Ivy Kamadjaja

Leading a family business while also holding a diplomatic responsibility is as hard as it sounds: Ivy Kamadjaja does it with flying colours

Kamadjadja Logistics today is 53 years old and going strong as one of the leading logistics companies. Behind its success is the Kamadjaja family, headed by patriarch Hura and his three children Ivan, Ivy and Eric. As its Deputy CEO, Ivy is no ordinary woman. On top of that, she is the appointed British Prosperity Honorary Consul for Surabaya and East Java. “The former UK Ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik, approached me in 2018,” she said. “He asked me whether I want to be part of the team, and it was hard to say no because it was such an honour!”

As the Honorary Consul, Ivy has a broad spectrum of responsibilities. “Surabaya and Liverpool are sister cities, to begin with, and thus we are looking forward to strengthening the existing relationship between Indonesia and the UK,” she said. “We are also working together to fight the pandemic and tackling global issues like climate change and supporting the development of Surabaya’s e-mobility market.” Balancing a diplomatic responsibility while juggling a corporate job is never easy, especially during a worldwide pandemic where companies need to adapt at a breakneck pace.

With so many things to do on her priority list, Ivy is thankful to her family for supporting her. “My dad taught me well to lead with the head, hand and heart. This principle means a leader needs to have empathy, integrity and truth,” Ivy said. Since she became a mother, the experience had led her to be more sympathetic towards others. “Being a mother is also a full-time job and is a rewarding life experience. I have to thank my dear mum, who helped me take care of my children.”