Evie Yulin, President Director of PT Merck Tbk, is an alumna of the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy who has pursued a career in the pharmaceutical field.
Her career journey, marked by perseverance and discipline, is an inspiring story, especially for women. In an interview with Kabar UGM magazine, Evie shared her experiences during her college years and offered tips on becoming resilient when facing challenges.
Evie Yulin was born in Jember in 1967 as the first daughter of two siblings. Her parents worked for state-owned enterprises in the banking sector.
“I started school at SD Unggaran in Jogja, then went to SMP 5, SMA 3, and UGM. I completed all levels of education in Jogja,” said Evie.
During her school years, she frequently ranked first in her class. This achievement allowed her to be accepted into her dream schools and university. Additionally, she represented her schools in dance and marching competitions several times.
When asked about her interest in pharmacy, Evie explained that it began during high school. Her favorite subjects were organic chemistry and mathematics. She had a clear plan regarding the major and career field she wanted to pursue.
She eventually decided to study at the Faculty of Pharmacy through the Penentuan Minat dan Kemampuan (PMDK) pathway, a non-test selection route for students with excellent academic performance.
Evie shared that her teacher once suggested she study medicine, but she remained steadfast in choosing pharmacy.
“I wanted to pursue a field that required strong expertise in chemistry, if not chemical engineering, then pharmacy. Being a pharmacist would be interesting, as I could help sick patients. So, I chose pharmacy,” she explained.
Evie’s career began when she was still in college, receiving offers from three local pharmaceutical companies. With a passion for sales and marketing, she started as a product specialist tasked with promoting products to hospitals. She faced many rejections and challenges at the start of her career. “I’m someone who values the process, believing that if the process is strong, the performance will follow,” said Evie.
This approach became a hallmark of her leadership in every company she worked for, including PT Merck Tbk. Evie joined the company in 2010 as the Country Head of the Healthcare Business in Indonesia.
She became a board of directors member in 2011 and was appointed President Director in 2020, becoming the first female General Manager at Merck Healthcare Asia Pacific.
In addition, she has received numerous awards, including Top 100 Businesswomen of the Year (2017, 2019–2021, 2024), Indonesia Most Powerful Women Award (2023), Best Business Transformation (2023), and The Most Extraordinary Women Business Leaders Award (2022).
Evie said that during her tenure as a female leader at Merck, she encountered no obstacles. This was largely due to the company’s strong DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) culture, where diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging are core values.
Merck implements policies and practices that support an inclusive work environment, ensuring all employees, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to grow and achieve success.
Evie appreciates this culture, which enables women to make significant contributions and overcome career challenges, proving that gender is not a barrier to success.
Evie also explained the challenges currently faced by the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in ensuring access to innovative medicines.
“A large portion of the middle-income population has shifted to the middle-to-lower-income category. We need to think about how the public can easily access these innovative medicines,” Evie said.
She emphasized the importance of affordability and accessibility for innovative medicines. Furthermore, awareness of certain diseases must be raised to ensure the public receives timely and appropriate treatment.
Evie’s achievements are inseparable from the principles she holds dear.
“For me, work is worship. I believe in loving what you do and staying committed to your words,” Evie said.
Her advice is to be resilient, brave in trying new things, and open-minded. This way, challenges can become valuable lessons in the future.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson