Co-Founder and Partner of Siregar & Djojonegoro Law Firm Indonesia
Cindy is a fierce lawyer, entrepreneur, and active angel investor driven by social impact. Whether she is building a team of women lawyers or providing capital for women-led businesses, Cindy uses her resources to invest, break misconceptions, and expand the GLI space.
Cindy grew up with strong women figures all around her. Her grandmother – whom she used to live with – was an entrepreneur with a catering business. Cindy accompanied her grandmother going to the market, planning the menu and organizing the workers.
“Unconsciously, it grew on me – how I organize, systemise and manage things,” Cindy said.
Upon graduation from the University of Indonesia’s prestigious law school in 1994, Cindy continued her studies at Stanford Law School where she received a Juris Science Master’s in 1997. Cindy gave several talks about Project Finance at Stanford University, University of Hong Kong and University of Indonesia. In 2013, she co-founded Siregar & Djojonegoro – a legal firm specializing in corporate law.
Growing up reading legal books, Cindy never feels her gender gives significant obstacles in pursuing her career. But she acknowledges that these privileges may not ring true for a lot of other women.
In 2014, she joined the Angel Investment Network Indonesia (ANGIN) as an angel investor. Since then, Cindy has invested in over 20 businesses led by women or producing goods and services benefitting women – mostly in tech, makeup, food, and fashion industries. One of her portfolio enterprises includes a women-friendly law firm that provides online legal services. Cindy says she consciously directs her attention to businesses employing large numbers of workers and impacting women. While Cindy is mainly driven by impact, she also carefully assesses finance potentials before investing.
“If I don’t believe a business has a prospect, I wouldn’t (invest my money) – What for?” Cindy says.
Cindy believes there are many misconceptions surrounding women that hinder them from getting opportunities. For example, there is a common notion that women are more emotional when making a decision. Cindy strongly disagrees. At Siregar & Djojonegoro, Cindy has built a team of majority women lawyers.
“Ninety percent of my lawyers are women and they are extremely focused and diligent. They are very calm and loyal,” Cindy says.
Cindy notices that the number of women investors have been growing in recent years. Friends from her inner circles have sought her advice to kickstart their own investing journey, driven by their intentions to help other women.
“As the economy grew, so did the amount of people wanting to do something meaningful for other people,” Cindy says.
However, many emerging women investors face difficulties getting permission from their husbands on how they invest, especially when they don’t have income of their own. These women also fear that their investments won’t give return.
“My advice to them is to think beyond the returns only. While returns are important, a business is much more than just profit. A business that does good for society… fulfills a need… employs many people – that is something to be proud of!” Cindy says.
Beyond running her firm and investing, Cindy is also involved with Endeavor Indonesia where she mentors young entrepreneurs and advises them how to invest in themselves. Much like women investors, women entrepreneurs experience difficulties getting permission from their families.
“A lot of them can’t go travelling, or go to meetings, because they have household responsibilities and also responsibilities as a wife due to conservative perspectives,” Cindy says. “However I always tell them the story of my grandmother. If she was brave enough to do it 50 years ago when society was even more conservative, then we should be courageous enough to do it now,” Cindy continues.
Cindy is determined to continue inspiring and mentoring more women entrepreneurs and investors. Cindy could play a greater role in assembling and activating women investors within the GLI ecosystem.
