Women's leadership
One day at the ILO, a lifetime of inspiration for a young Indonesian woman
For one unforgettable day, a young Indonesian woman stepped into the shoes of an ILO Country Director, gaining firsthand insights into leadership, social justice and the power of women to inspire change.
10 August 2026
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) - It was not yet 9 a.m. when Cut Afra, a 25-year-old master's student in Social Welfare at the University of Indonesia, arrived at the ILO Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste in Menara Thamrin, Jakarta. Dressed in a batik blouse under an off-white blazer, paired with black trousers, she looked confident yet excited as she stepped into the office to begin what she called one of the most important days of her life.
"I kept pinching myself when I woke up this morning," she said with a smile. "I couldn't believe this day had finally come. I've been looking forward to it for so long, and I never imagined I would have this opportunity."
Cut was selected to join "CEO for a Day: Women Shaping Tomorrow," a youth shadowing and mentorship initiative that connects young women in Indonesia with women CEOs, business leaders and Heads of United Nations agencies. Jointly organized by the United Nations in Indonesia, the AmCham Indonesia Women Network and the Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN), the initiative inspires the next generation of women leaders. On 30 July, she spent the day shadowing Simrin Singh, the ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
She first learned about the programme through the UN Indonesia website. Without thinking twice, she submitted her application along with a short video introducing herself, her interests and her dreams for the future. In the video, she spoke about the importance of education and gender equality, while also sharing her experience volunteering to support communities affected by recent major floods in her hometown of Aceh.
I never imagined I would have the chance to be part of the ILO, even if only for a day.
For Cut, leadership has always been a dream. As the only daughter among four siblings, she grew up watching her mother build a successful career in banking, rising from a bank teller to Regional Head for Northern Sumatra. Her mother's journey inspired her to believe that women can lead and make a difference.
Since her teenage years, Cut has always taken on leadership roles. She was a scout leader in junior high school, chair of the student council in senior high school and later became the first woman President of the Student Executive Board at Telkom University in Bandung.
Out of more than 100 applicants, Cut was selected to join the programme. "I was so happy when I found out," she recalled. "I never imagined I would have the chance to be part of the ILO, even if only for a day."
An opportunity of a lifetime
Her day began with a one-on-one meeting with Simrin Singh, giving her the opportunity to learn directly from one of the UN's women leaders. She then joined several meetings covering a wide range of issues, including social protection for platform workers following the adoption of the ILO's Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, international labour standards and an ILO project that supports access to finance and digitalization for small businesses.
For Cut, each meeting offered a new perspective. "I learned so much about social protection and the challenges faced by platform workers," she said. "I also gained a better understanding of tripartism, social dialogue and how they help create solutions that benefit everyone."
Meeting her [Simrin] made me realize that you can be a strong leader while still caring about the people you work with.
During lunch, Cut had another chance to interact with Simrin and ILO colleagues in a more informal setting. They talked about labour migration, gender equality, child labour and the different projects the ILO is implementing across Indonesia.
The day ended at Atma Jaya Catholic University, where Cut accompanied Simrin to the closing ceremony of a Model United Nations (MUN) event. Listening to Simrin speak about the power of young people to shape a better future left a lasting impression on her.
Turning inspiration into action
But what inspired Cut most was not only Simrin's leadership – it was the way she treated the people around her.
"What impressed me the most was how she values her team," Cut said. "She makes people feel appreciated and creates a workplace where everyone supports each other. Seeing that really inspired me."
Cut also appreciated Simrin's leadership style. "She is confident and professional, but also kind and approachable," she said. "Meeting her made me realize that you can be a strong leader while still caring about the people you work with."
So, what comes next for Cut? "I want to see more of Indonesia and understand how people live in different communities," she said. "The more I learn about their realities, the better I can contribute and create solutions that truly make a difference."
Outside her academic and leadership activities, Cut enjoys slowing down with music. Playing the guitar or piano gives her time to relax, reflect and recharge.
For Cut, the CEO for a Day experience was more than just a chance to shadow a leader. It gave her greater confidence to pursue her dreams and reaffirmed her belief that, with passion, courage and hard work, young women can become leaders who inspire change.
I want to see more of Indonesia and understand how people live in different communities. The more I learn about their realities, the better I can contribute and create solutions that truly make a difference.