Country: Indonesia
Organisation Name: PT Paragon Technology and Innovation
Founded in the Year: 1985
Position: Founder and President Commissioner
Website: www.paragon-innovation.com
Personal Introduction
The Founder of PT Paragon Technology and Innovation (Formerly named PT Pusaka Tradisi Ibu), built the business to be closer to family but still be able to work to provide more benefits to the surroundings. With regard to my educational background as a pharmacist from Bandung Institute of Technology and working experience as a quality control in a hair care company, I decided to make a cosmetics company which has a purpose to create the greater good for the society and environment. I made this business to realize Rahmatan lil alamin, something that I want to pursue throughout my life. This belief makes me see “Halal” as beyond the product but it is a way of life. My husband (Subakat Hadi) and my children (Harman Subakat, Salman Subakat, and dr. Sari Chairunnisa, Sp.KK) are working together with all Paragonian (Paragon’s employees are called) to grow this business even bigger than what I ever dreamed. Through this business, I hope Paragonian and their families, our consumers, our partners, our society, and the environment will benefit and can be better than before.
Business Introduction
PT Paragon Technology and Innovation (Paragon) is a cosmetics company from Indonesia built in 1985 and pioneering Halal cosmetics in Indonesia since 1995 with the launch of our second brand Wardah. Halal cosmetics were not familiar back then, but with our purpose to provide benefits to our consumers and our belief that Halal products are a guarantee of quality, Paragon has been the market leader of the cosmetics industry in Indonesia since 2018. This condition is an anomaly in the global business, where we not only overcome the former local cosmetics company but also the global market leader for Halal cosmetic. We implement an integrated Halal system to guarantee the quality of our products, from the sourcing until delivered to our consumers. I believe that this business can grow this far not only because of my dream and my hard work but also by the help of Allah through the prayers of our beneficiaries from the existence of Paragon. We try our best to give benefits through our products and create more impact by our programs. The benefit from our business is realized through our 11 brands, which are Wardah, Make Over, Emina, Kahf, Putri, Laboré, Crystallure, Instaperfect, Biodef, Tavi, and Wonderly. For our CSR programs, we have 4 impactful pillars: education, health, environment, and women empowerment.
Interview Questions:
What inspired you to start your organisation in Islamic Economy?
| I believe if we care and help each other in our surroundings, prosperity will be increased amongst society and its focus will shift from survival mode to thinking about making a bigger impact on the nation or even the world. |
I believe if we care and help each other in our surroundings, prosperity will be increased amongst society and its focus will shift from survival mode to thinking about making a bigger impact on the nation or even the world. But that mindset not only depends on the society’s economic condition but also on the character and quality of the people. Through these business and goodness programs, I hope Paragon can contribute to national and global economic growth, as well as the development of people.
What were the challenges you had to overcome in the initial stages of starting your organisation?
The challenge is that in the 1990s Halal lifestyle in Indonesia was not common like today, even though Islam is the majority in Indonesia. We need to build awareness among the consumers and also the Halal communities in Indonesia. Upon Allah’s blessing, in the 2010s the hijab community in Indonesia is booming. We took that opportunity and also the responsibility to become the only halal cosmetic that day. Through collaboration with the hijab community and also the modest fashion industry, we can grow together and make the halal lifestyle a trend. Alhamdulillah, in 2018 Wardah has been the leading brand in Indonesia.
What is the most important thing you feel anyone needs to do to build a successful company in Islamic Economy?
A strong purpose and the quality of the people in the organization are two things I find very important in building a successful company. During our journey, we found there are 5 values and 7 basic identities owned by Paragonian that successfully bring Paragon this far. Our 5 values are faith in God (Ketuhanan), care (kepedulian), humility (kerendahan hati), grit (ketangguhan), and innovation (inovasi). And our 7 basic identities are good intention (niat baik), intrapreneurship, respect for others, continuous improvement, learner, mutual cooperation (gotong royong), and consumer-centric.
What were the most important learning experiences you would like to share?
In our 38 years of journey, Paragon has been experienced through various crises. Our building (and also my house) was burnt in 1990, and nothing was left. Moreover, the pandemic that lasted for these 3 years was also a big challenge for all of us because the crisis not only came from the economy but also health. But, we always can go through this, because Allah already promises us in the Quran, ”So, surely with hardship comes ease”. Allah’s promise is the best promise for the one who believes. And Paragon’s journey makes me even more sure about this.
What advice you would give to aspiring leaders in Islamic Economy? In building the Islamic Economy, especially through the halal industry, we need to implement the philosophy of halal truly in our ways of working. Not only as a branding or something ritual, because Islam and halal itself are the best guidance that Allah gives to us. Show our consumers that halal is the best quality, the most beneficial, the safest, and the less harmful. Not only for the consumers but also the society and the environment. Prove them with real experience, not just words. Prove to them that having a business with the Islamic ways is beautiful, peaceful, impactful, and productive.
