“From Banker to Baker,” “Pursue Your Passion” Entrepreneurial Talks Conducted @ Riverside College by: James U. Sy Jr.

BS Entrepreneurship 4A students with Course Instructor Jenette Lopez, Guest Speakers Andrea J. Syjuco and Vladimir M. Cebu, and Faculty Member James U. Sy Jr. at the conclusion of the “From Banker to Baker: The Realities of Start Ups” and “Pursue Your Passion” talks on July 28, 2017 at the Admin 2, Riverside College Inc. (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Guest Speaker Andrea J. Syjuco receiving her Certificate of Appreciation and Token of Appreciation from Full Time Instructor Jenette Lopez for her invaluable insights during the “From Banker to Baker: The Realities of Start Ups” talk for Entrepreneurial Integration on July 28, 2017 at the Admin 2, Riverside College Inc. (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Guest Speaker Vladimir M. Cebu receiving his Certificate of Appreciation and Token of Appreciation from Faculty Members Jenette Lopez and James U. Sy Jr. for his invaluable insights during the “Pursue Your Passion” talk for Entrepreneurial Integration on July 28, 2017 at the Admin 2, Riverside College Inc. (NDB photo). In its continuing quest to customize and align its courses to the realities of the business world and strengthen its industry linkages, the College of Entrepreneurship under Department Chair Leonor A. de la Cruz, MBA, hosted two entrepreneurs who gave separate talks for Entrep 4A for Entrepreneurial Integration under Full Time Instructor Jenette Lopez on July 28, 2017 at Admin 2, Riverside College Inc., Dr. Pablo O. Torre St., Bacolod City. Andrea J. Syjuco, a triple-degree holder in Business Management, Marketing Management, and Accounting and a former banker at the Makati Financial District who has extensive industry experience overseas, gave a lecture on “From Banker to Baker: The Realities of Start Ups.” She related how she had become an accidental entrepreneur and how it all started with puto. When she decided to go into artisan baking her biggest challenge was that she was not a trained baker and she had to learn by doing. Syjuco, who earned her Accounting degree overseas and the others from the University of St. La Salle (USLS), gave the genetic make up of an entrepreneur, the plus sides and flipsides of entrepreneurship, and some real world industry principles to get by as an entrepreneur, citing her own experiences as an entrepreneur. She emphasized the importance of accounting, which students dread the most, because it is a tool to improve profitability and minimize, if not eliminate, losses. Vladimir M. Cebu, another triple-degree holder from USLS (Marketing Management, Economics, and Law) and the proprietor of V. Cebu Creative Communications (VCCS), a marketing communications and ad provider for one of the top domestic malls, gave a lecture on “Pursue Your Passion.” Cebu was an achiever early on, having entered college at age 14, became President of the USLS Student Government, and topped the Civil Service Exams among his long list of accolades. This landed him highly sought positions at Unilever and West Negros University (WNU) and the opportunity to go overseas. But later, he wanted something more - the freedom to enjoy the little things in life. He decided to put his talents in building his own dreams and he came up with his own business. Cebu loves to draw so he also started his career as an International Book Illustrator for authors and clients in the US and Canada. He advised students to go into a business that they have a passion for since it will help them hold on in times of crisis. The speakers were invited by Faculty Member James U. Sy Jr., who was their classmate at USLS. The talks coincided with Riverside College’s Entrepreneurship Month Celebration.