Tycoon Talk Series: How Dean Mima Villanueva Turned an Idea into a Lasting Institution

Tycoon Talk Series |  Dean Mima Villanueva 

Tycoon Talk Series: How Dean Mima Villanueva Turned an Idea into a Lasting Institution

What began as a pandemic response has evolved into one of STI West Negros University’s flagship academic platforms—bringing together the academe, industry, government, and the global community to enrich learning beyond the classroom.

 

THE JOURNEY OF THE TYCOON TALK SERIES

 

When an Idea Met a Crisis

Great institutions are rarely built overnight.

More often than not, they begin with a simple question asked during a difficult time.

For the College of Business Management and Accountancy (CBMA) of STI West Negros University, that defining moment came during the COVID-19 pandemic—a period that disrupted education across the globe and challenged universities to rethink how meaningful learning could continue when classrooms suddenly fell silent.

Face-to-face lectures were suspended. Academic conferences disappeared from calendars. Community extension programs and industry engagements, long regarded as essential components of business education, came to an abrupt halt. Like many educational institutions, the University faced the daunting task of maintaining academic excellence while adapting to an entirely new learning environment.

For many schools, survival meant moving classes online.

For Dean Mima M. Villanueva, CPA, Dean of the College of Business Management and Accountancy, the challenge went much deeper.

Business education, she believed, should never be confined to textbooks alone. Students learn best when theories are reinforced by people who have experienced the realities of managing organizations, building businesses, crafting public policies, and solving everyday challenges in their respective professions.

The question then became:

How could students continue learning from practitioners when the world itself had come to a standstill?

Rather than looking outside the University for answers, Dean Villanueva looked within.

Among the College’s graduate students were seasoned professionals—entrepreneurs, government executives, accountants, public administrators, healthcare practitioners, development workers, and business leaders. While they attended graduate school to advance their own education, they also carried with them years of professional experience that could benefit younger learners.

It was an untapped resource hiding in plain sight.

Instead of inviting outside speakers, why not allow these professionals to share their knowledge with senior high school and college students?

That simple yet visionary idea became the foundation of what was then known as the CBMA Awareness and Advocacy Program.

As the initiative took shape, Dean Villanueva found a valuable partner in Dr. Yasmin Pascual Dormido, who was then serving as the University’s Director for Internationalization. Recognizing the educational value of the program, Dr. Dormido provided institutional support that helped transform the concept into a more engaging and professionally executed learning experience.

Drawing from her background as a former broadcast journalist of ABS-CBN, Dr. Dormido introduced a television talk show-inspired format that gave the sessions a more conversational, dynamic, and audience-friendly atmosphere. Rather than relying solely on traditional lectures, discussions became interactive dialogues that encouraged both speakers and students to actively participate. She also served as the program’s host and moderator, bringing warmth, professionalism, and a polished presentation style that became one of the series’ defining characteristics.

While the vision and concept remained that of Dean Villanueva, Dr. Dormido’s communication expertise added a distinctive identity to the program, making every session not only educational but also engaging and memorable.

Conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams, the initiative transformed graduate students into mentors and resource speakers, discussing topics that extended beyond academic theories. They spoke about entrepreneurship, governance, leadership, public service, business management, financial literacy, community development, and the realities of working in an increasingly complex world.

What began as an emergency response soon revealed something remarkable.

Students were highly engaged—not simply because they were attending online lectures, but because they were hearing authentic stories from professionals who faced real challenges every day.

Lessons became more relatable.

Business concepts became easier to understand.

Leadership became less abstract.

Learning was no longer limited to pages in a textbook; it became connected to lived experiences, practical decisions, and the realities of professional life.

Without intending to, the College had begun redefining how business education could be delivered.

It was no longer just teaching students what to know.

It was helping them understand why it mattered.

More importantly, it proved that meaningful education could continue even during uncertain times when universities were willing to innovate, collaborate, and maximize the strengths already within their own communities.

That realization would eventually become the cornerstone of one of the College’s most enduring academic initiatives.

What started as a temporary response to an unprecedented crisis was steadily evolving into something much greater.

It was becoming an institution.

 

  

When the Classroom Opened to the World

Many worthwhile initiatives begin with good intentions.

Only a few evolve into institutions.

For the College of Business Management and Accountancy, the success of the CBMA Awareness and Advocacy Program raised an important question.

What if this initiative could continue long after the pandemic?

The answer was clear.

Rather than allowing the program to end as campuses gradually reopened, the College made a bold decision—to institutionalize it as the Tycoon Talk Series in April 2024.

It was more than a change of name.

It represented a new educational philosophy.

Instead of limiting learning to professors and textbooks, the Tycoon Talk Series sought to bring the outside world into the classroom. Students would not only learn from educators but also from the very people shaping industries, crafting public policies, building businesses, and transforming communities.

The classroom had become a meeting place where ideas from the academe intersected with real-world experience.

Learning Beyond the Textbook

As the program matured, its network of speakers expanded significantly.

Business executives shared the realities of managing organizations in an increasingly competitive economy.

Entrepreneurs discussed the challenges of starting and sustaining enterprises.

Government officials explained how policies influence businesses, communities, and economic development.

