Iswahyudi
Congratulations on pushing your car
"I've been in this wheelchair for over 30 years. I was only 17 years old at that time. When the doctor diagnosed me with lymph node cancer growing in my spine, I was taken to doctors and smart people. But it turned out that God intended for me not to walk. One evening, after months of not going to school, my mother called me. 'Son, let's pray Asr. You lead.' I told my mother that my legs were shaky. Then she said, 'It's okay, be the imam.' So, I became the imam for the Asr prayer. When I bowed down in the second rakaat, I fell. And that was the last day I could stand and walk. After that incident, I felt like the world turned dark. I was angry at God. I was angry at everything. I was extremely frustrated. I isolated myself in my room for days, refusing to meet people. My father had to break down the door. Then he opened the window. He sat next to my bed and said, 'Son, I just want to convey one thing. Life is a choice. If you choose to do nothing, just sleep here. It's okay. We as parents can only support you. But if that's your choice, you will feel pain for the rest of your life. You will always compare your life with others when they can do things you used to do. However, there's a second choice, Son. It's like pushing a car on a steep road. You must not stop, because if you stop, the car goes down again. If you're tired, it's okay. Slowly but keep pushing. Don't stop. You used to enjoy rock climbing. You can't climb rocks in this room. You enjoyed theater. This room is not enough for theater. You liked catching butterflies. No butterflies can come into this room.' After saying that, he left. Ten minutes later, I came out of the room. I told my mother, 'Ma, I want to go to school. Please call a taxi.' Since that day, I've been pushing my car. It's incredibly difficult. But if I didn't have the courage to push it, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be able to see my hometown in Payakumbuh again. I wouldn't be able to see Lombok, New York, Paris, Gorontalo, and so on. Because flying is half as difficult for me. So, friends, everyone has difficulties. And remember, there are difficulties created by God specifically for you to face. Stop expecting others to understand what troubles you. They won't. The only way is to face it. When you dare to face it, there is a strength given by the Almighty, a strength not given to everyone. That strength is the 'bounce-back power' that will make you bounce high when you are thrown down. Never be afraid of difficulties. Whatever it is, never give up. Congratulations on pushing your car." This is the inspiring narrative from Handry Satriago, a CEO of General Electric Indonesia who has been wheelchair-bound for over three decades.
Facing a profound challenge with a serious illness that marked a turning point in his life and future, Handry Satriago, CEO of General Electric Indonesia, had to make a crucial decision: to fight or surrender. He chose to confront his illness, which, as it turns out, has become a blessing in its own right. Every individual undergoes trials from the Creator; it is how we approach these trials that matters. Whether we face them with patience or succumb to them.
Who is the figure behind such an inspiring narrative, and what is his story? Handry Satriago, the only child of a modest Minangkabau migrant family, was born in Pekanbaru on June 13, 1969. He is the CEO of GE Indonesia, holding the position since September 1, 2010, as part of the General Electric Company, one of the world's largest and oldest corporations. Before this role, he worked in various local companies as Director of Business Development. Handry first joined General Electric (GE) in 1997.
A voracious reader, collector of traditional Balinese paintings, and a traveler, Handry is often dubbed by the media as the "first Indonesian-born leader of GE Indonesia," as he completed his entire education in Indonesia, becoming the first graduate of a domestic university to hold the position of President of GE Indonesia and the youngest leader in the global history of General Electric.
Handry is also a member of the Advisory Board at several Indonesian universities and a Corporate University within a state-owned enterprise. He is an active member (in addition to being a founder and former Champion) of GE Volunteer Indonesia Chapter, repeatedly honored for his contributions to community activities both domestically and internationally. Handry also serves as a member of the Indonesia Committee at the US-ASEAN Business Council.
After working for several years in local companies as Director of Business Development, Handry joined GE in 1997 and served as the Business Development Manager at GE International. In 1998, he moved to GE Lighting Indonesia, holding the position of General Manager of Industrial Lighting and Systems.
In mid-2001, he took the opportunity to serve as a Regional Black Belt at GE Power Systems Asia Pacific and also served as the Quality ACFC Leader for GE Power Systems Asia in 2004. From 2005 to 2010, he led the Power Generation business for GE Energy in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines. In July 2011, Handry was promoted to CEO of GE Indonesia. He is responsible for the development and growth of GE's business in Indonesia, which is currently experiencing double-digit growth.
