At Terratai, Yuni’s commitment to making a positive impact on the planet and communities drives everything she does. She describes her role as a dream job, feeling incredibly fortunate to be part of a team that shares her dedication to environmental protection and community resilience.
Yuni’s journey to Terratai reflects a deep-seated passion and purpose. When she first discovered impact investing in 2012, she knew there was no turning back. The same feeling arose when she began exploring nature-based solutions in 2019. Throughout her career, Yuni has engaged in various forms of impact investing, but she finds investing in nature to be the most personally fulfilling. She believes that nature holds the ultimate intelligence and technology, and we are all a part of it. While advanced technologies may be developed to efficiently remove carbon from the atmosphere, Yuni doubts humanity will ever fully restore biodiversity as nature does.
Yuni’s career began in Korea, where she earned her degree in Business Administration from Yonsei University. She moved to in Hong Kong to work a Senior Investment Analyst at Mirae Asset Global Investments, where she developed investment ideas focused on market trends and sustainability. After deciding to transition her career to impact investing, she pursued further studies on impact investing and social entrepreneurship in New York. After graduation, she worked as Vice President at Tau Investment, specializing in growth private equity and global supply chain improvement, focusing on Indonesia and Vietnam.
In 2018, Yuni joined RS Group, where she played a pivotal role in the RS Group’s Natural Capital Initiative. She led nature-based investment strategies and built a robust global network in the field. Her expertise in managing sustainable investment portfolios and integrating climate considerations into investment processes showcased her dedication to impactful investment.
In 2022, Yuni joined Terratai as the Head of Investments, driven by her passion for aligning financial strategies with biodiversity, climate, and social impact. Yuni’s role involves evaluating companies, leading due diligence, and structuring investments to ensure they align with Terratai’s core values. She also supports venture partners with financial management and fundraising efforts post-investment and attracts co-investments from impact-aligned family offices and foundations. Her comprehensive approach ensures that the ventures Terratai supports are poised for long-term success and sustainability.
Her decision to leave a great job and a comfortable life in Hong Kong to move to Bali and join Terratai puzzled some of her family and friends. However, for Yuni, it was the most natural decision—one that followed her heart. She has always gravitated toward roles where she believes she can make the most difference. At Terratai, she sees the tangible impact of their work on ventures, communities, and nature, which brings her immense joy. Kahlil Gibran’s poem ‘On Work’ resonates deeply with Yuni, particularly the line ‘Work is love made visible,’ which captures the passion and dedication she brings to her role.
Yuni loves Terratai’s ability to do things differently. The investment toolbox Terratai uses is vast, enabling the team to listen to ventures’ needs and structure the right instruments. They invest across the capital spectrum with flexibility around return requirements. By tailoring their venture-building support alongside investment, Terratai can invest in companies often considered not yet investment-ready.
Meditation has been Yuni’s anchor in life, allowing her to grow rather than shrink when faced with life’s challenges. Morning meditation awakens and nourishes her soul, helping her stay connected to it throughout the day. The tranquil view of the rice fields from Terratai’s office adds a serene backdrop to her work, reflecting her commitment to maintaining harmony in both her personal and professional life.
Yuni’s leadership style is marked by the balance between strategic thinking and empathy. She aims to be a visionary investor but also a mentor and ally to the ventures she supports, always ready to lend a helping hand and provide valuable guidance.
Yuni’s role at Terratai is a testament to her dedication to creating a more sustainable and equitable world. Her journey from Korea to Hong Kong, New York, and now Indonesia has been one of expertise, personal commitment, and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference. Terratai is incredibly proud to have Yuni as a leader, where her unique background, expertise, and dedication are invaluable in working toward a sustainable future where business growth and ecological sustainability go hand-in-hand. With leaders like Yuni, Terratai is confident in its ability to make a positive difference and create a greener, more resilient world for all.