Jakarta. Melissa Siska Juminto, the President of GoTo’s e-commerce business unit, Tokopedia, recently made Tatler Asia’s 2023 Gen.T list which brings together influential young leaders in Asia.

The 2023 Gen.T List features 300 “leaders of tomorrow” shaping Asia’s future. These individuals are a mix of entrepreneurs, creatives, and young leaders from 8 different regions: Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines. Other Indonesians on the list include badminton player Jonatan Christie as well as actress and Yuk Group Foundation chairperson Prilly Latuconsina.

Tatler Asia added Melissa to its Gen.T list for leading an e-commerce giant to unprecedented success.

Tokopedia was Melissa’s first company she worked for, and she is still a Nakama —the e-commerce giant’s nickname for its employees— to this day. She first joined Tokopedia in 2012 as its 44th employee. At the time, Tokopedia was still a startup company and Melissa was its only accountant. In just two years, she became Tokopedia’s Vice President of Business where she demonstrated her business management prowess by putting forward the company's financial analysis in making business growth strategies.

Melissa then took on the Chief Operating Officer post in 2018. She was responsible for the company’s overall operations and business growth. She also helped the CEO decide the direction of where the business would be heading. Melissa’s leadership helped pave the way for a work culture that is more diverse and inclusive for all. She believes that inclusive and diverse workplace culture can make companies more productive, innovative, and resilient.

Melissa has shown great concern for empowering local businesses. When the pandemic struck the country, Tokopedia launched the Hyperlocal initiative, which brought customers closer to their nearest sellers. This would give local businesses a bigger stage and opportunities amidst the pandemic.

A study by Tokopedia and economic think tank INDEF showed that the average sales index in cities participating in the Hyperlocal initiative had risen 147 percent in 2020-2021 compared to the figures seen in 2017-2019. The participating cities’ average sales index was also five times higher than those who did not join the Hyperlocal program. Cities with Hyperlocal have a lower poverty rate of 0.14 percent compared to those without.