The Heart of a Visionary: Winston Utomo and Indonesia’s Future

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Long before IDN became what it is today, it began with a moment of doubt and hope. In 2014, Winston was walking home from his job at Google Singapore, wondering: Why isn’t there a media platform that speaks to Millennials and Gen Z in Indonesia? Why do so many narratives still revolve around Jakarta? What can I do to make access to information more equal, from Aceh to Papua? 

He didn’t sleep that night. Instead, he sketched out a rough blueprint—one that would become IDN Times. A few days later, he picked up the phone and called his younger brother, William, who was still in Los Angeles. William didn’t hesitate. He packed his bags, walked away from his dream of becoming an investment banker, and flew home. From a cramped 2x3 meter apartment in Singapore—with no office, no funding, and nothing but belief in each other—the two brothers began building IDN. 

“There were countless nights when we had barely a week of runway left,” Winston remembers. “But we never stopped believing.” 

That belief started to pay off. At a USC alumni event, William crossed paths with Willson Cuaca of East Ventures, who casually invited him to meet at a Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlet in Singapore. Over cups of kopi and kaya toast, what began as a humble conversation became a turning point—their first seed funding and the beginning of a transformative journey. 

Since then, IDN has raised multiple rounds of investment and grown into a 700+ person organization with over 18 business units—spanning livestreaming, digital media, creators economy, and entertainment. Today, IDN is one of the largest media and entertainment companies in Southeast Asia. 

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In 2024, Winston led a bold rebranding: from IDN Media to simply IDN. It wasn’t just a name change, it was a reflection of how far the company had evolved. 

“We realized we weren’t just a media company anymore,” Winston said. “We were building the whole ecosystems—for creators, for users, and for an entire generation.” 

That shift has taken form in a series of bold new ventures. From a microdrama platform tapping into the future of storytelling, to Pestapora, a youth festival celebrating creativity and expression. From PAPION, a global girl group rooted in Indonesian spirit and values, to JKT48, the country’s most iconic idol group. Each one is part of IDN’s broader mission: to build youth-first entertainment—authentic, meaningful, and created with purpose. 

But Winston is clear: real transformation happens on the inside. “The hardest part wasn’t launching new products. It was shifting our mindset—how we hire, how we lead, how we measure growth, and how we define success.” 

Even as IDN grows, Winston remains anchored in the culture that started it all. “We might be scaling like a tech company,” he said, “but we never want to lose the warmth, the energy, the idealism we had back when we began our journey.” 

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Winston’s leadership style is grounded in service, not authority. “I don’t believe in top-down leadership. I believe in showing up: listening, supporting, and setting the tone,” he explains. “If you want people to be on time, be the first to arrive. If you want them to care, be the first to care.” Through humility, discipline, and consistency, he leads not from the side, but from the front, quietly building a culture that places people before ego, and purpose above profit. 

He begins each morning at 5:00 a.m. with a cup of espresso and his favorite ritual: reading and writing. By 7:00 a.m., he’s already at the office, ready to start the day. 

At the office, Winston prefers to dedicate his mornings to deep, focused work. Except on Mondays and Tuesdays where he has many internal meetings, he generally avoids scheduling meetings before lunch—believing that the quiet hours of the morning are the most productive for real thinking and execution. 

Winston believes that great leaders know when to zoom out to see the horizon, and when to dive into the details. “Some days, I’m working on the long-term strategic roadmap. Other days, I’m deep in a product deck, obsessing over the smallest details. That balance between the big picture and the execution—that’s where real leadership lives.” 

The most surprising source of his inspiration? The young generation.

“They remind me why we’re doing all this. Their authenticity, creativity, and sense of purpose push me to stay grounded and stay curious.” 

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Behind the scenes, family plays a central role in Winston’s life. His parents, wife, and their two sons, Aramont and Graewalt, keep him centered. His partnership with William remains the foundation of everything they’ve built. “We don’t always agree on certain topics. But on values, principles, and vision? Always. And we always trust and respect each other.” 

Together, they’ve weathered every storm—from cashflow struggles to countless pivots. And through it all, they’ve held on to one guiding principle: #ForABetterIndonesia. 

“It’s not just a slogan. It’s a promise. Every product we launch, every creator we support, every story we tell, it should help build something better for the next generation.” 

Through IDN Foundation and IDN Research Institute, that promise takes shape in real, tangible ways: food relief programs, education campaigns, blood donations, sembako distribution for the underprivileged, building libraries in underserved areas, and research that amplifies the voices of young generations across the archipelago. 

Winston doesn’t see IDN merely as a company. He sees it as a movement—a living legacy driven by purpose and passion. “We want IDN to still be here 100 years from now—not just as participants, but as pioneers shaping society for the better. We are building something that will outlast us, something future generations can be proud of. One step at a time, for a better Indonesia”