TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is a nation brimming with high-potential young leaders poised to shape global shifts. However, effective leadership transcends mere technical prowess or raw potential; it hinges on positive character, an optimistic outlook, and an unwavering focus on execution.

Winston Utomo stands as an exemplary leader in this regard. He is the founder and CEO of IDN Media, a pioneering media platform tailored for Indonesia's Millennials and Gen Z that has over 80 million Monthly Active Users (MAU) with a vision to democratize information and bring positive changes to Indonesian society. His life narrative is captivating, revealing how his journey played a pivotal role in nurturing a growth mindset, leading IDN Media to its present success, and becoming a wellspring of inspiration for IDN Media's dedicated employees, known as "Timmys," as well as Millennials and Gen Z across Indonesia.

Childhood Years in the City of Heroes, Surabaya

Winston Utomo, born on November 23, 1990, in Surabaya, Indonesia, is the eldest of two siblings. He spent his early years in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, renowned for its genuine patriotism and deep-rooted love for the homeland. The absence of Jakarta's bustling metropolis in his upbringing forged a strong connection to regional values and a relentless spirit of determination.

After completing his secondary education at SMA Petra 1 Surabaya, Winston's curiosity about the wider world led him to pursue studies at the University of Southern California (USC) – Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles, USA. There, he earned his Bachelor of Science (S1) degree. Following a stint at St. John Capital in San Francisco, Winston pursued postgraduate studies (S2) at the prestigious Ivy League institution, Columbia University, New York, ultimately obtaining a Master of Science degree.

A Pivotal Night of Inspiration

Winston Utomo: A Young Indonesian Entrepreneur Who Masterminds the Future of Media and Entertainment

Post-graduation, Winston moved to Singapore and worked at one of the best technology companies in the world, Google. In the beginning, entrepreneurship wasn't part of his plans. His aspirations were directed toward technology, media, and entertainment, and he wanted to do it in Google.

Yet, a night in Singapore in 2014 changed everything. While walking home from the office, Winston pondered, "Millennial and Z generations constitute the majority of Indonesia's population. Why is there no media dedicated specifically to these two demographics? How can Indonesia emerge as a global economic powerhouse? Why is Jakarta the epicenter of all things in Indonesia? How can we bridge information disparities and provide equal access to everyone in Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua?". Encouraged by these questions, Winston quickly returned to his apartment and wrote his ideas on a piece of paper with excitement. He was so eager that he immediately turned on his laptop to put his written ideas into action.

From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Winston pulled an all-nighter in his apartment, birthing the first version of IDN Times, initially named Indonesian Times. On Sunday, June 8, 2014, IDN Media was born.

Winston then reached out to his brother, William Utomo, who was still in Los Angeles. After the call, William was brimming with enthusiasm, firm in his belief that IDN Media had the potential to revolutionize the media landscape in Indonesia. William subsequently set aside his dream in investment banking, recognizing the profound and positive impact IDN Media could wield on society. He returned from Los Angeles to Surabaya, and together with Winston Utomo, he started the journey of IDN Media.

Winston's decision to establish IDN Media was full of challenges. "Pioneering the IDN Times was no cakewalk. We encountered many challenges, including skepticism from friends and loved ones. However, we had faith in our vision, hopeful that our efforts would be monumental for Indonesia's youth."

A Defining Encounter

The tide turned when William was invited to speak at an alumni gathering at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. Here, he seized the opportunity to introduce IDN Media to the audience. Little did he know, someone in the audience harbored a keen interest in learning more about IDN Media. That person was Willson Cuaca, the Managing Partner of East Ventures.

“When William met Willson in Singapore, something interesting happened. Many people say that if East Ventures asks you to meet in a fancy restaurant, it means your idea will be rejected. But if you meet at a Kopitiam, it means East Ventures is interested. So, when Willson invited William to Ya Kun Kaya Toast kopitiam, it meant they wanted to invest in us. And the tale is proven to be true.” Winston shared this story, highlighting a crucial moment in IDN Media's first investment.

