With a roster of expert speakers, the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy held the 18th Washington SyCip Lecture last November 7, 2023. Following the theme Adaptation, Innovation, and Integration: Building and Sustaining Intelligent Organizations, this year’s lecturer, Ms. Catherine H. Lipana-Gomez, a deals and corporate finance partner at Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines, primarily delved into the attributes of intelligent organizations.
In her lecture, Lipana-Gomez highlighted the role played by integration of innovation and adaptation in organizational cultures and people-centered approaches in building intelligent organizations. She also emphasized organizational intelligence as a means for altruistic and sustainable outlook for stakeholders.
A multi-stakeholder panel then gave their synthesis and insights about the main lecture. Atty. Ma. Gracia Casals-Diaz, risk management, ethics and independence partner at R.G. Manabat & Co./KPMG Philippines and chairperson of the sustainability committee of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, explained the need for organizations’ structural and systemic elements to promote organizational intelligence and sustainability. Mr. Hentje Leo L. Leaño, global compliance and reporting partner at SGV & Co./EY Philippines, discussed the role of perspective change in addressing costs, culture, and complacency barriers faced by many organizations. Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, PhD, assistant to the rector for UST Santa Rosa, exemplified the role played by innovation in higher education institutions by discussing UST Santa Rosa’s journey to becoming a research and innovation center. Mr. Edwin C. Fonacier, Jr., UST’s comptroller, contextualized the centrality of purpose in innovation-related strategies and projects. Finally, Ms. Shanelle Ann P. Ching, a senior student in the BS Management Accounting program of the College, challenged aspiring accountants to go beyond the classroom as they adaptively and innovatively solve societal problems.
The lecture is part of the 19th Foundation Anniversary Celebration of the AMV College of Accountancy from November 8 to 11, 2023. Named after an alumnus of the University, this lecture commemorates the legacy of the late Washington SyCip. The recording of the lecture can be viewed through this link: https://bit.ly/ustamvcoa18thwsl.
