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Audrey Clarissa
Managing Director
If you are truly passionate about an industry, sometimes being just a business leader focused on taking your company to new heights is not enough to satisfy that passion. Audrey Clarissa, Managing Director of PT. Imedco Djaja, comprehends this fact that if you genuinely want to make a difference in the pharmaceutical industry, you must adopt a 360-degree approach that takes an active involvement in associations, creating awareness among patients and educating the future generation, everything in addition to developing world-class medicines. In 2014, she and her husband founded Imedco Djaja, is an innovative medical company committed to serving Indonesia’s patients. Despite challenges such as restrained resources as a new company and an ever-shifting pharmaceutical market, Audrey and her team persevered.
Today, with close to two decades of professional experience, Audrey is an award-winning entrepreneur. She is not only at the helm of one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia but she was also the president of the Asian Young Pharmacists Group (AYPG). She was recently recognized with Ganesha Widya Jasa Utama in 2024, one of the highest honors from her alma mater, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). CEO Insights Asia recently interviewed this amazing leader and explored several points of discussion, including her journey, leadership approach and future. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
You have represented Indonesia’s pharmaceutical industry exemplaryly over the past two decades. What was your motivation to choose this industry as your career?
I hail from a family deeply rooted in the medical field. From a young age, I was exposed to medical knowledge, which naturally led me to pursue a career as a pharmacist. I believe pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare by ensuring the availability of quality medicines, drugs, and supplements necessary to address various health issues.
During my university years, I served as President of the International Pharmacy Students Federation (IPSF) where I was exposed to global health through partnership with United Nations Bodies such as World Health Organization (WHO). I founded the Indonesian Young Pharmacist Group (IYPG) under Ikatan Apoteker Indonesia and remain actively involved. Additionally, I served as the president of the AYPG and continue to participate in organizations such as the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) at both regional and global levels.
My passion for pharmacy stems from the belief that health is for all. This passion drove me to engage in the pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia, where the landscape is quite complex. Despite the numerous pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia, there are essential drugs with limited availability in the country.
To address this, we established PT. Imedco Djaja, starting with simple yet essential products. Developing and registering these products was challenging, but we succeeded with two key products, namely Hyloquin, containing hydroxychloroquine, which was the only one available in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Hi-D, a high-dose Vitamin D supplement available in 1000 and 5000 IU, also the only registered high-dose Vitamin D at that time. These products became our backbone and were highly needed by the government and the public during the pandemic.
What is your strategy for growth today, and how does it incorporate patient needs and create awareness?
Our primary focus is on serving patients, which requires close collaboration with healthcare professionals who interact directly with them. We partner with healthcare professionals, working collaboratively to identify and address gaps in patient care. We actively listen to their needs and consistently strive to fill these gaps through education and support.
Our approach begins with identifying products that meet patient needs. We then work together to ensure these gaps are addressed. Engaging new audiences is a key part of our strategy, and we prioritize education in all our initiatives. We reach out to doctors, pharmacists and healthcare professionals to provide scientific and educational resources while also educating patients. Our educational efforts include symposiums, webinars, day-to-day interactions, papers, quizzes, and both digital and non-digital methods. Moreover, my passion for education complements my organizational and industrial activities. I am involved with ITB as an advisory board member of the School of Pharmacy and frequently deliver guest lectures at various universities.
These products became our backbone and were highly needed by the government and the public during the pandemic
How would you describe your leadership approach?
In my leadership approach, I adhere to the principles of servant leadership. Leading, to me, means serving the people. While setting targets and goals is essential, achieving them should always be driven by a passion to serve.
When developing products, we prioritize the needs and experiences of patients. For instance, our high-dose Vitamin D supplement is designed as a chewable, cold-water soluble tablet, making it convenient for patients to take at any time. This format allows doctors to easily adjust dosages and ensures daily intake is manageable. Additionally, we made the product gluten-free to accommodate patients with autoimmune diseases and allergies, recognizing the growing prevalence of these conditions.
Our development process is guided by a commitment to serve, which extends to my leadership style. I strive to serve my team, fostering a culture where everyone is motivated to serve others. This mindset ensures that our products and initiatives consistently meet the highest standards of patient care.
What is the roadmap for Imedco Djaja?
In the next five years, we aim to significantly expand our reach and impact. Currently, Imedco Djaja is in its early stages of growth, but we anticipate rapid progress. As the population grows, we will face numerous challenges, yet we are committed to overcoming them. Our vision for Imedco Djaja is to become larger and more influential, enabling us to serve a greater number of people and introduce more innovative products that meet critical needs, even those that may not attract widespread interest but are essential.
We plan to strengthen our team and increase our presence, not only in Indonesia but also internationally. Our goal is to extend our services and products to other countries, ensuring that we can make a positive difference in the lives of many more people.
What is your advice to budding leaders in Indonesia’s Pharma industry?
The most important thing is to embrace adaptability. The change is constant. It's crucial to approach these changes with an open heart and a willingness to learn. Adapting doesn't mean losing, it means taking a step back to move several steps forward. This mindset is essential for progress and growth.
Audrey Clarissa, Managing Director, PT. Imedco Djaja
An award-winning entrepreneur, Audrey leads one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies, PT. Imedco Djaja. With a proven track record of impactful leadership, she has made meaningful contributions to various organizations across local, national, regional, and global levels, driving innovation, collaboration, and positive change in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Audrey's exceptional achievements were recently recognized with the prestigious Ganesha Widya Jasa Utama Award in 2024, one of the highest honors from her alma mater, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB).
Exposed to medical knowledge from a young age, Audrey naturally pursued a career as a pharmacist, recognizing the crucial role pharmacists play in healthcare by ensuring the availability of quality medicines, drugs, and supplements. During university, she was actively involved in the International Pharmacy Students Federation (IPSF) and founded the Indonesian Young Pharmacist Group (IYPG) under the Ikatan Apoteker Indonesia, where she remains actively involved. Additionally, Audrey served as the president of the Asian Young Pharmacist Group (AYPG) and continues to participate in organizations such as the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations (FAPA) at both regional and global levels.