Grab is using a campus-focused approach to address a problem that remains stubborn in Indonesia’s labor market: many female university graduates still struggle to move into stable work. Through STEM Talks, the company is trying to make the technology sector feel more reachable for female students before they graduate.
The issue is not simply about academic achievement. Data from the Central Statistics Agency in the report “Women and Men in Indonesia 2024” shows that only 52.86 percent of women of working age are economically active, compared with 79.85 percent of men.
The gap becomes even more visible among university graduates. The unemployment rate for female degree holders stands at 18.66 percent, nearly twice the 8.16 percent recorded for men. That suggests the hardest barrier often appears after women complete higher education, when the transition into professional work begins.
Opening a clearer route into STEM
To respond to that reality, Grab Indonesia held STEM Talks on May 8, 2026, at Dia.Lo.Gue in Jakarta. The session, titled “Cracking the STEM World: From First Steps to Finding Your Place,” brought together 75 female and male students to discuss experience, challenges, and career prospects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Grab’s Director of Digital & Sustainability, Rivana Mezaya, said technology is not built on technical ability alone. She emphasized that empathy and the courage to solve problems are also needed, and that digital career spaces remain open for young women.
The company also used the event to present female leaders in technology as visible examples for the next generation. That approach was meant to make the path from classroom to industry feel less distant.
Real-world career stories from women in tech
Among the speakers were Sabrina Anggraini, a content creator and MIT alumna, and Gabriella Kawilarang, Principal Product Manager at Grab Indonesia. They shared career journeys, the challenges they faced, and the opportunities available to women in STEM.
The format was designed to be interactive rather than one-way. Students took part in an “Ask Me Anything” focus group discussion and were able to question Grab’s female leaders directly.
The conversation covered the working environment in the tech industry, career development, and the details of roles in product management and software engineering. For participants, that made the world of work feel more concrete and easier to picture after graduation.
Part of a broader effort
STEM Talks is not an isolated program. It is part of Grab’s “Jejak Aksi Kartini Masa Kini” movement, which the company positions as a continuing commitment to women’s empowerment.
Through that campaign, Grab aims not only to bring women into its ecosystem but also to help them reach strategic positions where decisions are made. The company sees access, supportive learning spaces, professional networks, and ongoing inspiration as key elements that can help women advance.
With the employment gap for women still wide, that kind of intervention is increasingly relevant. For many female students, the challenge is no longer only about capability, but about getting a fairer entry point into the technology industry.
Source: id.mashable.com
