The fourth industrial revolution is characterized by the human ability to play more strategic roles in empowering technology to improve the quality of life. This industrial revolution requires quick strategic thinking across fields. For instance, doctors can manage big data or scientists understand how to communicate with the users of their science. If Indonesia is willing to take a larger role in it, investing in women is the key.

Create jobs, career opportunities and entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Research proves that women will reinvest their income for their family, especially for the children. This creates a multiplier effect that improves the quality and quantity of education, health, fitness and human potential in the family. Opening opportunities for women will automatically improve the quality of life of the leaders of today’s generation and the next generation.

On the other hand, working women need to be encouraged not to forget their focus on the quality of their family life, and not to entrust the children’s education to babysitters or teachers at school. In fact, the children raised by educated women grow more prosperous. It is expected that they will build a better future for the nation.

Based on the data from several sources, it is known that 80% of Indonesian migrant workers are women, most of whom are domestic helpers. Only 5% of CEOs are female. Women are represented in the legislature with only 17%, while 40% of women have decided to stop working for the sake of the family.

Companies need to pay attention to the convenient working conditions for women so that women can work wherever they are as well as keep prioritizing time for family. Flexitime and ROWE are some methods that need to be applied. Every office needs to have a room for childcare. Women also need to learn more about being home-based entrepreneurs, so that income can be earned without sacrificing the family.

In the case of Human Development Index, Indonesian women are still lagging behind men. It takes effort from the government and business sectors to empower women to raise their own HDI. Therefore, it is imperative to immediately prioritize policies that support women’s empowerment from the grassroots level and the most basic level of education, which is the early childhood education, to women’s representation in the legislature.

Not only the government, but the business world also needs to pay lots of attention to initiatives, CSR, and value chains that prioritize women’s empowerment. The companies will receive benefits eventually. And most importantly for us, women, we have to consider investing in ourselves to build the best potential. There are lots that we do not know about our own potentials, the potentials of our mind and our soul that we need to explore. Be the bearer of his grace for the universe. Start with positive perspective and mind, as simple as that.

By: Indira Abidin (in Ibu Power Women’s Conference 2017)