This juncture marked a pivotal moment in IDN Media's trajectory. Subsequently, IDN Media secured five rounds of funding, the last being the Series D funding in 2022. On September 7, 2015, IDN Media, then recognized as IDN Times, received its inaugural seed funding from East Ventures. The following year, on September 5, 2016, IDN Media secured Series A funding from North Base Media and a consortium of investors, including GDP Venture (Djarum Group), East Ventures, and MNM Creative.

On November 21, 2017, IDN Media clinched Series B funding from East Ventures and Soul Capital Hong Kong. Then, on January 8, 2019, IDN Media received Series C funding from East Ventures (Growth Fund), a venture entity borne of the union of East Ventures, Sinar Mas, and Yahoo! Japan, True Digital (part of Thailand's conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand), and LINE Venture.

On June 6, 2022, IDN Media secured Series D funding, this time from Mayapada Group and KMIF (an investment firm representing several major Indonesian conglomerates). East Ventures, OCBC NISP Ventura, Dentsu Group, and V Media Ventures joined the ranks of investors. This cemented IDN Media's position as one of the largest media and entertainment companies in Southeast Asia.

The Rapid Growth of IDN Media and Winston's Guiding Principles

After nine years of trials and success in nurturing IDN Media, Winston underscores the significance of cultivating an ecosystem to attain a competitive edge and create sustained growth in this industry. IDN Media was born with a comprehensive, synergistic multi-platform ecosystem strategy, birthing a myriad of innovations to ensure IDN Media remains pertinent and capable of meeting the demands of the Indonesian young generation.

Since its inception on June 8, 2014, IDN Media has witnessed substantial year-on-year growth. Presently, IDN Media operates across five business verticals: digital media, live-streaming, entertainment, commercials, and creator economy. Within these, IDN Media encompasses 19 business units, inclusive of IDN Times, Popbela.com, Popmama.com, GGWP, Duniaku.com, FORTUNE, Yummy, IDN Platform, Saweria, IDN Pictures, JKT48, Boss Creator, IDN Creative, IDN Event, Bluebird IDN OOH, ICE, MORF, non-profit organizations IDN Foundation and IDN Research Institute. IDN Media's mission is to build into the most comprehensive media and entertainment ecosystem tailored for Indonesia's Millennials and Z generations.

Through IDN Pictures, IDN Media has released a diverse array of films spanning various genres and narratives that inspire. This catalog encompasses the iconic comedy Srimulat: Hil yang Mustahal, two spine-chilling horror flicks Inang and Qorin, which dominated the box office in Indonesia, the poignant drama Balada Si Roy, adapted from the bestselling novel, and the suspense-laden thriller Sleep Call, acknowledged by a diverse array of critics and is selected as Best Picture nominations in the prestigious Festival Film Indonesia 2023. From profound dramas to uproarious comedies, each film serves as a testament to the astute creative vision of local filmmakers. Through IDN Pictures, IDN Media provides invaluable support to the development of the Indonesian film industry, connecting audiences with genuine, high-quality narratives that resonate on an emotional and intellectual level while imparting moral lessons about life.

The gauge of IDN Media's success extends beyond the number of business units and products brought to fruition. In leading IDN Media, Winston underscores that people and culture are the most essential part of any organization. This forms the focal point of Winston's leadership ethos. Anchored in Timmyness (IDN Media's ten cardinal values), the organizational culture revolves around three core tenets: integrity, inclusion, and growth. These bedrock principles are embodied in every Timmy contributing to IDN Media's endeavors.

In every stride he takes, Winston recognizes that leadership transcends mere directives; it entails providing guidance and being a source of inspiration for those around him. "A leader must lead by example. For instance, regarding discipline and professionalism. I always show my team the importance of these values by doing it on a regular basis. If I have a meeting at 9.00 in the morning, I will come at 8.55 or, at the latest, 8.59, not 9.01 or even 9.05. It’s about showing respect and appreciation to everyone in the room. If I'm not disciplined, it can negatively impact the team and potentially become a cultural norm. Therefore, it all begins with the leader creating the desired culture," Winston adds. In terms of management data-style, Winston endeavors to strike a balance between the macro and micro perspectives. According to Winston, a capable leader must know when to focus on the grander vision and when to delve into the dynamic of operations. This judgment is contingent on the context and the needs of the team.

