Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro: Leading with Your Heart is Important in Many Ways
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri has emphasised the importance of empathy-based leadership, or leading with your heart, in formulating public policies, particularly in the trade sector.
She conveyed this during a dialogue at the Top Women Festival 2026 CNBC Indonesia. According to her, every leader must understand the primary purpose behind the mandate they carry out so that the policies taken truly impact society.
“In carrying out a mandate, we must know the why of it. What is the meaning of that mandate and what difference can we create,” said Dyah Roro in the CNBC Indonesia TV broadcast, quoted on Thursday (30/4/2026).
She revealed that since serving as a DPR member until now as Deputy Trade Minister, she always starts her day by recalling why she is in that position. For her, every decision must provide real benefits and positive impacts for the wider community.
Amid various policy challenges, Dyah believes that returning to the initial purpose will help maintain the spirit and direction of leadership. This also serves as the foundation for promoting the micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) sector, which makes a significant contribution to the national economy.
“About 60% of our GDP is supported by UMKM, and 64% of the actors are women. This is an important concern for us at the Ministry of Trade,” she explained.
She added that the Ministry of Trade continues to strive to facilitate business actors, including UMKM, to expand market access, both domestically and internationally. One strategy implemented is strengthening collaboration with e-commerce, modern retail, and trade networks in 33 countries.
A programme titled “from local to global” is also a focus to encourage Indonesian UMKM products to compete in the global market.
Furthermore, Dyah also highlighted the importance of balancing empathy and firmness in policy-making. According to her, empathy is not a weakness, but a strength that can be used to understand society’s needs more deeply.
“With empathy, we can ensure that the policies made truly address the needs of business actors, both women and men,” she said.
She affirmed that the government through the Ministry of Trade continues to open spaces for dialogue with business actors, both directly and virtually, to bridge field needs with the policies formulated.
“Leading with your heart is important in many ways. When used for positive things, the impact will also be positive,” she concluded.