How to Design a Technology That Understands People

In Indonesia’s fast evolving digital economy, Adian Adhitama Bachtiar, CEO and Founder of Meteor Inovasi Digital, stands out as a visionary who bridges technology, strategy, and people. With a career spanning banking, telecommunications, and fintech, Adian has played a defining role in shaping digital transformation across Asia. 

His professional journey began in 2006 at m-STARS as Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Innovation, where he led projects in mobile banking, payments, and digital platforms. In 2010, he joined Mobile Coin Asia (PayAccess) as Executive Vice President, overseeing channel development and product innovation across regional markets. By 2016, his vision for creating faster, more agile digital ecosystems led him to establish Meteor Inovasi Digital. Since then, he has become a trusted advisor to the WIR Group and Digiasia Bios, where he continues to drive inclusive digital growth. 

Adian’s leadership reflects a rare combination of technical depth, business strategy, and human understanding. At Meteor, he has created an organization built not just on technology but on collaboration, empathy, and continuous learning. 

When Adian founded Meteor Inovasi Digital, he did so after years of seeing large organizations struggle to translate strategy into scalable digital solutions. “Meteor was founded to bring enterprise grade product thinking and pragmatic engineering together,” he explains. “Our mission is to help businesses modernize faster, reduce operational friction, and turn digital investments into measurable growth.” 

The company’s success stems from his commitment to connecting innovation with business value. By combining technological excellence with agile business practices, Meteor enables clients to build reliable digital products that accelerate growth. For Adian, the real measure of digital transformation is not in the tools but in how people and organizations use them to deliver consistent impact. 

Building Teams That Shape Ecosystems 

Adian believes that strong digital ecosystems are powered by people who combine technical mastery with strategic awareness. At Meteor, teamwork and cross functional collaboration are core values. Teams are built to be ecosystem minded, blending technical, business, and operational expertise. 

He explains, “We prioritize cross cfunctional ownership, clear values for partners, and fast adaptability. This allows us to help industries scale faster.” His leadership philosophy is centered on shared ownership, where every team member understands how their contribution impacts the overall product and client outcomes. By cultivating open communication and continuous feedback, Adian ensures his teams remain aligned, agile, and motivated. 

The 3Rs: A Philosophy for Growth and Resilience 

In the fast moving world of fintech and digital innovation, Adian has distilled his expectations for employees into three powerful principles: Reliability, Resilience, and Resourcefulness. He calls them the “3Rs.” 

He looks for individuals who take ownership, adapt quickly, and learn continuously. “That combination delivers steady execution and the creativity needed for business outcomes,” he explains. In practice, the 3Rs have become part of Meteor’s identity guiding recruitment, team culture, and leadership development. 

These values also serve as a reminder that while technology evolves constantly, human character remains the foundation of sustainable innovation. 

Balancing Innovation with Well being 

Leading a fast growing digital company means balancing ambition with empathy. For Adian, innovation and business growth can only be sustained when employees feel purposeful, supported, and valued. 

He ensures this balance by giving employees clear impact targets and protecting focus time. Regular reviews of workload, short delivery cycles, and well-defined priorities help teams move fast without burning out. “We give employees real purpose and invest in both professional and personal growth,” he says. 

This approach has created an organization where high performance coexists with wellbeing. Employees feel trusted, and that trust fuels creativity and accountability. 

“We give employees real purpose and invest in both professional and personal growth. Innovation only thrives when people feel empowered.” 

Adian views human resources as a core strategic function in the digital economy. In his words, “HR must be a capability builder.” He believes that HR’s role extends beyond hiring. It includes empowerment, leadership development, and building systems that help people grow through real work. 

At Meteor, HR is closely integrated into business strategy. Training programs emphasize leadership, feedback culture, and mentoring. Role frameworks are designed to reward collaboration, curiosity, and problem solving. “Experience must be shared effectively,” Adian explains. “A strong mentoring system ensures knowledge transfer and collective growth.” 

This people centered approach ensures that employees not only succeed in their roles but also develop the versatility needed for the future of work. 

Building Culture and Collaboration Across Borders 

Having led teams across Asia, Adian has witnessed how culture influences collaboration. Aligning ways of working across countries, he says, requires developing a global mindset within teams. 

“The real challenge is aligning ways of working,” he notes. “Organizations should help employees see themselves as part of a global community and build cross-cultural empathy.” For him, diversity is an asset when supported by mutual respect and shared purpose. By fostering empathy and adaptability, he has built teams capable of integrating global standards with local realities. 

Adian’s advice for young professionals entering fintech and digital transformation is both practical and profound. “Don’t just learn more learn deliberately,” he says. “Focus on mastering three essential skills: clear communication, contextual thinking, and understanding philosophy.” 

Communication ensures ideas are delivered effectively. Contextual thinking connects technical skills to business problems. Understanding philosophy shapes judgment and long-term relevance. Combined with domain knowledge and curiosity, these skills keep professionals adaptable and valuable in the age of AI. 

His message to young talent is simple yet inspiring: remain curious, practice deliberate learning, and see growth as a continuous process. 

A Leader Defining Digital Growth 

Adian Adhitama Bachtiar has spent nearly two decades bridging technology, business, and people to build a more connected digital future for Indonesia and beyond. From pioneering mobile payment systems to the founding of Meteor Inovasi Digital, his journey reflects both innovation and purpose. 

Through the principles of reliability, resilience, and resourcefulness, he has built an organization that thrives on collaboration and empowerment. His belief that digital progress must serve human growth is reflected in every aspect of his leadership. 

As the CEO of Meteor Inovasi Digital and advisor to major technology organizations, Adian continues to inspire a new generation of digital leaders. His story reminds us that true transformation is not about chasing trends but about building systems and people that last.