Furthermore, Winston says that empathy is a very crucial part of effective leadership. He goes to great lengths to ensure that each Timmy feels seen, accepted, and valued. His leadership is underpinned by a profound trust in his team members, creating an environment where respect and appreciation flourish — a psychologically secure workspace. By harmonizing these principles, Winston has successfully fostered an inclusive, integrity-centered, and growth-oriented culture at IDN Media.

Family always has to stick together, no matter what

Leadership success is not confined to the professional realm alone; it ought to be evident in one's family—the most intimate and cherished haven following a day's toil. Winston believes that his top priority is his family. During his downtime, he frequently shares moments of joy with his wife, Alvina Utomo, and their 1.5-year-old son, Aramont Winston Utomo. "Witnessing my child's happiness and watching him grow healthy is my main source of motivation."

In addition, Winston says, “I enjoy spending time with my family – with my parents, brother, and everyone in the family. They are the most important part of my life. I prefer to gather at home for meals or to have an intimate dinner with my family. For me, a harmonious family brings tranquility and happiness. Family always has to stick together, no matter what.”

Additionally, Winston indulges in several other activities to rejuvenate before resuming work, such as savoring football matches and engrossing himself in books. "My favored clubs are Manchester United (football) and San Antonio Spurs (basketball)," Winston discloses. Concurrently, he revels in the profundity of literature. Annually, he immerses himself in about 30-40 books, expanding his knowledge and drawing inspiration. "One of my cherished books is Only the Paranoid Survive by Andrew Grove. This book instilled in me the notion that maintaining a 'paranoid' dedication to enhancing the business and prioritizing innovation is the crux of a company's triumph," Winston expounds.

IDN Media's Aspiration for 2045

Furthermore, Winston Utomo is recognized for his commitment to his company's social responsibility. Through the non-profit entity IDN Foundation, IDN Media concentrates on organizing social and humanitarian initiatives to render positive contributions to Indonesian society. IDN Foundation has successfully executed numerous endeavors, including a blood donation initiative in collaboration with PMI, the "Belajar Bareng Timmy" (Learning with Timmy) program, inviting Timmys (a term used for IDN Media employees) to contribute to children's education through interactive sessions with children in the Tangerang and West Jakarta areas, a drive to establish libraries in less privileged areas, a book donation drive to various reading nooks in Indonesia, and a donation campaign coined #1Resep1NasiBungkus (#1Recipe1RicePacket), disbursing rice packets to informal laborers on the streets.

Despite achieving considerable success, Winston Utomo shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to labor tirelessly for the advancement of his company. "At IDN Media, our vision is to democratize information and catalyze positive change in Indonesia—a journey that is far from over. This isn't just our dream or the dream of a select few; it is the aspiration of 273 million Indonesians, especially the Millennial and Z generations, to see Indonesia evolve into a high-income nation by 2045 and to be respected worldwide. IDN Media has a pivotal role to play in this endeavor. Time is of the essence, and we must take an active stance for Indonesia. We must ask ourselves, 'What can we contribute to Indonesia? How can we help this nation?' One step at a time, for a better Indonesia," Winston underscores, highlighting his vision for IDN Media and Indonesia's trajectory toward 2045.

Winston Utomo stands as a living testament to a triumphant young Indonesian entrepreneur. Together with his brother, the impact stretches far beyond personal accolades to encompass the transformative influence he and his company exert on Indonesia. With integrity, devotion, discipline, hard work, and a determined spirit, he has not only built IDN Media into the powerhouse it is today but has also become a beacon of inspiration to many. One life principle Winston often imparts is, "Our time in this life is limited, so let us be a source of inspiration and positive impact to others and those around us."

INFO TEMPO