RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – More than 50 Indonesian women participated in a speed mentoring event to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. They had the opportunity to learn from ten mentors from various backgrounds, ranging from entrepreneurs to UN representatives.

The ten mentors included the Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN, Ambra Dickie, and the UN Women Representative for Indonesia and Liaison for ASEAN, Ulziisuren Jamsran. Also among them were the Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO), Shinta Kamdani, and the Chief Brand Officer of the Indonesian women’s magazine Femina, Zornia Harisantoso.

The Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, Jess Dutton, in his remarks emphasized Canada’s commitment to advancing gender equality through various collaborations with Indonesia, including initiatives to support reproductive health and sexual and reproductive rights, as well as women’s economic empowerment. He encouraged participants to make the most of the speed mentoring session.

"I really encourage the mentees to take advantage of this opportunity, the really impressive people that you have at your tables, that have a depth and breadth of experience, not only great but also challenging experiences and how they overcome those challenges," Dutton said.

The participants were divided into groups of six. They took turns visiting the available tables, where one mentor was stationed at each table, for short sessions.

One participant, Kyra, said she gained many lessons from the 2.5-hour event. She mentioned that believing in oneself and continuing to learn are among the keys to success.

"From these amazing women, I've learned that you just have to be brave enough to take that step and just believe that you can do it, and even if you fail, you learn something from that," she said.

The UN Women Representative for Indonesia and Liaison for ASEAN, Ulziisuren Jamsran, praised the speed mentoring event, calling it "fascinating." According to her, the most important aspect of such speed mentoring is not only the interaction between mentors and mentees, but also the interaction among the participants themselves, allowing them to recognize each other’s potential and confidence.

"I think that is a very important platform, and I believe more safe spaces of this kind need to be created by every institution and community, so that we support our girls on their pathway," she said.