THE PUNCH PEOPLE
Meet Mahesa Dharmawan:
Community Hero in Bali & Indonesia
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
“I’m from Karangasem. I was born from a Balinese father and a Javanese mother.”
WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START WORKING IN HOSPITALITY?
“I think I’ve been involved in hospitality since I was born. I grew up in a family that loves to host gatherings with family and friends. As Balinese people, especially in Karangasem, we love to do Magibung.
Magibung is a traditional communal meal in the Balinese culture where everyone sits together in a circle on the floor and shares various dishes on a large platter. It is a social event that allows people to come together, cook, share food, and engage in conversation. Magibung is often held during for occasions, such as weddings, ceremonies and other religious occasions.
The family culture that I’ve been exposed since I was a kid gave me many essential values. We always find a way to foster community, create social connections and show respect and genuine hospitality to guests. It is also a way for people to express their gratitude and appreciation for the abundance of food and resources available.
This is where I learned about sustainability by reducing food waste and encouraging the use of locally grown and produced ingredients. I always bring my values into my professional journey. I started my first hospitality experience with Potato Head where I worked for nine years. I am now working with The Lawn Canggu & Project Black.”
"Most of us still think that sustainability is just about the environment. However, I believe that sustainability is more about finding a balance between environmental, social, and economic needs."
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY?
“I support the development of internal community initiatives by organizing workshops and training, ensuring that the team remains in a positive and respectful environment. I am also responsible for the wellbeing of our customers.
I make sure that we maintain the community’s engagement through unique events such as clean-ups and social activities. I lead collaborations with external partners and organizations to implement CSR initiatives and programs. Most of all, I make sure that the company’s culture, vision, mission, and values are reflected in all community interactions and initiatives.”
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS SUSTAINABILITY WITH YOUR TEAM?
“Most of us still think that sustainability is just about the environment. However, I believe that sustainability is more about finding a balance between environmental, social, and economic needs to create a healthy, thriving and equitable world for all. In recent years, sustainability has become a ‘buzzword’, with many companies and individuals claiming to be “sustainable” and I think that there is often a controversy surrounding the true meaning of sustainability and how it is being implemented.
At The Lawn, we want to keep it real. Our initiatives always start with our team because we believe that if we invest in our people and get them inspired, they will consciously bring the change in their work environment but also in their communities.
Communicating the importance of sustainability and how it aligns with the company’s vision, mission, values, and goals is crucial for me. We provide resources and support the team in understanding and addressing environmental and social issues through training materials, workshops, development programs and events. We encourage our team members to think about sustainability in their day-to-day work and life and make suggestions about how the company can be more environmentally, socially, and economically friendly.
Sustainability is definitely a long journey, and we try our best with what we have.”
WHAT COULD THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IMPROVE WORKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE?
“Today, everyone is motivated to create more and build more but people often forget the essentials of hospitality. Hospitality to me is all about the way we make people feel, just like we do through Magibung. It’s the way we show appreciation with joy and excitement.
In Bali, we often forget why tourists come to the island. Tourists do not come here for luxurious hotels, villas, or restaurants, they come for the people, the energy that vibrates through the culture and nature.
I believe that since the Covid Pandemic, people are more mindful about how they spend, build and how they can create valuable experiences through the people, culture and values which are all very important to truly achieve sustainability.”
