This year’s Ganesha Business Management Festival was lively. Held at Summarecon Mall Bandung on Sunday (1/6) by SBM ITB, this festival presented two well-known content creators, Jovial da Lopez and Helmy Yahya.
Helmy Yahya, famously known as the “Quiz King” during the analog television era, highlighted the importance of synergy between the younger generation and MSMEs. He pointed out that MSMEs contribute up to 61 percent of Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making them the country’s largest economic contributors. However, he noted that this significant potential remains hindered by several challenges, including the unequal adoption of technology, particularly in rural areas.
“This is why education is critical. Education can pave the way for technology to be used optimally to further develop MSMEs,” said Helmy.
Although the government has issued various programs to support MSMEs, according to Helmy, their implementation has not yet reached all levels of society. Collaboration is the keyword.
“Private sector, government, and educational institutions must unite so that significant change can be realized,” said Helmy, who has recently created a lot of content related to education issues.
Helmy also highlighted a commonly overlooked issue, the reluctance of some business owners to embrace change, often driven by a fear of taking bold steps forward.
“If we want to move forward, we must be brave. Don’t be afraid to make big decisions that may be risky,” said Helmy. “An interesting business idea is not enough. We need good communication skills and a wide network so that collaboration can be built strongly.”
Meanwhile, Jovial da Lopez raised the theme “Navigating Economic Change Together Across Generations” in his presentation. He focused on the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between the younger generation and the more senior generation, such as baby boomers.
The collaboration was exactly like Jovial’s own experience. Initially, Jovial was very free to create any content without many rules.
“However, when I worked at Narasi, I had to learn to listen to various opinions from colleagues of different ages and backgrounds,” said the Chief Creative Officer of Narasi.
He emphasized that the current young generation is very creative and intelligent. However, to develop further, they need more experienced mentors.
“Experience is the best teacher. A more senior mentor can provide valuable guidance for our progress,” said Jovial.
Jovial also pointed out a common issue among the younger generation: the tendency to be impatient and overly reliant on instant results. He further emphasized how many young people today spend a significant amount of time on unproductive activities.
We’re often skilled at using various apps, but are they truly beneficial?” he said. “Imagine spending 1,095 hours just on TikTok. If that time were used to learn a new language or develop other skills, we could become experts.” He added, “Having fun is important, but be mindful of how you spend your time. Taking a break is necessary, but it has its limits. Temporary pleasures will fade, while the boredom and challenges we face in learning are valuable investments for the future.
Jovial emphasized that the key to bridging the generational gap lies in close collaboration and mutual support. True collaboration, he noted, goes beyond simply working together; it involves the younger and older generations complementing each other’s strengths. According to Jovial, the younger generation must be open to learning from the experiences of their seniors, while the older generation should create space for the creativity and innovation of youth.
“The best way for these two generations to connect is through open communication and mutual respect for differing perspectives,” he said. “Learning to listen is also essential for building strong, effective collaboration.”
