Etty making her mark

Leading with Heart and Mind

“Leadership is about being yourself, nurturing talent and fostering a culture of respect and continuous learning.”

When starting her career with Thiess in 2003, Etty never set out to be a leader. Her journey began quietly, driven by a love for learning and a deep respect for others.

Etty began her leadership journey in 2007 as Senior Supervisor - Help Desk, before progressing to Superintedant Corporate Services in 2013. Today, Etty leads the ICT Teams across Indonesia as Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Service Delivery Lead.

This pivotal move broadened her exposure and involvement in critical projects like the Thiess employee resource planning system and supporting the global service desk. Importantly, this experience expanded her professional horizons and honed her ability to work with diverse teams across borders.

Some recent project highlights include implementation of the fleet management system at both Wahana and Mahakam Sumber Jaya (MSJ) mines. Another exciting project is preparing for the installation of autonomous drilling at MSJ. Etty is also now involved with reviewing tenders, which has come about as a personal development interest following her completion of the women in leadership development program.

A self-confessed introvert, Etty is no stranger to feeling unheard and unseen. But instead of accepting her introversion as a barrier, she made an effort to develop her interpsonal skills and sought motivation from leadership development programs like the Thiess Management Development and Women in Leadership Programs. “These programs really brought me out of my shell and empowered me to develop my own version of leadership. To identify my strengths and prove to myself that leadership looks different on all kinds of people. That quiet leadership can be impactful.”

Mentoring also played a crucial role for Etty. Learning from inspirational leaders, who shared similar introverted tendencies, Etty discovered the power of empathetic leadership. These leaders taught her the value of listening, leading by example, and embracing vulnerability as a strength.

Etty’s leadership style is a blend of logic and empathy, and she believes that respect fuels belonging and fosters an inclusive environment. When asked what makes a good leader, Etty says that they should understand their team’s unique skills, aspirations and challenges while being vulnerable and honest about their own improvement areas.

Looking back, Etty never imagined herself in a leadership role. Her journey serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating that leadership is about being youself, nurturing talent and fostering a culture of respect and continuous learning.

Etty is particularly invested in nurturing a workplace that is respectful of individual differences, perhaps because of her personal interest to see her youngest son excel in life. As a neurodivergent, Etty’s son Mika participates differently at school and in social settings. She has endured many ups and downs as a parent in Indonesia, where this is still a stigma and support is limited. Etty has learnt to broaden her perspective and to appreciate individual uniqueness. As she pursues a fulfilling career, Etty is also driven to ensure her son has a chance and a future to live a fulfilling life. “Everyone has something to bring to the table, and we bring these talents in different ways.”