Bunga Herlina Oktaviyanti, an alumna of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), has been named one of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni of UNS. Bunga currently serves as the Senior Vice President of the Project Management Office Division at PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia.

The award was presented by UNS Rector, Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr., M.Si., to 16 alumni during the Open Senate Session commemorating the 49th Anniversary of UNS, held at the G.P.H. Haryo Mataram Auditorium on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.

In an interview with feb.uns.ac.id, Bunga expressed her gratitude for the recognition. “For me, this is an honour. There are probably others who are more accomplished than I am. Perhaps some considerations—connections, communication, networking, and my active role in KAFEB UNS—played a role. I believe this year has been my moment — I’m young, a woman, and actively engaged in organisational activities. I’ve also been invited several times by the Career Development team to speak about recruitment in state-owned enterprises, career planning, and other topics. Perhaps those were the reasons I was selected among several candidates,” she stated.

With over 16 years of experience in the state-owned banking industry, Bunga steadily rising through the ranks from Assistant Vice President to her current role as Senior Vice President. Her academic background in business and economics, further enhanced by an MBA, has equipped her with a strategic approach to addressing professional challenges. Her participation in benchmarking programs at global institutions such as Citibank and JP Morgan Chase has also enriched her with international insights, which she applies in the domestic context.

Bunga believes that success should not be measured solely by outcomes, but also by the process, collaboration, and impact generated. In every role she assumes, she aims to deliver relevant solutions, empower her team, and create value for both the organisation and the wider community. “For me, a career is about lifelong learning, collaboration, and making meaningful contributions—not only to the organisation but also to the people around me, especially to the alma mater that helped shape who I am today,” she added.

Following the award ceremony, Bunga delivered a public lecture at FEB UNS attended by more than 50 students. Delivering material entitled “Navigating the Future: Mapping Your Career Towards Success,” the session focused on career development strategies and personal growth.

She shared insights from Angela Duckworth’s book GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, which explores how individuals with grit—defined as courage, persistence, resilience, and tenacity—are more likely to achieve their long-term goals across various fields. The book also provides practical guidance on developing grit and underscores the importance of perseverance in overcoming failure.

Bunga emphasised that success is often the result of persistence, not just academic excellence or innate talent. She reminded students that luck comes only when one is prepared to seize opportunities.

“Everyone is, in a way, their own marketer. We need to present ourselves—highlight our strengths. Students must build the confidence to speak about their qualities. Academic knowledge is abundant, but the courage to communicate and self-branding is equally vital,” she concluded, encouraging students to be more proactive in shaping their professional identity.