Women to Watch 2024: Risa Kusumaningrum, KIT Global

Risa Kusumaningrum

Country manager Indonesia & Vietnam
KIT Global
Indonesia

Finance, a largely male-dominated area, needs disruption. So does management. What’s more, there aren’t many examples of finance heads managing agency operations. Rita Kusumaningrum is one such woman who is doing just that.

When Kusumaningrum was appointed country manager for Indonesia at KIT Global in 2023, plaudits were well deserved. With her career spanning 20 years in finance she had the skills to run audits, forecast budgets, lead accounting teams and improve operational efficiency. Along the way, she had taken on additional responsibilities in sales and operations, built treasury and tech departments, and managed financial planning. 

But leading a digital marketing agency is something else especially where the competition is high, and the industry is in a constant state of flux. But within just a year of her appointment to the position, Kusumaningrum secured several major global clients, recorded remarkable revenue growth and expanded KIT Global’s presence in Vietnam. She is eyeing further expansion to Thailand and Malaysia next.

Courageous in voicing her opinions, Kusumaningrum is fearless in speaking her mind, challenging the status quo in Indonesia. Her commitment to advancing women in leadership roles is evident through the promotion of a female staff member to deputy country manager in Indonesia, showcasing her dedication to building a legacy of women leaders. 

Kusumaningrum is actively engaged with the Certified Management Accountant community in Australia and was invited by The Jakarta Global University to become an adjunct professor where she teaches digital marketing, finance and operations. She also finds time to volunteer at Taman Cloe, a local animal shelter; is a founding member of Perempuan Baca, Indonesian women’s reading community; and actively supports OPC Indonesia, a non-profit community for contemporary art enthusiasts. Just when you thought 24 hours could contain all this, Kusumaningrum is writing a book that harnesses her financial expertise to empower women, scheduled for release early next year.  

Kusumaningrum sets high standards for herself. A leader with extraordinary vision, she is challenging the norms of the industry while extending her commitment to inclusivity, strategic diversity and building future women leaders.