Noni Purnomo

Noni Purnomo, President Director of Blue Bird Group.

Noni Purnomo is the President Director of Blue Bird Group, the largest taxi service in Indonesia. Bluebird was founded by Ms Purnomo's grandmother, Mutiara Djokosoetono, in the 1960s. After growing up around the business, Ms Purnomo studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

‘My experience in Australia had a huge impact on my life, because it was the first time I was separated from my family and I learned to be truly independent, and that experience proved to be very important in the development of my own personality,’ Ms Purnomo said. 

‘An education is not simply about earning academic titles, but it's also about how we learn to network with people we have never met before. Those are the things that have helped to make me become the success I am today.’

Ms Purnomo has said that the creation of Bluebird Cares - a charitable organisation she founded to provide education scholarships to the children of Blue Bird’s taxi drivers - is the achievement that brings her the most personal satisfaction. 

She also expressed pride at being listed as one of Forbes magazine’s most powerful women in Asia. ‘I was able to represent Indonesian women in proving that women can excel and greatly contribute to the world of business.’