Catching Up with Jemmy Chayadi ’00

Chayadi first gained his Badger status when he left Indonesia to study engineering at the UW, and while on campus, he fell in love with all things Wisconsin. After graduation and stints in Chicago and China, Chayadi returned to Indonesia in 2009, where he now serves as head of sustainability for Djarum, one of the country’s biggest business groups.

Though Chayadi was happy to return to Indonesia, he missed his home away from home: Madison. In 2016, he led the revival of WAA’s Indonesian chapter to reconnect with old friends and form new relationships with fellow alumni. He also used this network to harness some aforementioned Badger power, forming a small venture capital firm with six other alumni to support small food start-ups.

Today, Chayadi continues to lead WAA’s Indonesian chapter as president and serves on the WAA Alumni Advisory Council. Below, read more about Chayadi’s time at the UW and his drive to keep Badgers connected.

What accomplishments or projects are you most proud of working on in the last 25 years?

Something I am most proud of is reviving the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Indonesia chapter. I went back home in 2009. Back in the days when I was in Madison, there were about 400 to 500 Indonesian students enrolled at the same time. There was actually a strong Indonesian community. So, when I returned to Indonesia, my Badger friends were everywhere, but we didn’t really have a community to hang out with. While WAA Indonesia existed, it was mostly dormant. And the only times we would meet were for birthday parties, weddings, and kids’ birthday celebrations.

So, in 2015, I decided, “Let’s revive WAA Indonesia!” In 2016, we held our first major event, where more than 300 Indonesian alumni across generations joined. But that was just the beginning, because for me, reviving the chapter wasn’t just about saying, “Oh, we’re a bunch of alumni; let’s stay friends,” but rather, “Let’s do something together.”

That’s something I’m really proud of — it started with reviving WAA Indonesia, and then it continues to evolve. Eventually, we were able to create a small venture capital firm together to invest in Indonesia’s food start-ups. And all of this happened in less than 10 years. I want to show that we can do more than just stay connected — we can actually build something meaningful together. And what binds us together is that we’re Badgers — Indonesian Badgers.

What are you working on now?

I am now the head of sustainability for Djarum, one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in Indonesia. The business group owns companies in banking, plantations, e-commerce, properties, electronics, FMCGs [fast-moving consumer goods], and so on. My job is to support all companies within the group in their sustainability journeys by developing sustainability strategies, establishing sustainability reporting, and driving sustainability initiatives tailored for each company.

I’m very proud to be working in sustainability in Indonesia. In developing countries like Indonesia, sustainability is still not as widely prioritized as it is in more developed regions like the U.S. or Europe. However, that also means there are significant opportunities for me to make a real impact — my way of living out the Wisconsin Idea. 

Are there any courses, professors, or opportunities from your time at the UW that have had a lasting influence?

I graduated as a mechanical engineer, but most of my senior courses were in quality engineering, including industrial and manufacturing engineering. During that time, I had an internship with Kohler Company, which was an incredibly rewarding experience and set me on the path toward a career as a quality engineer. 

At that time, [quality engineering] had more to do with increasing productivity, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and all that. Quality was the most prominent factor when it comes to making a good product or a poor product. Today, those same principles — meaning efficiency, less waste, high productivity — are closely aligned with the core concepts that are used in sustainability.

What’s your best memory from your time on campus?

I’m a big American football fan. Back in 1999, we had a star running back, Ron Dayne [’17], who broke the NCAA Division I rushing record during a game against Iowa. I remember witnessing that historic moment happening right in front of me as I was sitting near the front. When he set the record, the entire Camp Randall stadium erupted in cheers. I remember that everyone was given a white towel, and as we waved them in celebration, the whole stadium became a sea of white. It was a very special and unforgettable experience. 

At WAA Indonesia, we host a student send-off event every year, and I always tell the new students, “You guys have to watch a football game at Camp Randall. That is a very, very important part of your Wisconsin Experience.” I define Camp Randall — that experience, the feeling — as a small taste of heaven on Earth.