In 2005, Lisa Mihardja only had US$3,000 in her pocket to put up Alleira Batik. She put four sewing machines in a garage and had a vision of becoming a significant player in the batik industry. Sixteen years later, Alleira has grown to become one of the largest batik retailers in the country.

Alleira specialises in multi-colour and ombre batiks. Mihardja’s business has allowed her to help women find more sources of livelihood by equipping them with the skills to produce handicrafts from the leftovers of Alleira’s batik fabrics. These products are sold at Alleira outlets. Mihardja is also the CEO of Island Shop Indonesia, Delphine & Co Jewellery and Fame Agenda Australia.

Mihardja has been recognised for her business acumen, winning the ASEAN Business Award 2013; the Ernst & Young Indonesian Entrepreneurial Winning Women Award in 2012; the Marketing Award 2011 from Marketing magazine; and the Most Powerful Women Award presented by Globe Asia from 2011-2015, and by SWA magazine in 2009.

Mihardja earned her economics degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.