Business is Not Just for Economics Majors: Catur Wulan Sari, Communication Student at UNDIP, Wins National Business Plan Competition

Posted by Nur Inayah

June 23, 2025

Catur Wulan Sari, a 2022 student of Communication Science at Diponegoro University (UNDIP), has proven that the world of business is not reserved solely for students in economics or engineering. As a Communication student, Wulan has successfully won several national business plan competitions, including securing a Gold Medal and Best Presentation award at the 2024 Business Plan Competition held at the University of Gunung Rinjani in Lombok.

Her journey began with her participation in the 2023 Student Entrepreneur Program (PMW). What started as a casual attempt to sell Korean kimbap, which was trending among young people, unexpectedly led her to receive Rp5 million in funding from the university. She didn’t stop there—Wulan went on to join the national P2MW program and various other competitions, accumulating a total of Rp22 million in funding.

“I enjoy handling money—it turns out it’s fun to earn your own income and not rely on your parents,” Wulan said with a laugh.

Even though she’s active in the business world, Wulan doesn’t see herself as ‘different’ from other Communication students. In fact, she believes many of the courses in Communication Studies are highly relevant and have supported her success in business competitions. She cited subjects such as Marketing Communication Plan, Creative Strategy, and Public Speaking as essential in helping her build pitch decks, present ideas to judges, and develop product branding strategies.

“Communication studies helped a lot. Especially when pitching in front of judges—I felt more confident and knew how to structure a narrative to attract the audience,” she explained.

In every competition, she applies her strategic communication skills—crafting compelling business storytelling, designing effective visuals, and adjusting communication styles to match target markets. These are in line with what is taught in Communication Science about how messages are constructed and effectively delivered to the public.

However, her journey has not always been smooth. One of her toughest experiences came during a Ministry of Education competition, when a teammate withdrew just three days before the submission deadline.

“It was really heartbreaking. I had put a lot of trust in them. But from that experience, I learned to control my emotions and be more selective when choosing teammates. Now I understand the importance of boundaries,” she reflected.

Behind each of her achievements, Wulan consistently emphasizes the importance of passion and consistency. She reminds fellow students—especially those in Communication—not to join too many activities just for the sake of appearing active.

“College is short. It’s better to focus on something you enjoy and can truly commit to. Not everyone needs to enter competitions or join many organizations just to look impressive.”

Currently, Wulan is focusing on slowly building her own business while continuing to sharpen her communication and entrepreneurial skills. She hopes her journey can inspire other Communication students to believe that they too can thrive in the business world—through Marketing Communication Plans, Creative Strategies, and Public Speaking—as long as they know how to convey ideas effectively and build solid strategies.

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