Personal Development Week at EBC

Nadia Putri - Ross School of Business

When EBC's General Manager asked me to organize training for recently-promoted supervisors during the rest of my time in Desa Ban, I was perplexed. What should I talk about and share with them in 10 days straight?!

The objective of her request was to get the employees used to the idea of strategic thinking, effective discussions, etc. Most of them came from the lowest level of employment at EBC. Some started the job not knowing how to use computers and now have to process data in Excel. They were hired for manual labor, paid by the kilograms or daily. Thus, it is a challenge to switch from an output-oriented work mindset to a more strategic work mindset. We hope to embed in their minds that they have bigger responsibility now, which is to coordinate, collaborate, and work across departments.

Considering all of these and after brainstorming with the head of people operations at EBC, I designed a one-week program called "Personal Development Week" for ~15 supervisor-level employees, including factory supervisors to headmaster of EBC's preschool. With "action-based learning" in mind, I created training-workshop program. Training is when I presented some tools related to the topic, whereas workshop is a stage for them to put these tools into practice.

---

Training & Workshop 1: Public Speaking & Feedback Giving

In the first training set, I shared some tools on how to present your thoughts/ideas in a structured manner and deliver constructive criticism that provides learning insights for the recipients. During workshop the next day, I asked them to present a work problem that they're facing in front of their peers for 3 minutes. Their peers, in turn, provided feedback on their performance.

Whenever I bumped into them in the hallway, they would come up to me saying they're "very nervous about tomorrow's speech". I took every opportunity to remind them that this is just to increase their confidence, get them used to speak in front of a big group, and gain feedback from the audience. It's not to criticize or show their flaws, but to keep practicing!

Rinna Kustiana explained problem she's facing in her department

At the end of the workshop, one of them asked "when's the next time we do this again?"

Training & Workshop 2: Problem Solving & Effective Team Discussion

In the following training set, I partnered with one employee from people operations to present the material. He presented how to do critical problem solving and how to navigate teams with different POVs. We picked two best presenters from public speaking workshop, split the audience into 2 random groups, and assigned them with one of the best presenters' problems. During the workshop, we let them work in their respective team to brainstorm, discuss, and come up with recommendations to solve the problem.

Team 2 during problem solving workshop at factory's gazebo, surrounded by lush scenery

We gave them 1 hour to meet, yet we went a bit over because the discussion was so fun and insightful!

Training & Workshop 3: Presenting with Visual Tools

Finally, the last set of the training should put a bow on this one-week program. I shared some tips and tools to structure and design slide deck using PowerPoint. On the final training day, they will work in teams to create their slide deck, present their findings to the other team, and critique each other's recommendations! This final day serves as an opportunity to showcase everything they have learned this week.

Team 1 creating their slide deck to present their recommendations for AnaKardia preschool

---

I was nervous about how this one-week program will turn out. It's never done before at EBC, especially since the employees have to take some time off work to attend a class every single day. But, this pilot training received very positive feedback! Post-training survey says that they wished they had more time during the training/workshop, and would like to join more similar training in the future

I was not expecting a major shift in the training participants only after attending a one-week training. I wanted them to experience and most importantly: enjoy the learning process, and luckily this mission was accomplished. I hope this training will continue and can be opened to a wider audience at the factory.

As the old saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. But I'm glad I took part in laying the foundation of something great in Desa Ban, East Bali.

Training participants and I at the end of our last workshop

Gunung Agung: Beauty and uncertainty

Nadia Putri - Ross School of Business

On Thursday, June 28th 2018, I was sitting at East Bali Immersion (EBC's ecocamp), almost couldn't believe what I was seeing. EBI is located NW of Gunung Agung, and I could see small sparks of lava accompanied with tall smoke coming out of the crater. It was really beautiful, but a bit scary at the same time for someone who has never seen anything like it before. We were listening to radio station that keeps everyone updated on which areas have been evacuated.

EBI team watches over Gunung Agung on Thurs, June 28 night

History of Gunung Agung

Gunung Agung (gunung = mount, agung = majestic) is the highest volcano in Bali, towering 3,031 meters (9,944 ft) above sea level. Balinese, whose religions are mainly Hindu, consider and respect mountains as the dwelling of the Gods - with Agung holding the highest degree of sacredness. Pura Besakih (pura = temple), the most important, largest, and holiest Hindu temple in Bali, is located on the slopes of Gunung Agung.

Prior to current activity, the last eruption of Agung started on February 18, 1963 and ended on January 27, 1964. During this period, there were 1,148 casualties and 296 injured victims (PVBMG Indonesia). This eruption was one of the largest in the 20th century, generated heavy ashfall along with lahars that caused extensive damage. Below-average temperature was observed years after the eruption happened. Ash spewed by volcano can cause much struggles to farmers, burying agricultural areas and damaging crops. However, they also increase soil fertility in the long-term.

