Ugeng Wijaya: Agile, Innovation, and the Challenges of Modern Leadership
Amid accelerating disruption and global economic pressures, nearly all organisations are talking about Agile and innovation. Frameworks are adopted, structures updated, and transformation units established. Yet the changes produced often fail to address the root of the problem: the way leaders lead.
Ugeng Wijaya explains that the greatest challenge facing organisations today is not a lack of strategy but rather the courage of leadership to change. "Many organisations want to be Agile but are not yet ready to distribute trust. They want innovation but fear risk," he said.
Ugeng Wijaya is an expert in Agile and Innovation Management and co-founder of the Board of Transformation and Excellence (BTX), which focuses on organisational transformation and leadership. He is also the author of the international bestselling book Leading Innovation, available at Harvard Book Store, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, and through Amazon.
Drawing on his experience advising various institutions in Indonesia, Ugeng observes a consistent pattern: transformation is frequently hindered not by a shortage of ideas but by an excessively cautious culture.
When Compliance Defeats Innovation
In the Indonesian context, modern leadership faces an increasingly stark dilemma. On one hand, leaders are expected to deliver innovation and accelerate change. On the other, they face legal risks and governance pressures that make every experiment feel dangerous.
As a result, many organisations opt for the safest approach. Compliance becomes the top priority, whilst innovation is confined to a very limited space. Yet according to Ugeng, compliance and innovation should not be set in opposition.
"Modern leadership is not about choosing between safety and growth. The challenge is designing systems that remain compliant without killing the courage to learn," Ugeng explained.
For him, Agile is fundamentally about distributing trust. Without a safe space to experiment and learn from mistakes, Agile merely becomes a new label for old structures.
The Real Challenge
Indonesia does not lack talent or strategy. What is often missing is a system that protects the learning process in a responsible manner. As long as leaders feel that every experimental decision carries potential personal risk, organisations will continue to play it safe.
However, in a rapidly changing world, playing it safe is not a long-term strategy. The organisations that survive are not the most cautious but the fastest learners. That learning capability is born from leadership that dares to balance governance with adaptability. It is there that Agile and innovation find their true meaning — not as transformation slogans, but as a reflection of modern leadership quality.
Ugeng Wijaya explains that the greatest challenge facing organisations today is not a lack of strategy but rather the courage of leadership to change. "Many organisations want to be Agile but are not yet ready to distribute trust. They want innovation but fear risk," he said.
Ugeng Wijaya is an expert in Agile and Innovation Management and co-founder of the Board of Transformation and Excellence (BTX), which focuses on organisational transformation and leadership. He is also the author of the international bestselling book Leading Innovation, available at Harvard Book Store, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, and through Amazon.
Drawing on his experience advising various institutions in Indonesia, Ugeng observes a consistent pattern: transformation is frequently hindered not by a shortage of ideas but by an excessively cautious culture.
When Compliance Defeats Innovation
In the Indonesian context, modern leadership faces an increasingly stark dilemma. On one hand, leaders are expected to deliver innovation and accelerate change. On the other, they face legal risks and governance pressures that make every experiment feel dangerous.
As a result, many organisations opt for the safest approach. Compliance becomes the top priority, whilst innovation is confined to a very limited space. Yet according to Ugeng, compliance and innovation should not be set in opposition.
"Modern leadership is not about choosing between safety and growth. The challenge is designing systems that remain compliant without killing the courage to learn," Ugeng explained.
For him, Agile is fundamentally about distributing trust. Without a safe space to experiment and learn from mistakes, Agile merely becomes a new label for old structures.
The Real Challenge
Indonesia does not lack talent or strategy. What is often missing is a system that protects the learning process in a responsible manner. As long as leaders feel that every experimental decision carries potential personal risk, organisations will continue to play it safe.
However, in a rapidly changing world, playing it safe is not a long-term strategy. The organisations that survive are not the most cautious but the fastest learners. That learning capability is born from leadership that dares to balance governance with adaptability. It is there that Agile and innovation find their true meaning — not as transformation slogans, but as a reflection of modern leadership quality.