fashion, children, food, education and more through the forum embedded in the application. Health is another topic she wants to approach, which is why Lauren agreed when Linda Gumelar, founder of the Indonesian Breast Cancer Organisation, asked her to represent the cancer-awareness movement. “Prevention is most important,” says Lauren. “This is done by educating women to live healthy lifestyles.”

The next plan is to expand WISE into a platform to inform and create awareness on health and wellness topics. “Invest in your health first before financial needs,” she says. “Financial investment means nothing if you’re not healthy.” Lastly, as our chat concludes, Lauren shares her recipe for success, which is to not have the word “impossible” in her dictionary, because it’s a recipe for a disaster by limiting one’s capabilities. “The danger is not about setting the target too high and not achieving it,” Lauren says, “but setting the target too low and achieving it.”

STELLA MCCARTNEY

This show-stopping Chopard ring throws in a splash of vibrant colour to any ensemble