Balikpapan - Career paths do not always follow a straight line aligned with one’s field of study. For Reynaldi Yudha, an alumnus of the Urban and Regional Planning (PWK) program, class of 2017 at the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, his college experiences opened doors to an unexpected world of digital communication and the creative industry.

Currently, Reynaldi works as a Social Media Specialist at Pertamina Subholding Downstream, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, while also serving as the Founder of Artboardpedia, a creative agency he developed with his colleagues. His role focuses on communication, both in corporate contexts and in supporting MSMEs. Through social media, he delivers messages to audiences in various formats, including visual design, flyers, reels, TikTok videos, and carousel infographics.

Beyond content production, he also designs communication strategies to ensure messages are delivered effectively. Within the company structure, his position falls under the Corporate Secretary function, in the communication and stakeholder relations division, placing him in a strategic role for institutional communication.

This experience is inseparable from his learning process at ITK. According to Reynaldi, studying PWK provided exploratory experiences that were not only technical but also developed non-technical perspectives. One of the most memorable activities for him was the Planning Studio courses, covering coastal, regional, and urban planning, which required collaborative preparation of planning documents both in classrooms and in the field.

Outside of lectures, his involvement in student organizations and committees enriched his experiences and expanded his professional network, which remains connected to this day. From these experiences, Rey developed soft skills that became the foundation of his professional journey.

Rey considers managerial skills as one of the most valuable abilities gained from his studies. Preparing planning documents honed structured work patterns, information visualization, and presentation skills all closely related to graphic design. These skills, combined with organizational experience, provided the foundation to build a creative agency while managing responsibilities in his primary job.

His communication skills also enabled Artboardpedia to collaborate with various institutions, including PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Kalimantan, Kemenpora RI, Kemenparekraf RI, DPR RI Commission X, Jiwa Group, Gojek, and Disporapar Balikpapan.

For Reynaldi, his career path demonstrates that knowledge can be gained anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. He acknowledges that his current work may seem like a “career pivot” from his field of study, but it was precisely his academic, organizational, and committee experiences that shaped the skills that led him to his current position. He encourages students to dare to take steps and dream big from the “Campus of Struggle” and to utilize every learning process as an opportunity for growth.

One of the proudest moments in his career was his involvement in the design of the Gallery Walk for the inauguration of Pertamina’s Integrated Energy Infrastructure RDMP Balikpapan, the largest refinery modernization project in Indonesia’s history. His work was presented by the company’s leadership to the President of Indonesia and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, providing a valuable experience that demonstrated how professional contributions can have a real impact on the nation.

Beyond professional achievements, Reynaldi also contributes to social activities as a volunteer with #PertaminaPeduli in disaster recovery efforts in Sumatra.

The story of Reynaldi Yudha shows that career paths are not always determined by a straight line between major and occupation. With skills developed from campus experiences, courage to try, and willingness to learn, opportunities can emerge from various directions even along paths never planned before.