BukSU alumna shares global career path at RDE Talks

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) alumna Raziel Christie Valiente-Chung shared lessons from her career in the United States during the university’s Research, Development, and Extension Talks on September 23, 2026.

The forum was held at the University Mini Theater through a partnership between the Research and Development Unit (RDU) and the International Affairs and Linkages Unit (IALU). It carried the theme, “From Local Roots to Global Leadership: Bridging Business Research, Innovation, Leadership, and Career Success.”

Valiente-Chung, a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines and California, currently serves as President of California Operations and previously worked as CEO, CFO, Finance Controller and Auditor for RBD California Restaurants.

She is a graduate of the BukSU Secondary School Laboratory. She also holds an MBA and is a law student who entered the field at age 52.

Lessons from a career across fields

Valiente-Chung discussed lifelong learning, operational leadership, organizational relationships and career development during her keynote address.

She said education continues through professional life and that continuous learning allows professionals to move into different fields at various stages of their careers.

On leadership, Valiente-Chung discussed the importance of understanding front-line operations before directing others. She cited an experience during a store ribbon-cutting ceremony when she joined the operational team and helped with product preparation.

She also discussed organizational relationships, including interpersonal dynamics, talent recognition and delegation. She advised participants to assess professional milestones alongside personal values and family commitments.

The discussion formed part of the forum’s focus on business research, innovation, leadership and career success.

From BukSU to California

Valiente-Chung also discussed her connection to her hometown and university after building a professional career in the United States.

“Letting them (roots) remind you who you are when the world gets bigger and louder,” Valiente-Chung said. “My life took me out of my small town, but my heart never really left. It is here, and I think it always will be.

So, wherever life takes you: work hard, learn, stay humble, be kind, trust people, and keep dreaming. If there is one thing my own life has taught me, it’s that you are capable of learning more, doing more, and becoming more than you can imagine today. But you have to be willing to put in the work, and you have to believe in yourself to begin.

Thank you for bringing me home, and thank you for giving me the chance to give back to the place that gave me so much.”

Industry experience enters academic discussions

Dr. Joan M. Recente, director of the RDU, said the event provided an opportunity for engagement among academia, industry and the international community.

“For Bukidnon State University, this event is a vital opportunity to strengthen ties between academia, industry, and the international community,” Recente said. “As a university, we recognize that impactful research and innovation happen not only in classrooms and laboratories, but through meaningful engagement with industries to address real-world challenges. The exploratory meeting following today’s talk supports BukSU’s ongoing efforts to advance its research reputation through strategic partnerships and practical solutions.”

Recente said the forum also provides information that faculty members and researchers can use in classroom instruction and research activities. Industry processes, trends and emerging needs can inform research questions and collaborative opportunities.

For students, the initiative provides an opportunity to learn from a Filipino professional with international experience. The discussion also presented education as a foundation for lifelong leadership, innovation and career development.

Meanwhile, IALU plans to establish an implementation arrangement with BukSU’s academic departments and Valiente-Chung to support student mobility and faculty collaboration with US-based BukSU alumni. (BukSU – Information Unit)