UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Faculty of Law alumna Mardyana Listyowati, SH, MSE has been entrusted to lead the Ministry of Trade’s Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM). She earned this strategic post through her long-standing commitment to integrity and consistency throughout her career.
Independent from young age
Listyowati’s career path is inseparable from her early education. When her parents moved temporarily to Semarang, she chose to remain in Surabaya to pursue quality schooling. Living apart from her parents taught her independence at an early age. Though she initially struggled with homesickness, the experience shaped her into a resilient person with a deep commitment to education.
“I was fortunate to be accepted into SMP Negeri 1 Surabaya, which at the time was a leading school. It was difficult for me to leave, so I decided to stay with my aunt, even though I was the only girl in a household with three male cousins,” she recalled.
Listyowati later pursued her studies at UNAIR’s Faculty of Law. At first, she felt uncertain and did not fully enjoy studying law. But it was on campus that she found space to grow and built friendships that have endured for decades.
Life after graduation was not easy. Dozens of job applications were rejected, and her dream of working in banking fell short. Her opportunity came when she was accepted at the Ministry of Trade, starting her career in the Directorate of Foreign Trade Relations.
“Civil service wasn’t what I had imagined. At the Directorate of Foreign Trade Relations (HPLN), the official hours back then were Monday to Saturday until 2 p.m., but I often worked until 5 p.m.,” she said. For her, work is a responsibility that must be fulfilled.
Integrity at the core
In carrying out her duties, Listyowati became known for her principled stance on integrity. She once refused to draft a regulation that conflicted with legal principles, despite the risk of clashing with superiors. Her decision proved right when the regulation she supported was later enacted into law.
Now, as head of BPSDM, she oversees three human resources development centers while also supervising functional positions across Indonesia. “This role is demanding, as it requires coordination with local governments from Sabang to Merauke. But I see it as a noble responsibility to advance human resources within the Ministry of Trade,” she said.
Her career was also marked by international experience, including three and a half years serving in Lyon, France. Though the posting required living apart from her family, she viewed it as part of her duty.
To younger generations and fellow UNAIR alumni, she offered advice: always uphold integrity and have the courage to create jobs, even on a small scale. “There’s no need to feel ashamed of any kind of work, as long as it is honest. By creating jobs, no matter how modest, we are contributing to the nation,” she concluded.
Author: Panca Ezza Aisal Saputra
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
