The challenges of overseas educated Indonesians: Going back or Staying put?!

 

Growing up in South East Asia in the late 1980s, I recalled fondly the drive by the governments of then dubbed Asian tigers to churn out as many engineering graduates possible to catch up with the developed world. In Asia, Japan has always been at that time the model to emulate. For this principal reason, one of my close friends, Edwin Darsono, whom I also went to school briefly at Institute Technology Bandung (ITB), went to Japan for his Higher Education under the well-known Monbuso scholarship, if I get the Japanese term right.

While Edwin chose to go to Japan, I on the other hand chose to go to US under government scholarship. My uncle, Dr. Ketut Widhana, educated in Australia and in Japan, has always a strong believer in Western higher education and strongly favored the US than other advanced countries. He kept extolling the virtue of the overseas advanced degrees via the accomplishments of one of his close friends that climbed the corporate ladder and later on became the President of PT USI IBM in Jakarta.

Soon after we left Indonesia, within 4-5 years, we both graduated and got our Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. We also both decided to then pursue Masters Degrees. Edwin decided to go home and find work in Jakarta while I was spending my 1-year practical training working for a $150-Million telecommunication company in Virginia. I had an offer from Andersen Consulting to work in Jakarta office, but regrettably had to turn down the offer.

While occasionally talking to my parents during this time, I remember my mother saying that Edwin had come by. She noticed that he sounded and looked mature. Well, we both had to. Like all foreign students, we went through a lot, pursuing advanced degrees in foreign countries, and adjusting to culture shocks and often harsh realities without any family safety net around. Despite all the interesting stories Edwin conveyed, none was more telling than the fact that he was having difficulty finding rewarding career in Jakarta despite his overseas credentials.

 

Of course, many asks why Edwin simply not to stay put and work in Japan. After all, he graduated from one the top schools over there. He should have no problems finding a job. Like anything in life, this is where life shows its true color rather than the often naïve perception of black and white. Yes, it is true; Edwin should have no problem finding a job in Japan. Edwin whom I know has always been smart and very resourceful. He would not have quit over anything.

The problem is that any job will not do. For those of us who choose to toil and pay our due through the barriers of languages, culture, distance and academic rigor, we expect a lot more from ourselves, and often also more from others and the world. While a job in Japan is a possibility, Edwin would face mounting challenges should he choose to climb the corporate ladder. And I guarantee you that he would as I would.

The problem of course is that real world is not that simple. The Japanese are well known for its tendency to label non Japanese as gaijin and to treat them differently. Even if Edwin speaks Japanese fluently, and masters the nuances of the Japanese culture, including its celebrated tea ceremony, marries a Japanese wife, and sleeps in kimono, once a gaijin he would always be treated like one.

From my experiences so far in the US, I find not so much differences. Many would argue that color does not matter anymore in the 21^st century. Wall St. may claim the most important color is green. Maybe how you look no longer matters in Wall St. , but how you sound still do. I recalled an article on a Wall Street Journal of the rising trends of many foreign professionals in NY taking vocal lessons or some kind of therapy to reduce or even get rid of their accents. And those lessons are not cheap either.

I understand the importance of excellent communication skills in the workplace especially if you want to move ahead in your career. But, getting rid of one’s accent is almost like giving up the essence of who you are.

Going back to Edwin’s story, the gaijin concepts also unfortunately permeates the corporate practices of Japanese companies, even the ones with the global brands. A well-known example is Toyota Corporation which recently displaced GM as the World No. 1 automaker has invested billions of dollars in the US yet only recently appoints an American to its top management.

Looking dismayed and frustrated, Edwin also made a point of asking my parents for my contact info and to tell me if I would entertain the idea of establishing our own venture. For many Indonesians with overseas educations and degrees, starting a company seems to be the preferred method of career path. Gone are the days where we would flock to the biggest banks ie. Bank Central Asia, Citibank, or even consulting boutiques such as Arthur Andersen, or McKinsey. Many still do. Those with established family businesses usually return to help, infusing modern Western way of thinking and business practices.

But Edwin and I are a growing example of Indonesians with modest means and backgrounds with overseas education and experiences on our belts and keen to return home not only to be successful but also to make a difference. Like anything in life, while the aspiration is genuine, the barriers at home unfortunately are also real.

While the government realizes that to survive in the 21^st century, Indonesia has to depend more on the quality, the ingenuity, and the creativity of its human resources and private enterprises, the laws is yet to catch up with the policy. Establishing a PT, a company, costs more than US$1000. That excludes additional fees that you have to fork due to rampant corruptions. Then you need to find a place for the place of business. Prime locations, such as those nearby CBD such as Kuningan or Jl Jendral Sudirman, command premium prices. You can choose other less expensive locations, but then potential clients may not look upon your company favorably due to the non-prime locations. Even worse, they may start questioning whether you will be in business for the long runs.

Even with the prime locations, and enough start-up funding, conducting business in Indonesia requires 180-degree changes in mindset.  Connections and network, the abundance or the lack of it, more than anything else may make or break your business.  Ever since the collapse of Suharto’s regime with its trademark KKN (in English: corruption, collusion, and nepotism), Indonesia is witnessing the “unfortunate” rise of increased intertwine between politics and businesses to the detriment of overall economy.  Despite the tremendous effort by the current government, cronyism is alive, and well, if not worse: thriving.   

 

I heard horror stories on how two ISPs competing for broadband market in Bali ended with the foreign spouse packing the bag and bring his daughter to Germany while leaving the wife behind bar in Denpasar.  He is pleading his case and his own investigations led to the real possibility that the competition essentially paid up the police to shut down his business.

 

Of course, that unfortunate story will not happen if your last name is Bakrie, one of the influential ministers in the current cabinet.  With an MBA from Stanford, the young Bakrie has been making great strides in the telecommunication sector with his company PT Bakrie Telecom.  Of course that leaves us with the question that what if you are not politically connected and/or well funded, what other choices that you have in Indonesia.  Is telecommunication sector off limits since they are well known for its fixed costs?!  While here in the US and in the rest of the world, Skype comes almost out of nowhere to become the largest VoIP providers beating the telecom giants such as AT&T.

 

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