A humanist approach to leadership explored at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta

André Lacroix had the privilege of speaking to 400 students at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Jakarta.

Established in 1849, UI is one of the oldest universities in the region and was ranked Indonesia’s top university in the 2024 QS World Universities Ranking. It has also been recognised as having the country’s best campus, making it the perfect setting to exchange ideas with future leaders from UI and other prestigious institutions.

During the session, André discussed the leadership principles outlined in his book, Leadership with Soul, and explored the challenges and demands that effective leadership involves. He explained to the students that by adopting a humanist approach, leaders can successfully build highly motivated teams and foster an environment in which everyone feels energised and empowered to take the business to new heights.

A highlight of the event was an engaging interview with Asep Saefumillah, the Department Head of Chemistry at UI, whose thoughtful questions sparked a lively discussion about leadership, growth, and the principles that drive sustainable success. Together, they explored André’s motivations for writing Leadership with Soul and emphasised the importance of encouraging leaders to regularly reflect and reinvent their approach to achieve continuous improvement.

Appreciation is extended to all the students who attended.