Yulistika Rahayu experienced profound joy during the Graduation Ceremony of the Postgraduate Program, Period II of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. In addition to completing her degree in the Master of Business Administration Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (MBA FEB UGM), she graduated in 1 year, 9 months, and 9 days with a perfect grade point average (GPA) of 4.00, also named the best graduate of FEB UGM on Wednesday (Jan. 21) at Grha Sabha Pramana, Bulaksumur.
Fondly known as Tika, she expressed both happiness and pride in earning the top graduate distinction. Her journey to completing her studies at FEB UGM was marked by extraordinary perseverance.
Coming from an undergraduate background in Industrial Engineering, she acknowledged that pursuing her studies in the MBA FEB UGM Program at the Jakarta Campus was not an easy decision.
“My decision to continue my studies was driven by a desire to focus on self-development. I felt that my critical thinking and leadership skills needed to be refreshed to remain relevant to the demands of today’s professional world,” said the Senior Account Manager at PT Telkom Indonesia on Monday. (Jan. 26)
She explained that her decision to choose the MBA Program at FEB UGM was influenced by the institution’s strong reputation.
According to her, FEB UGM is widely recognized as one of Indonesia’s leading business schools, with an excellent academic reputation and international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
After officially enrolling as an MBA FEB UGM student in the 2023 cohort, Tika underwent a highly dynamic period of study. From her first to her second semester, she attended classes while pregnant.
She even gave birth during her study period, and at nearly the same time, she faced the devastating loss of her parents.
Despite grieving the loss of her father, Tika was determined not to let her academic commitment waver. She continued to build her motivation and sense of responsibility to complete her studies and graduate on time.
She expressed deep gratitude to her academic supervisor, who assisted her throughout her studies and thesis preparation.
“Thank you to Professor Willy Abdillah for the tremendous support, not only as my thesis supervisor but also as my mentor,” she said.
With guidance that emphasized commitment, consistency, and academic quality, Tika acknowledged that she completed her master’s education beyond her personal expectations.
In her thesis, she examined core competency analysis to support corporate business growth, using PT Telkom as a case study.
Conducting research within her own workplace, she noted, aligned closely with the company’s ongoing fundamental transformation and its need for appropriate strategies to sustain growth and adaptability.
“I hope the results of this research can serve as a meaningful reflection and a practical reference in the company’s transformation process,” she said.
Tika also expressed gratitude for the conducive and supportive learning environment that accompanied her throughout her studies.
She described the academic atmosphere as engaging, noting that classroom discussions were particularly enriching, as each student contributed diverse perspectives.
For Tika, earning a degree is not the end point, but the beginning of a greater responsibility. She encouraged fellow graduates to become inspiring leaders, contribute positively to others, and remain humble in every role they undertake.
As a reflective message from her academic journey, she urged MBA FEB UGM students to stay focused, consistent, and committed to the process.
“Take everything step by step. Do not hesitate to support one another, because this journey will feel much lighter when it is ventured together,” the graduate concluded.
Reporter: FEB UGM/Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian