Ester Gladys Karen has been named the Best Up and Coming HR Leader at the 2025-2026 HR Stars Awards, marking her as one of the most promising young professionals in the Indonesian HR landscape. This specific award recognises emerging leaders who are making a significant difference within their organisations through tangible accomplishments and a proactive approach to HR. As the HR Programmes and Performance lead at DHL Supply Chain, Ester has set a new benchmark for excellence by successfully navigating complex regional projects while maintaining a focus on strategic growth.
What truly distinguishes Ester from her peers is her remarkable resilience and ability to handle high-pressure situations with maturity and calmness. Throughout the year, she led a series of high-impact initiatives, including the SEA Run & Ride, Country Olympic, and the revamped Upstairs Programme, delivering successful outcomes even when faced with sudden changes to major event plans. Her strategic mindset and financial acumen allowed her to manage these extensive projects within budget constraints, ensuring that employee engagement remained high across the organisation.
Beyond her project management skills, Ester has become a key figure in driving innovative HR programmes across the SEA Cluster. She independently coordinated with multiple stakeholders to ensure the seamless delivery of engagement actions, showing a level of reliability that has earned her deep respect from both her peers and senior leadership. By securing external recognition and consistently delivering measurable results, she has played a pivotal role in enhancing DHL Supply Chain’s reputation as a leader in people performance.
As she prepares to take on even more strategic initiatives, Ester’s influence within the HR team continues to grow. Her proactive approach to managing organisational complexities has solidified her position as a future leader in the field. By balancing a high-performance mindset with the ability to adapt to a dynamic business environment, Ester Gladys Karen is not just meeting expectations—she is redefining what it means to be a modern HR professional.
