After a long time holding the leadership position in FORU, and this year you left it, how do you feel?

IA: I feel glad and proud to take part in establishing FORU until it survives until today because not many companies can last for decades.

MS: I personally feel very happy. Because I think the happiest thing in life is when we can complete our tasks well. Many people start off well but could not end well. I am very grateful to complete my job in FORU, happy to see FORU survive until now and have a new generation to continue the leadership.

What does FORU mean to you?

IA:  FORU is where we create the best work for ourselves, society, and other Fortuners. We must realize that, directly or indirectly, each Fortuner was funded by the society for the education. Therefore, we have to return the favor to the society by providing the best work as contribution and devotion to this nation.

MS: Two-thirds of my age is spent in FORU. It can be said that I have worked the longest in FORU, i.e. 44 years. FORU is not quite my everything but it means a lot to me. My life and my mind are always devoted to FORU.

What was the most memorable moment when leading FORU?

IA: The most memorable moments were when we managed to provide effective and efficient solutions for clients, including the government, who came to us. We succeeded to create Tabanas campaign to educate public to start saving at the Bank at the end of the 70s, Blue Circle campaign for family planning that helped the government to control the population, Dancow campaign with the tagline “Aku dan Kau Suka Dancow” which is still used to this day, the campaigns Aku Anak Sekolah, Anak Sehat, Ibu Sehat, and many other programs FORU successfully organized for creative, innovative, powerful, and different solutions.

MS: Indeed, every moment made an impression. Every company must have the ups and downs and the rotation of the wheel of life. There were times when we succeeded and there were times when we failed. For me, the most memorable moment was when FORU was dealing with the wheel rotation and the ups and downs, yet we managed to make breakthroughs that could make FORU rise again and survive until today. Of course, it required a lot of thoughts, strategies, and solutions.

What is your secret in leading and establishing FORU to be as it is today?

IA: We have to be different. Most people choose to follow the trend. If we want to be good, do not follow the trend. We must always do something differently. We have to create our own trend that we believe is better. Internal togetherness also plays an important role to unify FORU until now. We have a principle to move forward together and not to go forward alone. We grow horizontally, not vertically. If we have the ability, we must build others so that more people are able. If all the aspirations and abilities of Fortuners are united, then FORU will be much stronger and faster in progress.

MS: In finance, the key is not to have the unbalanced budgeting. We have to manage it well so expenses are not bigger than the income. Second, the cash flow as the blood of the company should be kept flowing. In addition, FORU could survive because everybody works together. If there are differences, we try to reach consensus to find solutions. Once there are solution and decision, everyone supports and executes what have been decided. That is probably what could make our company successfully passed the difficult times.

What values do you always apply when leading FORU?

IA: There are three most important things. First, we should be willing. Willing to go ahead and be the best. The second is learning. If willingness is there, we will learn how to move forward and to be able. The third is integrity. If we’re willing and able, we must have the integrity to all friends, partners, and communities. Integrity is doing what we said we would do. If we are honest with others, others will be honest with us.

MS: Our motto is “Hajar!!” It is the spirit that nothing is impossible. As long as we have good intention and we carry it out in a good way, we will overcome everything well. We never know what will happen in the future. When we run into choices, we do not know which one is correct. Everything is 50/50. But once we have made up our mind, we must do it together.

What kind of leadership style do you think is the most suitable for developing FORU?

IA: The balance between western strict leadership style and eastern warm style that is by applying professionalism based on kinship and togetherness. Both should be balanced. Inwardly, we are family; outwardly we are professional and friendly.

Many consider Bapak Indra and Bapak Muljadi’s duo leadership is ideal and complementary, how do you personally interpret this collaboration?

IA: That is what a partnership should be like. Partners must have mutual trust, respect, tolerance, and must keep promises. We were walking with the same purpose, namely to build FORU.

MS: We hold some norms and unwritten commitment. We trust and complement each other because each leader has their advantages and disadvantages. Leaders who understand their shortcomings and let their partners to fulfill them will be strong leaders. Maybe that is our strength, because we complement each other, so we are well-matched and strong.

What do you admire the most from your partner?

IA: Bapak Muljadi has expertise in finance, so I can entrust all financial matters to him. I was able to sleep soundly.

MS: Bapak Indra is visionary, firm, loyal, and hardworking. I am grateful to know and work together with him. Because there are not many people like him. Since sense of family has been cultivated in FORU’s culture, it can be said that Bapak Indra is the father and I am the mother. Our commitment at the beginning was that Bapak Indra earned money as much as possible and I should secure it. Whether or not it is enough, I had to make it enough. That’s what was happening day after day until it has been running for decades.

What are your expectations for FORU and its new Board of Directors?

IA: We wish the new Board of Directors can continue our shared ideal that is making FORU live for centuries, getting stronger, getting bigger and better based on the business concept that we keep developing. So as to provide more significant meaning to the development, be able to get a better place in society, give a sense of betterment, informative, credible, supported, and protected by society.

MS: We put high expectations on the new Board of Directors. When we started FORU, we should first establish the foundation and improve the weaknesses. Now FORU is already in a position that is much more complete; it has good finance, culture, and credibility. The partners and clients of FORU are also greater than a few tens of years ago. The new directors are expected to bring FORU ahead more quickly. We have built and prepared the platform, and now it is time for kick-off.

What messages do you have for the new Board of Directors of FORU?

IA: Find Opportunity from Challenge. Nothing is too hard. Success is as hard as failures. All are tests. Give similar treatments. Do not just look into success; we also need to look into failure. Succeeding is a lesson for maintaining, failing is a lesson for betterment. Achieving a level is easier than maintaining it. We also have to live with further goals not only in the world, but also the hereafter. Life in the world is very short, so we have to make the most of it. Therefore, we should leave behind good things. And it is the duty of the new management to continuously transmit good ideas and principles of living together.

MS: Work professionally yet heartily. In the end, what to be assessed is the togetherness and solidity of the leaders. FORU has now become a public company. It must meet good corporate governance. Since we are also owned by the controlling shareholders, we must not only have good and professional leadership but also remember the kinship culture that FORU has so far.

What messages do you have for Fortuners?

IA: FORU provides an opportunity for Fortuners to develop as highly as possible provided that there is a will. Since it is a promise we shared. Anyone can lead FORU on condition that they are willing, able and loyal. Bapak Aris and Ibu Yuli are different from the persons I used to know. But because they are willing, able and loyal, they can lead FORU today.

MS: You are working in one of the best advertising companies. By working at FORU, you have the opportunity to learn all operational areas of FORU if you are willing and able. If FORU is likened to a train, then we are the locomotives. The faster we run, the faster the speed of the train. The more contributions we give, the more developed our company will be. Corporate profits would be returned to Fortuners. I wish you success in your work at FORU.

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