Indonesian telecommunications giant Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has achieved a major milestone in corporate culture and human capital excellence. The company was officially recognized with the “Great Place to Work 2025” certification and named Best Workplace 2025 in the Large Enterprise category by the independent Great Place to Work Institute.
The award marks a powerful endorsement of Indosat’s efforts to foster a healthy, high-trust, and innovation-driven work environment that empowers its employees not only to perform, but to thrive.
At the heart of this recognition is an internal employee survey, in which 95% of Indosat’s workforce stated they believe the company is one of the best places to work—an outstanding figure compared to the global average of just 59%.
Building Culture Through Trust, Technology, and Empowerment
According to Irsyad Sahroni, Director and Chief Human Resource Officer of Indosat, the award is not just a trophy, but a testament to years of intentional culture-building within the organization.
“Achieving the Great Place to Work certification and being named Best Workplace 2025 reflects the deep trust and commitment shared between our employees and leadership,” Irsyad said. “We remain dedicated to nurturing an environment that enhances productivity and champions technology as a driver of innovation.”
That emphasis on trust and transformation is visible across several key areas of Indosat’s workplace culture. For example, the company has adopted AI-powered systems to streamline business processes, freeing employees from administrative burdens and enabling them to focus on personal and professional growth.
In this way, Indosat’s culture is not only human-centric but also future-ready, embedding technology into the employee experience without sacrificing authenticity.
A Holistic Approach to Employee Wellbeing
Indosat’s commitment goes far beyond free snacks and flexible hours. The company adopts a holistic view of employee wellbeing, encompassing professional, physical, mental, social, and even spiritual health. This multifaceted approach has made a meaningful impact on employee satisfaction and performance.
A standout component of this strategy is professional development, where Indosat invests significantly in global-class learning platforms, self-directed online courses, and even cross-border career opportunities within the broader Ooredoo Group, which operates across multiple countries in the Middle East and Asia.
By aligning personal growth with organizational success, Indosat ensures that employees are not only contributors to its mission of “Empowering Indonesia,” but also beneficiaries of the company’s global vision.
Cultural Differentiation in a Competitive Market
The telecommunications sector in Indonesia—and Southeast Asia more broadly—is fiercely competitive. Against this backdrop, culture becomes not only a differentiator but also a strategic advantage.
Indosat’s people-first ethos is evident in its open communication channels between employees and leadership, its culture of appreciation, and its emphasis on high-performance mindsets. These pillars not only attract top talent but also retain and inspire the workforce through purpose and clarity.
“This recognition motivates us to continue nurturing a modern workplace culture aligned with our human values,” Irsyad added. “We firmly believe that a healthy work environment strengthens team morale and enables us to better serve our customers and country.”
Global Lessons from a Local Champion
As companies worldwide grapple with how to retain talent, integrate technology, and maintain cohesion in hybrid environments, Indosat’s model offers useful insights.
- Embrace AI to enhance—not replace—human potential.
- Invest in holistic wellbeing that treats employees as complete individuals.
- Foster a feedback-driven culture where trust and transparency are the norm.
Indosat’s success proves that building a “great place to work” is not about perks alone, but about principled leadership, intentional culture design, and strategic investment in people.