During his 15 years at GE, Handry has taken on various roles, such as Business Development Manager in Indonesia and Singapore at GE International, General Manager of Industrial Lighting for Indonesia and Brunei at GE Lighting, Regional Black Belt Quality Leader Asia at GE Power Systems, and Sales Director for Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia at GE Energy before being promoted to his current position.
Handry has a keen interest in educating the Indonesian population and volunteering activities. He is a member of the Advisory Board of IPMI Business School and the Chairman of GE Volunteer Indonesia Chapter (winner of the GE Team Impact 2011 and Gerald Philippe awards). Handry also serves as a Governor at the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) Indonesia and is a member of the Indonesia Committee at the US-ASEAN Business Council.
This informal individual, who dislikes formalities, got married in May 2001 to a colleague, Dinar Putri Sriardani Sambodja, an intelligent woman with many common interests. Handry describes her as a "rainbow with a strong color of friendship." She is currently a notary public in West Java, and they reside in Jakarta.
Handry's Leadership Activism
Handry has a high interest in education and volunteerism. In his spare time, he enjoys the process of teaching and learning, both in educational institutions and elsewhere. His goal is to contribute to the education of the Indonesian people so they can compete globally. Handry spends much of his weekend sharing insights with students from various universities and young communities in Indonesia. He believes that "the job of a leader is to create another leader."
In his learning process and life journey, Handry has visited various countries and regions worldwide, leading him to conclude that "God is truly great for creating humans capable of adapting to all conditions in this world and continuously striving for a better life."
Educational Background
Handry Satriago attended SMA Labschool Jakarta and obtained his Bachelor's degree in Agroindustrial Technology from IPB in 1993. He earned his Master of Management (MM) degree (Cum Laude) from IPMI, Jakarta, in 1997, with a dual degree in MBA from Monash University, Australia. Handry completed his Ph.D. in Strategic Management at the University of Indonesia in 2010, with a dissertation titled "The Influence of Followers to Leader's Performance: A Reverse Pygmalion Effect." In this dissertation, Handry demonstrated the influence of followers' expectations on their leaders' performance, a reversal of the usual Pygmalion Effect (from leaders to followers).
Apart from formal education, Handry also had the opportunity to receive informal education at various important educational centers worldwide, including executive education from Harvard Business School in Boston, USA, in Competitiveness of Microeconomics, and various training programs from the practical management learning center at GE Crotonville in New York, USA.
The Strain of Becoming a CEO
At one point, Handry worked as a salesperson for a power plant company in an ASEAN country. Once, he was dealing with Vietnam's national electricity company, 'PLN.' When he was about to leave, an aide intercepted him, saying, "You will return with the boss on a private jet." There, he lost his confidence, wondering why a lowly salesperson like him was flying on a private jet with important people.
During a training session for GE employees, a highly tense situation unfolded. The training was conducted by Nani Bercalli, the CEO of GE International, Handry's big boss. He stated, "Indonesia is the market of the future." Spontaneously, Handry raised his hand to express his disagreement, questioning the statement. "Indonesia is not the market of the future; it's the market now! The future can be anytime—next year, five years later, or even 50 years later. It's uncertain." The boss just mumbled "hmm" and continued the training until it concluded. After the training, a friend approached him, jokingly saying, "Congratulations, Bro! When will you be fired?" Handry spent a sleepless night, worried about his spontaneous behavior that could jeopardize his career. The next day, Handry received an invitation to board Nani Bercalli's private jet. After Handry boarded, he had a dialogue with himself about why such a large plane only had two people—himself and the boss. Imagining a scene from an Italian mafia action movie, he thought they would exchange insults and then start a shooting spree. However, the opposite happened. The boss read the newspaper and remained silent for 4 hours. Upon reaching the airport, the boss suddenly congratulated Handry, stating that he would become the CEO of GE Indonesia. Handry negotiated for 2 hours and, in the end, accepted the offer with great optimism. "Do not give up in the face of repeated challenges; the best solution is to confront them courageously. The light at the end of the road will make all suffering worthwhile."
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