How She Did It: Shaskia Hakim and Keeping the Business Thriving

We caught up with aspiring female entrepreneur Shaskia Hakim, the Managing Director of 5asec Indonesia, talking about business and female leadership.

Young entrepreneur Shaskia Hakim is the Managing Director of 5àSec Indonesia, one of the leading dry cleaning and textile care companies in Indonesia, and is a second-generation leader of the company. As a next generation, she has continued to flourish the company under her stewardship. And despite her pressing schedule, turns out recently she also makes time to develop another new business venture in the field of cosmetics and beauty products.

A firm believer in the importance of dream and determination to make it happen, Shaskia shares with us about keeping the business thriving, and insights on female leadership and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.

What are you currently busy with?

I'm currently busy as a commissioner in 5àSec Indonesia. Other than that, I'm also working on a new enterprise in the field of beauty products, soon to be launched.

What is your best accomplishment?

The best accomplishment is when I'm being entrusted to continue running 5àSec Indonesia, since I'm part of the second generation. So, when the first generation gave me full trust and delivered the responsibility to me, I think it's the greatest accomplishment I have ever experienced.

What was the toughest challenge you have ever faced?

Some people said that creating something is easy. It is indeed harder to maintain something, especially maintaining the business and creativity. I think that's the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced up to now.

How do you maintain work-life balance?

I'm a firm believer that work and family-related things should be in balance. So on work days from Monday to Friday, I'm fully concentrating on work. But at weekends, I really put my focus and energy on my family.

What's your top life ambition?

Creating something on my own. Things that I fully own, and which have come from my own ideas. And I'm now working on it, preparing to launch my new venture, in the field of cosmetics and beauty products.

What are your thoughts about female leadership?

I think this is always have been the biggest challenge in female leadership: being underestimated. But what's important is to just keep our focus on doing what we are doing and what we should do. Don't listen to other noises, just close your ears.

Who is your female inspiration?

The most inspirational woman for me is, of course, my mother. She is a professional worker who sacrificed it all to take care of her children. So I realise that in this life, whatever we choose, be it a career woman or a housewife, it's all the same. What matter is to focus on what we're doing, trying your best, and be useful for your career and family.

Any advice for aspiring women out there trying to live their dreams?

The most important advice is to just do it because an idea is a commodity everyone can have. But what matters most is an execution. So, when we have dreams or ideas, just do them.

Watch our interview with Shaskia Hakim:

Photo by Donny Leonardi