You have sent an email to a colleague in Indonesia asking for a delivery date, an update or some information. As far as you are concerned, it is a straightforward request. You expect a reply so you can get on with your own work. But the reply does not arrive. ...
Why do job titles seem to matter so much in Indonesia? In many Western companies, a job title is mainly used to describe what someone does. Of course, titles still matter, particularly when someone is looking for a new position or progressing in their career. However, within the office, people ...
Gene Sugandy | Sep 8, 2026
Importance of Relationships I've spoken many times about the importance of relationship building when doing business in Indonesia. But there's another part of that conversation that I think is equally important. In order to have a good business relationship, there has to be trust between the two individuals. And trust ...
Gene Sugandy | Aug 18, 2026
You sent the email. But your inbox is still empty. No reply. So you send another one. And maybe a third. Still nothing. If you're an expatriate doing business in Indonesia, your natural reaction might be frustration. Why aren't they responding? You were clear about what you needed. You included ...
Gene Sugandy | Aug 12, 2026
When companies assess the success of an international assignment, the focus is almost always on the employee. Performance metrics, project delivery, leadership effectiveness, and team alignment dominate the conversation. Yet after decades of living and working in Indonesia with expatriate families, one truth becomes clear again and again: many assignments ...
Gene Sugandy | Jan 19, 2026
And what expat leaders should do differently Why Indonesia Feels Like a Contradiction for Leaders If you lead a team in Indonesia—or you are moving here for a new role—2026 can feel like a contradiction. On one hand, the global playbook is loud and clear: AI everywhere, skills-based hiring, leaner ...
Gene Sugandy | Jan 13, 2026
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