Learning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) from Doka Leaders

As I sit on this 8.5-hour flight from the Middle East back to Jakarta, I find myself reflecting on the Doka Leadership Program I just participated. The experience was so impactful that I decided to document some key takeaways that were not included in my notes during the program, yet I can clearly perceive their benefits.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have participated in this Program, where I had the privilege of learning from leaders with diverse backgrounds, experiences, expertise and personalities. In just two meetings in Singapore and Dubai, I gained invaluable insights from individuals of different positions, genders, and nationalities.

These brief yet impactful program taught me the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) within an organization. The activities, discussions, and interactions with various leaders highlighted the benefits of DE&I in organizations. Some of the key insights I gained include :

• Enhanced Innovation and Creativity: Diverse teams bring together varied skills, experiences, and perspectives, leading to greater innovation and creativity. This not only improves workplace collaboration but also helps businesses differentiate themselves from competitors.
• Improved Decision-Making: While diverse teams may not always make decisions faster, they tend to make better decisions by considering multiple perspectives. Research shows that diverse teams are more likely to make the right decisions compared to homogenous teams.
• Enhanced Customer Understanding: A diverse team is essential for understanding and serving a diverse customer base, leading to improved customer satisfaction and overall business performance.
• Global Perspective: The varied backgrounds of the participants of the program provided fresh perspectives from different parts of the globe, offering new insights into decision-making influenced by diverse cultures.
• Mindset Diversity: Beyond backgrounds, experiences, gender, and nationality, one of the most critical aspects of diversity is mindset diversity. Different ways of thinking can significantly enrich the outcomes of decisions, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.

However, practicing to implement DE&I in this program comes with specific challenges:

• Cultural Differences: Navigating diverse cultural norms and practices can be challenging, but with mutual respect and effective communication, it becomes manageable—something the Doka leaders I met excelled at.
• Pre-existing Groups: Some groups pre-existed before the leadership program, leading to cliques that can create barriers within the team. It takes effort to ensure that all team members work together cohesively, regardless of these pre-existing bonds.
• Slower Decision-Making: While diversity enhances decision-making quality, it can also slow down the process. Diverse teams tend to deliberate more and consider a broader range of perspectives, which, although time-consuming, generally leads to more resilient and well-informed decisions.

Participating in this program wasn't just about meeting other Doka leaders from around the world; it was also about connecting with some truly fun personalities that made everything more enjoyable. Learning about new things while sharing laughs with such a dynamic group was a highlight of the experience. Diversity isn't just essential for business—it's what makes everything more vibrant and interesting!

About the Author

Heri Siswanto is the Country Manager for Indonesia at Doka. With over a decade of experience in international sales, strategic planning, and market expansion, he has driven significant growth for Doka in Indonesia. His passion for people and culture, combined with his technical expertise, fuels his success in the construction sector.