Instellar Indonesia and IKEA held Instellar & IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Indonesia Accelerator (I-SEA) Impact Business Days on June 7-8, 2023 at the Pullman Thamrin Hotel in Jakarta. This event is the culmination of a series of I-SEA programs that have been going from October 2021 – July 2023.
Ratna Kartadjoemena, our Chairperson, joined the panel discussion on ‘How Corporate and Social Enterprise Collaboration Create Value for People, Planet, and Profit’ with Mohamad Bijaksana Junerosano, CEO of Waste4Change, and Donny W., Head of External Communications & Community Affairs at Reckitt. Moderated by CEO of Instellar, Romy Cahyadi, the focal points of the discussion revolved around the challenges in creating synergies between corporate and social enterprises.
Ratna, who spearheaded the zero waste philosophy in Potato Head Family, emphasizes the importance of approaching challenges from both personal and business perspectives. She raised the question of “how can we contribute to positive changes based on what is within our reach?” For her, it comes from personal experience before it gets translated into corporate strategies. Large organizations often face barriers in implementing changes due to size and complex coordination required to make substantial shifts. She also highlighted the power of individuals, asserting that everyone has a voice and has the ability to take action, irrespective of our position or influence. By recognizing and acting upon the opportunities in front of us, we can make a meaningful contribution to our surroundings.
Sano mentioned that to effectively address the issue of waste, it is crucial to focus on the supply chain, ensuring comprehensive and holistic changes to avoid further fragmentation. The lack of law enforcement to enforce regulation on waste also contributed to the slow progress in altering behaviors and habits. Following the magnitude and complexity of the waste management problem, collaboration is essential as the problem cannot be solved individually, underscoring the necessity of collective action and partnerships to drive meaningful change. Donny added that companies strive to be more adaptable when working with various counterparts, such as associations and governmental entities. Flexibility, patience, and tact are necessary when working collaboratively in waste management projects.
In summary, when it comes to collaboration, there are many aspects to take into account. More often than not, personal conviction comes first and the panelists agreed on the importance of sharing a common vision and mindset to accomplish collective objectives. Challenges are inherent in pursuing these goals, necessitating creative and resourceful approaches, and above all, the patience and perseverance to see it through.
