Featured in TIME Magazine, ParagonCorp Executive Brings Indonesian Women's Story to the World
Coinciding with Kartini Day commemorations, the global magazine TIME has highlighted the inspirational story of dr. Sari Chairunnisa, Deputy CEO and Chief R&D Officer of ParagonCorp, as one of the women driving change in the beauty industry.
In the Leadership Brief rubric titled ‘This Halal Beauty Company Boss Has Big Ambitions’, TIME reviews the transformation of ParagonCorp from a family business into one of the global pioneers in the halal beauty industry.
ParagonCorp was founded by Nurhayati Subakat in Jakarta in 1985, starting as a modest family venture with five employees. Today, ParagonCorp employs more than 15,000 Paragonians, while also being a company supported by more than 80 per cent female employees.
In an interview with TIME, dr. Sari explained that the concept of halal beauty goes beyond mere compliance with raw materials. It represents universal values: transparency, integrity in the production process, ethical sourcing of materials, and concern for environmental impact.
“In the past, American and European brands dominated the Indonesian market. However, Indonesian women are beginning to realise that they have their own definition of beauty,” said dr. Sari in her statement on Saturday (25/4/2026).
Furthermore, dr. Sari revealed that the spotlight from TIME is not an individual achievement, but a reflection of a collective journey.
“This is a reflection of the journey of the entire ParagonCorp family—the founders, Paragonians, and Indonesian women who from the start believed that beauty can be built by our own hands,” she stated.
Dr. Sari emphasised that the commitment to women’s empowerment is also reflected in the company’s research capabilities. Currently, ParagonCorp’s R&D Department is home to nearly 200 researchers, about 80 per cent of whom are women.
ParagonCorp is also continuing to strengthen innovation through the utilisation of artificial intelligence in the research and development process. These innovations have contributed to various global innovation recognitions.
However, all these achievements did not arise from a smooth journey, but from the courage to keep moving forward amid uncertainty, in line with R.A. Kartini’s struggles. This spirit continues to live in every woman who works, researches, and leads with ParagonCorp today.