Map of areas located in danger zone and EBI + EBC locations.
(Source: PVMBG Indonesia)

Current status of Gunung Agung

Gunung Agung started becoming active again in August 2017. In September, The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority declared a 12-km evacuation zone around the volcano. Gradually, the activity decreased over time, leading to lowering of alert level to 3 out of 4.

But, late November 2017, Gunung Agung erupted five times. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority raised alert level to the highest once again, ordering citizens located in 10-km radius of the volcano (~100,000 people) to evacuate. Since then, Gunung Agung has been erupting with a varying degree of impact.

East Bali Cashews and disaster readiness

EBC factory and EBI are located approximately 14 km NW of Gunung Agung. This means EBC area is still located outside the evacuation zone. But, this does not mean that the management was able to rest easy. In 2017 episode, earthquake can be felt throughout the factory every few minutes. At first, everyone was anxious, scared, and panicked. So, EBC implemented some programs to prepare their employees for any disaster that might come and make sure everyone feels safe at work.

• Tore down one of the factory walls and created larger emergency exit for employees to get out in case of any incidence.
• Trained employees to evacuate in a calm manner, determined gathering area for people to evacuate, and assigned team leaders to call absence when this happens.
• Aaron, EBC's founder, presented volcano simulation to the employees to show what happens when a volcano erupts and how the areas around it will be impacted.
• Management from Denpasar and Jakarta rotated to stay in Karangasem throughout the whole episode, staying together with the employees and keeping everyone calm

These programs and general readiness attitude from management prepared the employees really well. During my stay there, minor eruptions and earthquake happened. But, the employees did not show any panic sign while still keeping in mind what procedures they need to do if anything happens.

Mount Agung, on my way from Karangasem to Denpasar on Friday, June 29

--

Going back to my experience, I was supposed to fly out to Jakarta on Friday June 29th, the day after I watched Gunung Agung erupted from EBI. When I woke up Friday morning, I found out the airport was closed following the eruption to ensure flight safety. Volcanic ash is dangerous for planes as it makes airport runways slippery and can get into plane engines. Typically, whenever my flight plans are disrupted (believe me, this happens a lot. People know I'm quite unfortunate in terms of flying..), it would ruin my mood for the whole day. I'm tired of all the hassle in lining up at the customer service booth, rescheduling my flights, staying longer (even overnight) at airports, etc.

But, that day was different. I was reminded of my experience the night before.

I remembered watching Gunung Agung with EBI staffs. They've seen it before, yet, they still admired how grand the lava, smoke, and Gunung Agung looked that night. They appreciated the beauty despite the uncertainty of what might come. So I told myself, that it was fine to have my flight plan disrupted - just like thousands others who were trying to fly out of Bali, that in the end everything will be OK, and that I just saw the most amazing evidence how powerful and beautiful our nature is.

East Bali Cashews: Empowering East Balinese women and farmers one cashew at a time

Nadia Putri - University of Michigan Ross School of Business

In 2012, Aaron Fishman travelled to rural East Bali as a healthcare volunteer and was amazed by the beauty of this region. But, he soon discovered that behind the beauty, East Bali is an impoverished region of farmers. 98% of people who live in Desa Ban (Ban Village), Karangasem Region, East Bali are cashew farmers. Farmers sold raw cashews to traders who shipped them overseas for processing. Aaron saw an opportunity to create a sustainable economic solution for these farmers and their families through agriculture and food processing. That’s how East Bali Cashews (EBC) was born in Desa Ban. Now, EBC employs more than 400 people with the majority being women from local area.

Factory employee carries a bucket of cashews to the splitting machine

The company has touched many lives of people in Desa Ban, as beautifully expressed by Ibu Lasmi, “I’m only a high school graduate, yet, the company believes in me and my potential. Never would I have imagined moving up from a daily worker to managing more than 50 workers myself.”

 

Nadia Putri - Ross School of Business

In addition, not only focusing on its social impact, EBC also puts high importance on its product quality. Boasting a wide variety of unique ingredients from East Bali, the company is aiming to deliver tropical indulgence from Desa Ban to consumers worldwide.

This summer, I’m honored to be chosen as one of WDI Global Impact Fellows to work at EBC as a business development intern. As a rapidly growing social enterprise, one person at this company wears many hats and so do I. My role in the company is divided into two: while I’m at Desa Ban factory, I’ll be working on quality improvement projects and also summarizing the company’s impact on women employees. In comparison, while I’m at Bali/Jakarta office, I’ll be looking into US market entry strategy. I'm very excited to be back in home country, working at a company that delivers real social impact to the community.

My first couple of weeks at EBC factory has been quite eventful. While in Desa Ban, I’m staying at EBC’s campsite (called East Bali Immersion) where I get to sleep in a tipi. As a city girl myself, it’s an amazing feeling to wake up to rooster crows, sleep to cricket’s sound, and shower under the open sky.

My bed and belongings inside East Bali Immersion's tipi

At the factory, everyone is very welcoming and open to share their stories. It’s especially humbling to see such high curiosity and willingness to learn from the factory employees. This serves as my daily reminder that situation you grew up or lived in does not define who you could be. More stories to come!