A breeze blew through the lounge at Hutan Kota by Plataran Senayan, Jakarta, that night. Illuminated by the garden lights in the courtyard of the open-air restaurant, the SUAR team met one of the Co Founder and Commissioner of Triputra Agro Persada Group, Toddy Mizaabianto Sugoto. 

To his coworkers, Toddy's name is known as a true sports enthusiast to keep up with the hectic pace of life in his days as the company's top executive. 

In the middle of SUAR 's conversation with several CEOs who attended SUAR 's media launch event on August 21, 2025, one of them quipped, "Mr. Toddy. He has various hobbies, and is very diligent in trying new things," said Anne Patricia Sutanto, Vice President Director of PT Pan Brothers Tbk. 

Toddy M. Sugoto's name is known not only among businessmen leading corporations, but also as an executive who is disciplined in maintaining work-life balance through sports.  

Not only jogging on weekends, the son-in-law of business magnate Benny Subianto is also known as a marathon runner, a reliable golfer, and currently as an up-and-coming padel sport enthusiast. The SUAR team soon approached him, asked for a moment and pulled over for an interview. 

With a quieter atmosphere of bustling music. Toddy opened the conversation. 

"What do you want to ask about?" Toddy greeted with a light laugh. 

He said, "When it comes to sports, I'm actually not fanatical about one type. But since I was a kid, I've gotten used to running. For me, running is like a part of life."

Sport, in Toddy's eyes, is a way to maintain sustainability; not just of the business, but also of his own life.

Alluding to his fitter and healthier body after exercise, Toddy calls exercise a form of future investment.

Regarding his body being fitter and healthier after exercise, Toddy calls exercise a form of future investment.

"We are getting older and older. So the healthier we are, the longer we can enjoy the fruits of our business," he says.

Since the 4th grade, Toddy has been used to running. His late father often took him to practice. From small runs at school, he continued playing basketball, golf to marathons.

She tried her first marathon in college. "But because I didn't know the technique, I made a lot of mistakes. I practiced carelessly and didn't take care of my nutrition. As a result, when I ran, at the 30th kilometer, I was no longer strong. I finished in 3 hours 59 minutes, but it was miserable," she recalled.

Instead of being discouraged, the experience ignited a new obsession. She began to take marathoning seriously by hiring a coach, researching nutrition, and pacing strategies .

"Ordinary people think that running is just running. But a marathon is about energy management. We have to know when to eat, when to drink, when to hold the tempo. If you get the strategy wrong, you'll run out halfway through," he explains.

From there, his performance continued to improve. London Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and Tokyo Marathon, his time continued to be cut, from 3:59 to 3:15.

"The difference is not because the legs are stronger, but because the strategy is more mature. Eating, drinking, recovery, everything counts. So finish strong, not just finish," he said.

For him, business is like running a marathon. If you sprint, you will get tired quickly. But if you're well-prepared, disciplined in execution, and can manage your energy, you'll reach the finish line with your head held high.

Business is like running a marathon. If you sprint, you get tired quickly. But if you're well-prepared, disciplined in execution, and can manage your energy, you'll reach the finish line with your head held high.

Just like in business, he said, many entrepreneurs imitate physical training patterns such as only polishing products or services from the technical side, but ignore other aspects - risk management, capital reserves, team resilience - that determine whether the business is able to penetrate the crisis phase.

Relationship golf

If marathons teach about rhythm and endurance, golf shows the social side of sport, and business. Although he admits that he is not a professional player, golf gives him something more than just a score.

"Golf is a social sport. I'm not saying I'm good at it, but I'm pretty good at it. The important thing is the social interaction. Playing for hours, chatting casually, it builds relationships," he said.

In the wide fairway , between one shot and another, chats about family, the market, or even politics can grow naturally. For Toddy, it is a relational laboratory where patience and networking ethics are tested.

"How to wait your turn, how to respect the other person, how to maintain your reputation through small behaviors, are all relevant when you go back to the boardroom."

The lesson of golf is not just "who can swing the sharpest", but how to build social capital. In an uncertain business world, trusted acquaintances, casual discussions that lead to partnerships are a bonus.

Adaptive learning in padel

Later, Toddy also discovered an interest in padel, a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and ping pong, played in pairs on a small court. Padel has recently become popular in Indonesia, especially among young people who enjoy prestigious sports.

"People often think padel is easy. But if you study it seriously, it turns out to be interesting. There are techniques, there are strategies. It's similar to golf. From the outside it looks relaxed, but if you really want to play well, you still need practice and discipline," he said.

Toddy explained that padel has its own uniqueness. It's not as complicated as golf which requires long practice, but still challenging.

"Padel is very social. It's like happy tennis. Anyone who is used to playing racquets, tennis, badminton, or table tennis, can usually adapt quickly. And that's what makes padel popular," he said.

But for him, sports are not just a matter of movement or a time-filling hobby. There is a deeper philosophy.

"What makes me like padel is the combination. There's enjoyment, there's socializing, but it also requires discipline. Sport, in my opinion, is not just about having fun. There is still proper training, there is effort that must be put in," says Toddy.

It is at this point that Toddy connects sports with business. "In business, if you only rely on formal forums, sometimes information is hard to get. It is precisely in informal moments, on the sports field, that a lot of valuable information can come out," he says.

"It is precisely in informal moments, on the sports field, that a lot of valuable information can come out," says Toddy.

Every sport, for Toddy, brings different lessons. "Running taught me about strategy and endurance. Golf taught me patience and relationship building. Padel taught me about quick adaptation and cooperation. All of that can be drawn into the business world," Toddy said.

The conversation that night made it clear that, for Toddy, sport never stops on the field. He absorbs its values, then takes them into the boardroom, into business strategy, even into the way he sees the world.

When he used to play basketball, he learned teamwork and communication. Although it may not be directly relevant to the business world now, he still uses the values of sports: discipline, networking, and respect for others.

He admits that he is used to scheduling exercise regularly. At least once a week, Toddy will make time to run, golf, or padel.

"You can't do everything, you'll get tired too. But at least there is one run, one padel, one golf. If I'm not running, I'll do padel or golf twice. Anyway, there is a rhythm," he said.

For him, rhythm is important. Not only to keep the body fit, but also to train consistency. Moreover, he will soon turn 50 years old.

For Toddy, rhythm is important. Not only to keep the body fit, but also to practice consistency.

"I believe exercise should be scheduled. If it's haphazard, it could cause injury. Stretching is important, training must also be correct. If we are diligent and consistent, it will make us strong until old age," she said.

"If people only focus on running, for example, their cardio is okay, but their muscles are not developed. So it has to be balanced," he said.