Representatives from professional organizations, national government agencies, local government units, and development institutions offered perspectives on governance, taxation, entrepreneurship, financial management, sustainability, innovation, digital transformation, and responsible leadership.

Each speaker brought something unique.

More importantly, each speaker brought something students could not find in textbooks.

The conversations became practical.

Relevant.

Current.

Students were no longer simply memorizing concepts—they were understanding how those concepts were applied in boardrooms, government offices, business enterprises, and community organizations.

For faculty members, the Tycoon Talk Series also became a valuable academic resource.

The discussions enriched classroom instruction by exposing both teachers and students to emerging business practices, contemporary issues, and industry trends that continuously reshape the professional landscape.

The result was an educational experience that became increasingly dynamic, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of the modern workplace.

 

 

Beyond Borders

While the Tycoon Talk Series had successfully connected students with leaders from business, government, and the professional sector, Dean Villanueva envisioned something even broader.

In today’s interconnected world, preparing globally competitive graduates means exposing them to ideas beyond national boundaries.

Technology made that possible.

Through collaborations with partner institutions in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, the Tycoon Talk Series welcomed international educators, researchers, and practitioners who shared regional perspectives on entrepreneurship, sustainability, governance, innovation, and business development.

For many students, these sessions became their first opportunity to interact directly with experts from neighboring ASEAN countries.

Without leaving Bacolod, they were introduced to different business environments, cultural perspectives, educational practices, and approaches to solving common regional challenges.

These exchanges broadened students’ understanding of the rapidly changing global economy while reinforcing the importance of collaboration across cultures and disciplines.

Anchored on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the discussions encouraged participants to think beyond profitability and consider how business, innovation, environmental responsibility, and social development can work together to build more sustainable communities.

The Tycoon Talk Series had become more than an academic activity.

It had become a window to the world.

Creating a Community of Learners

Perhaps the program’s greatest achievement lies not in the number of speakers it has hosted but in the community it has created.

Within every Tycoon Talk session are people representing different sectors of society.

Business leaders.

Entrepreneurs.

Government officials.

Faculty members.

Students.

International educators.

Professional organizations.

Each brings a different perspective.

Each contributes to a richer conversation.

Together, they form an ecosystem where learning flows in every direction.

Students gain practical insights.

Industry develops stronger connections with future professionals.

Faculty members remain current with emerging practices.

Partner organizations contribute to the University’s educational mission while strengthening their own engagement with the community.

The result is a partnership that benefits everyone involved.

That, perhaps, is the true strength of the Tycoon Talk Series.

It does not simply invite speakers to campus.

It builds relationships.

 

 

Building an Institution, Not Just an Event

Educational programs are often remembered for the number of seminars they organize or the distinguished personalities they invite. Truly meaningful initiatives, however, are remembered for something far more lasting—the opportunities they create and the people they inspire.

The Tycoon Talk Series has reached that point.

What began as a creative response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into one of the College of Business Management and Accountancy’s defining academic and extension programs. More importantly, it has become a platform where education extends beyond classroom instruction by connecting students with leaders from business, government, professional organizations, and the international academic community.

Its strength is not measured by attendance alone.

It is measured by the quality of conversations it creates, the partnerships it nurtures, and the learning experiences it continues to provide.

Students gain firsthand insights from practitioners.

Faculty members remain connected to current industry practices.

Business leaders and entrepreneurs help shape future professionals.

Government agencies strengthen public awareness through meaningful dialogue.

International partners broaden students’ perspectives by sharing experiences beyond Philippine borders.

Together, these relationships have transformed the Tycoon Talk Series into a learning ecosystem where knowledge flows in every direction.

From Conversations to Experiences

The influence of the Tycoon Talk Series eventually inspired another flagship initiative of the College—the Tycoon Business Week.

While the Tycoon Talk Series introduces students to contemporary ideas, leadership perspectives, and industry realities, Tycoon Business Week provides opportunities to apply those lessons through entrepreneurial exhibits, business competitions, industry immersion, product development, and marketing activities.

Together, these flagship programs reinforce a common educational philosophy:

Learning becomes more meaningful when ideas are transformed into action.

 

 

More Than a Series of Talks

Perhaps the true success of the Tycoon Talk Series cannot be measured by the number of speakers it has welcomed or the sessions it has conducted over the years.

Its real impact is reflected in the students who leave each session with broader perspectives and renewed confidence.

It is reflected in faculty members who continue to enrich classroom discussions through insights shared by practitioners.

It is reflected in entrepreneurs, executives, public servants, and international educators who willingly invest their time to help shape the next generation of professionals.

Above all, it is reflected in a University that understands education should never exist in isolation.

The classroom should not be separated from industry.

Business should not be disconnected from society.

Learning should not end at graduation.

These principles continue to define the Tycoon Talk Series today.

From a modest online initiative during one of the most challenging periods in modern education, it has grown into one of STI West Negros University’s most meaningful academic platforms—one that continues to connect ideas, people, and opportunities across industries, institutions, and even national borders.

Its continuing success demonstrates that meaningful education is built not only on curriculum and instruction, but also on collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to preparing students for an ever-changing world.

That may well be the Tycoon Talk Series’ greatest contribution.

Not simply that it organizes lectures—

but that it has built a lasting bridge between the classroom and the real world.