Global Leader in Commerce and Taxation Law
2024 turned out to be a landmark year for Dr. Monica Romelina Sijabat – Attorney, Chartered Accountant, Lecturer, and Researcher. In addition to a record number of awards, she won a prestigious award in Economic Research for Academics and Researchers in Washington DC, USA. This award is granted to pathbreakers who have achieved the highest level internationally. Monica was also a representative of Alumni Harvard Kennedy School USA Sept 11-13, 2024 in Washington DC. As the year progressed, she was inducted into the Advisory Board of Legal Professionals with the highest score from more than 4000 nominations, a tremendous feat. She finally rounded up her remarkable year with a double Doctorate in International Law and Economics, granted to her after rigorous screening from among thousands, from the Universidad Azteca North America-Mexico on June 27, 2024.
An award-winning Lawyer, skilled CA, and beloved Professor, what inspires Monica to work at the professional and community level, all at once? “My inspiration is the belief that top professionals with integrity can connect all the nations to give their best to the world. Making a positive impact on the world’s larger community and empowering the next generation to be successful with high integrity is the way forward,” she states.
Monica’s influence as a global leader stretches from her native Indonesia to top corporate clients in the US and beyond. Born in Jakarta, Monica completed her Bachelor’s in Economics and Master’s in Economics-Accounting from the University of Indonesia. She became a Chartered Accountant in 2000, Tax Attorney in 2004, and completed Economic Development Program Executive Education at Harvard Kennedy School in 2020.
A visionary in the truest sense, she continues to work at all her endeavors till date. In 2011, she started as a Tax Instructor at the Indonesian Institute of Accountants, a position she still takes active interest in. In 2015, she turned entrepreneur with MRS Business Professional Consulting. And in 2017, she became a Taxation & Economics Lecturer at the University of Indonesia, and is a Researcher for the Economics Taxation program now.
In the field for more than a decade, Monica is a globally acknowledged authority on International Taxation Laws with expertise in Litigation, Audit, Compliance, and Judicial Review. Her business portfolio comprises legal tax consulting, business consulting, teaching, researcher, and public speaking for international audiences.
Currently in Washington DC, USA, she is literally going places with MRS Business Professional. What began as a small taxation and business consulting firm in Jakarta, now has a representative office in Washington DC and serves clients in Asia, America, Europe and beyond. It has slowly but surely emerged as a trusted and reliable consultancy for multinationals, international governments, educational organizations, and public institutions.
A humanitarian at heart, Monica has used the success of her ventures to reach out to the larger community. She has been educating others, specially youth, for almost a decade now and is a very popular Economics lecturer at the University of Indonesia.
Her only passion? To be successful in every global initiative with high integrity, and maintain good relations with others. “My achievements are educating the younger generations and facilitating an environment where youth leadership can thrive. I guide the younger generations to become successful leaders with integrity; educate the youth to have positive mental health and strong character; and promote harmonious relationships among families,” she says.
With key strengths of integrity, professionalism, harmonious relationships, honesty, and high commitment, Monica has accumulated a long list of achievements:
● Winner of Research Indonesia Economics Program from the National Research & Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia – collaboration with Faculty of Economics and Business University of Indonesia, January 2, 2025.
● Business Excellence Leadership Award 2024 for Women Leader of the Year in Professional Services by Asian African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Oct 4, 2024 in Thailand, Bangkok.
● Representative – Harvard Kennedy School Alumni in Washington DC USA, September 11-13, 2024.
● Advisory Board – Lex Falcon Global Award, July 2024.
● Doctorate in International Law and Doctorate in Economics from Universidad Azteca North America-Mexico, June 27, 2024.
● Awardee for Lex Falcon Global Award 2024 as Inspiring Managing Partner Award for Tax Attorney with Highest Score, March 7, 2024.
● Winner of Research Grant from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, 2022.
● Second Winner in Tax Education Video Competition for Lecturer Level held by Directorate General of Taxes of Republic of Indonesia, 2020.
● Thought Leader on the Global Stage. Regularly invited as International Speaker at prestigious events like – LexTalk World Conference New Delhi, India on 6-7 March 2024; LexTalk World Global Legal & IP Hybrid Conference Singapore on 18-19 July 2024; LexTalk World Global Legal & IP Hybrid Conference New York on 14 November 2024; LexTalk World Global Legal & IP Hybrid Conference Dubai on 27-28 November 2024.
Nevertheless, her biggest challenge lies in the extreme time difference between countries. In such a scenario, how does she strike a balance between her professional and personal life? “I am always harmonious and wise in responding to every obstacle that I face in my professional and personal life,” she states simply.
An enthusiast of sports, comedy movies, and praying to God, Monica believes in prioritising both personal and professional life. This balance also makes her an empathetic leader at work.
“Leadership for me means being a successful role model with integrity. We must apply this principle to the next generation so that they too can create leaders who are successful and inspire in equal measure. For me, a successful leader must be able to create new leaders who automatically inspire the success of the next generation.”
Something Monica herself has done with aplomb. An inspiring figure to thousands across the globe, Monica is an ideal mix of skill and empathy, something the modern world can definitely use more of. Summing up her mantra in one line, she reflects: “Be the best version of yourself according to your talents as the highest respect for yourself, and put others as the best input in all good things.”