Traveling All the Way from Zurich, Switzerland, Derry Gomulya Shares His Experience with His Alma Mater, the UNPAR Undergraduate Management Program
Despite his incredibly busy schedule, Derry Gomulya, a 2002 graduate of the UNPAR Management Program, took the time to return to Bandung and share his insights and professional experiences with his juniors.
Titled “UNPAR Management Alumni Sharing Session,” the event was held at the Faculty of Economics Auditorium, 8th Floor, on Wednesday (August 15). Derry Gomulya—now living and working in Switzerland—was the sole guest speaker at the event. With over 15 years of experience working for national and multinational companies across several countries, he openly shared his journey from university life to his current role as Senior Finance Manager for Financial Planning and Analysis at Mondelēz International.
“What’s the difference between high school and university?” Derry asked as he opened the session. Beyond the subjects studied and the learning systems, Derry emphasized the higher expectations at the university level, which require a different mindset and behavior compared to high school.
While acquiring knowledge is certainly important in higher education, Derry stressed that it is not the ultimate goal. From his experience, perseverance often makes the biggest difference. The ability to push through and complete difficult tasks is a key takeaway he shared with students.
Derry also encouraged students to get involved in organizations and build networks during their time on campus. Back in his university days, mountain climbing was one of his favorite activities. Through this hobby, he learned important soft skills such as self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal communication—skills that later became highly valuable in his professional life and career development.
So, what should students do after graduation? For Derry, the choice is straightforward: become an employee or an entrepreneur. For those aiming to be employees, he shared the top five most sought-after skills by companies hiring fresh graduates:
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Written communication
- Problem-solving
- Strong work ethic
In addition, foreign language skills are crucial, especially for those planning to work in multinational corporations.
The “UNPAR Management Alumni Sharing Session” was attended by over 300 students from the Faculty of Economics, most of whom were Management students. The event was divided into two sessions—morning and afternoon. The first session was attended mainly by senior students, while the second session welcomed mostly new students from the 2018 batch. Participants showed high enthusiasm and actively engaged by asking questions throughout the event.