Family and close support systems play a crucial role in navigating the challenges of university life. Muhammad Eko Andriyansyah (35) has proven this through his journey of balancing life as a postgraduate student and a father of two. Born in Palembang, Eko completed his MBA studies at the Magister of Management (MM UGM) Yogyakarta in just 1 year 4 months 10 days. He was named the Best Graduate of the Master of Management (MM UGM) Yogyakarta with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.93. Eko was officially conferred his degree during the Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony for the Academic Year 2025/2026 Period I, held at Grha Sabha Pramana, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Wednesday (22/10/2025).
Before pursuing his master’s degree at UGM, Eko completed his undergraduate studies in Accounting at Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, in 2013. He then joined PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang (Pusri), where he worked for 11 years before receiving a company scholarship to continue his studies at MM UGM Yogyakarta in 2023.
During his tenure at Pusri, Eko worked in the finance division. However, his decision to pursue a Master of Management stemmed from a desire to gain a broader understanding of corporate dynamics. Through the learning experience at MM UGM Yogyakarta, he aimed to explore the interconnections among corporate functions, such as finance, human resources, and operations management, to better optimize overall organizational performance.
In line with his professional background, Eko’s thesis focused on corporate finance, titled “Asset Securitization (Asset-Backed Securities) as an Alternative Refinancing Strategy at PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang.” His research examined asset securitization as a potential alternative funding strategy that could help companies support large-scale projects and strengthen long-term financial stability.
Beyond financial management, Eko also gained valuable insights from other academic courses relevant to his career. He particularly highlighted the Leadership Behavior course as one of the most impactful courses, which helped him develop stronger decision-making and leadership skills in a corporate setting.
In addition to his academic excellence, Eko also actively participated in various competitions. Together with his team from WKP Corp, he won 1st Place in the Green Business Plan MBA UGM 2024 competition. Through this competition, they gained a chance to represent Indonesia at the ASEAN Green Entrepreneurship and Leadership (ANGEL) event held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Their project, “SAPITAN,” introduced an innovative supplement for ruminants made from tannin extracts derived from banana corm waste. The innovation successfully improved livestock milk and meat productivity, earning them 3rd Place in the competition.
Despite his busy schedule, Eko also remained active in non-academic activities such as sports and campus events. However, he admitted that time management was one of his most significant challenges during his studies, especially in balancing his responsibilities as both a student and a family man. Nevertheless, the support of his family and peers played a vital role in helping him manage his demanding routine. To maintain balance, he adopted an effective learning strategy by maximizing comprehension during class hours (70-80% of knowledge), allowing him to dedicate his remaining time to family and personal pursuits.
As a message to fellow students, Eko encouraged them to make the most of the knowledge and experience gained throughout their academic journey. For those with prior work experience, he emphasized the importance of refining both theoretical understanding and practical application during postgraduate studies.
Reflecting on his experience at MM UGM Yogyakarta, Eko summarized it in one phrase: “Work Hard, Play Harder.” For him, studying diligently is essential, but maintaining balance between academic and personal life is equally important.
“Studying is our obligation as students, but to keep our mental well-being intact, we also need to balance it with other activities. So, study hard, but enjoy your hobbies even harder,” he said with a smile.
After completing his studies at MM UGM Yogyakarta, Eko will return to PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang, bringing with him the newfound insights and experiences gained during his time in graduate school.
Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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