Exclusive Interview with
SSRI Corporate Unit Head
Ms Kistiandari Satrianingrum (Ririen)
“Love yourself, create the fun & don’t be toxic.”
Ms Kistiandari Satrianingrum (Ririen)
Director
Corporate Unit Head
PT Sumitomo Indonesia, Jakarta Office
Director
Traktor Nusantara
You have been appointed as Head of Corporate Unit of SSRI, the first female in the region to assume this role. How has the journey been so far? Please share with us your path to this senior leadership role.
I was raised in telecommunication companies that rapidly change their technology, so people and organisations need to adapt quickly with a customer-focused mindset. This experience impacted my way of working and especially my communication style. In a fast-paced business environment, you tend to speak more openly and bluntly. When I joined Sumitomo, which has different business needs, I had to adjust significantly, and it was a big challenge for me. However, I am grateful to always have had very supportive bosses who listened to and encouraged me. They told me, “That’s the reason I recruited you.”
With colleagues during mangrove planting event in Sumbawa, Indonesia
in June 2023
This opened my mind to the value I need to bring to the company. I then shifted my mindset and attitude towards adaptability and lead the change, focusing on how I can leverage my resources and capabilities to support the business with its values and requirements.
SSRI CU Gathering in Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta in July 2024
What initiatives or changes have you implemented in this role?
I always believe in the triangle of people, process, and technology. When we want to implement change, we must ensure that this triangle is balanced. This means improvement on the development needed to create effective training and development programmes, utilising more of the latest system and applications in technology, and focusing on improving processes. The last is a bit challenging due to our close ties with the financial business.
What are your future aspirations?
I aspire to build a more productive company and increase the bottom line (show me the money 😊)
We heard that you are passionate about photography. When and how did you start this hobby, and how has it impacted your life?
Previously, I tended to be a quiet person and had no idea how to initiate conversations, especially when meeting strangers. Around 10 years ago, I started my photography hobby. It is relaxing and teaches me how to observe and adjust my position and camera settings to get a good photo. This hobby triggered me to apply similar techniques when meeting strangers. I need to observe and adjust my position and mind setting to make it easier to start a conversation.
Besides photography, do you have any other hobbies?
I love travelling, seeing new places, and also travelling using a Vespa or a folded bicycle with my husband, friends and join the Vespa club.
Recently, my boss gave me a KPI to join Oto Ekiden in October 2025. To achieve this target, I started learning to run in January and my virgin 10K in February 2025.
I also love seeing music concerts especially those of Coldplay and BTS. As an ‘Army’ (a term used to describe the fans of BTS), it led me to join a community called ‘Bintang Ungu’ (Purple Star). They are my concert buddies, and we also do tree replanting, river trash screening, and run five free Pre-kindergarten schools for underprivileged children.
In honour of Suga and J-Hope’s birthdays, I collaborated with Bintang Ungu to organise
a donation drive, providing essential food items and pre-loved clothing to underprivileged
communities in North Jakarta
With my folding bike club – Brompton Jakarta. We rode the bike around Jakarta and stopped by for brunch in Blok M
Besshi Copper Mine, Japan during SC Global Leadership Programme
In Mathura, India with friends (travel team named Kartu Pos)
My Virgin 10K run in Feb 2025
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… positive thought leads to positive result
I spend most of my time.. chitchatting with my friends
The food I crave most often is… many, cannot choose
One personal rule that I never break is… never cheat
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… my boys
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… to travel to Finland to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
If I could go back in time, I would… learn about my religion more
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… open a coffee shop that has space for photography class and a store that offers vespa and bicycle rental by the beach, where I can have a good morning run every day
