Semarang — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Diponegoro University (FISIP UNDIP) reaffirms its commitment to producing graduates with national and international influence through the publication of its Alumni Success Stories. One alumni featured in the latest edition is Rodra Ciptaning Cipunegoro, a graduate of the Communication Science Study Program, who is now known as a full entrepreneur across various fields, from the culinary industry and creative studios to hospitality. Rodra is the founder of several businesses, such as Kopi Susu Bu Lurah, Bild Photo Studio, MJS Jakarta, and an Airbnb property business which is now one of his key development focuses.

In an interview session, Rodra shared how the communication science knowledge he acquired at FISIP UNDIP provided a strong foundation for starting his ventures. “Communication science has been highly applicable from the very beginning, especially when building a brand. Even the name Kopi Susu Bu Lurah was inspired by analyzing online motorcycle taxi (ojek) algorithms—something I learned in marketing communication courses,” he stated.

Rodra also emphasized the importance of business management discipline, risk mitigation, and separating personal finances from business finances. “A good business always relies on its product. If the product is strong, we only need the right momentum to take off. However, we must remain conservative, prepare for worst-case scenarios, and ensure clear mitigation plans before taking action,” he added.

As a young entrepreneur, he believes that opportunities do not simply appear but must be created. “Business isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. We must be able to navigate storms, be adaptive, and resilient. Anything started early is better because the university years are the best time to use up your quota of mistakes,” he explained.

This Alumni Success Story program not only highlights Rodra’s journey but also showcases his contributions to his alma mater. Rodra is enthusiastic about becoming a practitioner-teacher, mentoring, and sharing his firsthand experiences with students. “I believe it’s important to choose a mentor who is objective, has no hidden agenda, and can provide honest help. That’s what I want to offer to the younger students,” he said.

Through this initiative, FISIP UNDIP hopes to inspire students to keep developing, start taking steps early, and recognize the vast opportunities achievable with academic knowledge and adaptive skills. Moving forward, FISIP UNDIP will continue to expand its alumni network, strengthen achievement data collection, and present more inspirational stories to build an academic ecosystem that is adaptive, collaborative, and globally competitive.