Two Dutch men with Indonesian roots are empowering the Indonesian corporate sector with business communication skills.
In order to become the best version of yourself, Beyond Growth believes that increasing emotional intelligence is essential in broadening your skillset as a professional. Indonesia Expat sat down with Roy Geurts and Jesse Boon from Beyond Growth, a training & consultancy firm, that actively supports corporate management teams with training courses ranging from Leadership, Sales to (On-the-job) Coaching.
What is Beyond Growth and how does it work?
My name is Roy Geurts (RG), managing director of Beyond Growth. My name is Jesse Boon (JB), executive director of Beyond Growth.
RG: Beyond Growth can be classified within the training industry, we provide training services that have a direct impact on the individual. Our training materials are tailored based on the challenges a client is facing. As stated by President Jokowi, Indonesia is undergoing a “Revolusi Mental.” Know what are the concrete actions towards that? Millennials are everywhere, but are they ready to lead by example and confident enough to inspire others? It’s time to develop and strengthen the soft skills of our new generation. This is where BG contributes to the education market by providing western expertise with a local approach. Our trainers are certified and speak the local language, have actual business experience, and can relate to the Indonesian culture. On top of that, all our training modules are supported by industry experts such as John Maxwell, Gary Vaynerchuck and Tony Robbins. We’ve been in the training industry for more than eight years – with the both of us together, that will be 16 years. Conducting training helps a company to develop new organisational behavior such as better articulating the cores values, providing proper feedback, communicating more transparent etc., from managers up to seniors and BOD members. We all can work on our quality of communication and aside from many investments you can make training soft skills is always ROI positive.
JB: Beyond Growth’s training program comprises selected modules that specifically cater to the client’s needs based on their challenges, goals, and objectives. Most of our training programs are for strategic and tactical level. But we provide training for operational level as well, sales – such as a better way to approach someone – and taking ownership in the workplace. We customise different training methods for every client. Whenever we meet a new client for the first time, they state their goals, challenges, and other aspects they want to focus on. Some examples are that a team doesn’t take ownership when problems occur, speak up when there are problems, or the leader does not have the right skills and mindset to lead their team.
Training with Beyond Growth focuses on the emotional part. There are four quadrants of emotional intelligence to focus on: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management. Curating modules and placing them into the correct quadrants will result in a structured and complete training package, which means a client can actively improve their team’s emotional intelligence.
How do Beyond Growth’s training and consultancy programs run?
RG: After this is finished, we always advise on-the-job coaching because the implementation after the training is the only thing that matters.
During the pre-training stage, we assess the participants individually to discover how we can optimally train them, since everyone is different. Certain characters and learning styles have to be identified prior to the training sessions. Training sessions should be fun; learning should be in a comfortable setting. Standing in front of a group of people to show slides is not enough. We have to include role plays, group discussions, videos and explain in a certain way that’s suitable for their different personalities.
In the first client meeting, the client shares what they want to achieve and we tell them what our method is. Usually we come back for a follow-up meeting where we provide a detailed explanation of our tailor-made approach and proposal. After the second meeting, we close the deal and then we start the training. There will be a space where we give out online support via online support, until we meet a final time at the post-training evaluation to identify any improvements and other aspects that still draw attention for improvement.
What are the differences between Beyond Growth and other training and consultancy companies?
RG: We’re foreigners with local roots; we’re almost Indonesians, but born and raised in Europe, then later came to Indonesia to help people with our expertise knowing how to implement training materials into the local way of doing business. We’re aware of Indonesian culture and corporate environment. All our training courses are based on an emotional intelligence framework. This gives us a major advantage amongst other training companies. We believe that results are an outcome of the input (activity) times the style of execution (quality). BG actively works on the last part of this equation.
JB: Beyond Growth training provides communication-training programmes from an Emotional Intelligence perspective. Besides looking at the required skills and knowledge, we also look at our participant’s identity, attitude and environment to help us identify the challenge at its core. Besides identifying and learning about appropriate methods, we need to know the why; usually coming from people’s attitude or mindset. Once identified, the mind goes through a paradigm shift because the mindset changes.
What are the challenges Beyond Growth faces as a training and consultancy company?
JB: During the second meeting in which we explain the programs to our client – for different reasons, maybe because of cultural differences – the topic of self-awareness in the workforce is commonly misunderstood. In Indonesia, self-awareness is when a client’s personal values match with their company’s. Most people are socially aware that they lean to large corporations, which often times don’t necessarily resonate with their own values. In this case, we help them realise what they should be doing and what they should avoid.
Have there been any success stories from your clients?
JB: Besides sales successes and business challenges in leadership and communication, people also overcome personal issues like stress. Stress management is a big component in emotional intelligence. Once, a man who followed our emotional intelligence leadership training, expressed that he’s been implementing our training knowledge every day. He claimed to be calmer and in control of his emotions – he doesn’t snap so easily at home and at work anymore.
Have you ever been in your clients’ shoes, where you seek consultancy and/or training from other parties?
RG: I have been in multiply companies where I received various types of training; I think that’s what truly changes people. As long as we focus on the clients and put ourselves in their situation, we don’t need to shy away from our mentors for help because they’re the best in this field and have been empowering people for more than 30 years.
What was your upbringing like?
RG: I was born and raised in the Netherlands. My maternal grandmother is Indonesian so that makes me a quarter Indonesian. I remember there was always Indonesian food at home so it made me feel connected to another culture. Going through university, I realised I had to go to Indonesia. I did a little consultancy work at that time so I researched the training industry as I had been working as a trainer ever since. Turned out that the fast-growing markets for this were Indonesia and Brazil. When I came to Indonesia for the first time – I immediately fell in love – but I was still undergoing my Bachelor studies while providing training for clients in The Netherlands. But then the day came, where I received an offer to become a trainer in Indonesia and took it straight away.
JB: I was born and raised in the Netherlands too. My mother is Dutch and my father is Indonesian. I was already actively working in sales positions when I was in high school. I’ve always had a strong urge for adventure and living abroad. During my International Business study at the applied Sciences University in Maastricht, I moved to Berlin and later to Indonesia, where I had several positions in several consultancy companies. Then I met Roy. We identified our combined strengths and started Beyond Growth.
Individually, what are the three things you love about Indonesia?
RG: There’s a big amount of respect here. You can definitely see that people naturally give and take while living in harmony. I’ve never seen it in any other country before. “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” is, in my opinion, a motto for life. As one of the richest places on earth, Indonesia represents various commodities. Ores, oil, spices, fruits, you name it. This country has it all. So, as a foreigner there’s no other choice but to adapt and learn to understand the locals in order to build strong relations. The food is also one of my favourites. Indonesia is on another level when it comes to its kitchen as well service.
JB: It’s always lively; you can see ondel-ondel roaming around the streets at night. I admire the locals with the way they are open to meet new people and how they find happiness, even when they are lacking something. I love the food too; from martabak and sate to Sundanese and Manadonese food. From street food to fine dining, there’s so many options!
What do you do to unwind?
RG: I exercise, spend time with my loved ones and keep in touch with my family in the Netherlands.
JB: Same as Roy – I exercise, spend time with my loved ones, read a book, and discover new music. Jakarta has a lot of food and beverage places to discover so I make time to check them out.
Please share a fun fact about yourselves.
RG: After getting to Indonesia, I realised that everything is comprehended on a deeper level whereas in the Netherlands, people just see the way it is and go along with it.
JB: I easily underestimated starting this company – I thought it would be like a walk in the park. Compared to the process of starting a company in the Netherlands, it was a challenge to get everything sorted out.