Febriany Danantara Discusses SOE Transformation, Highlights Leadership Role

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Managing Director of Danantara Asset Management, Febriany Eddy, recounted the transformation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) currently being undertaken by the Danantara Indonesia Investment Management Agency. She shared this during session I of the Top Women Fest 2026 talkshow at Sarinah, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (25/4/2026). “So our main mission is the transformation of SOEs. The challenges are certainly extraordinary, but I believe that a company’s transformation must start with the transformation of its leaders. If the leaders are not transformed, there will be no change, and that was the challenge at the beginning when entering Danantara,” she said. She recounted that she was once known only as the ‘Mining Woman’, referring to her career journey that culminated as CEO of Vale Indonesia. However, the situation changed upon joining Danantara, as there are more than 1,000 SOEs from holdings to subsidiaries. “So in the early stages of transformation, we were learning so many sectors at once, but I believe we need good leaders, and that’s not easy, it’s very difficult. Imagine if it’s just a thousand, times five, on average five in the board of directors, we’re talking about 5,000,” said Febriany. In carrying out the transformation, she assessed that a combination of talents from within and outside the SOEs is needed. Febriany used the Top Women Fest 2026 moment to encourage more women to get involved in the SOE transformation. “Of course it’s not easy, very, very not easy. But there is always a bright spot,” said Febriany.