UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The journey of Lila "Wan-Chen" Chung, Penn State class of 2016, from an international student to a dynamic leader in sustainable development is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the relentless pursuit of one's passions. Chung is now the chief executive officer of the Taiwan Sustainability Hub (TSH), leading a team of researchers to advance sustainable initiatives for communities.

Sustainability was not always Chung’s greatest interest, she said; in fact, drawing has been her passion since she was five, though, she said, she was discouraged from pursuing a career in art due to her family's cultural beliefs that it might not lead to stable employment. She came to the United States to finish her high school education before enrolling at Penn State and majoring in international relations.

It was after her sophomore year that she felt lost, said Chung, questioning her path. She thought, “What should I do? [There were] a lot of international students there, and they were in business school, doing accounting, then went to big firms after graduating. What am I going to do with international relations?”

Chung tried some business classes but quickly realized that business was not going to work for her, either. Feeling uncertain about her future, she said, she sought advice from a career adviser, who suggested she try some classes in social entrepreneurship.

Despite the uncertainty in shaping her future, Chung said she was persistent in making the most of her time at Penn State. One year before her graduation, during the summer of 2015, she had an opportunity to visit Zambia with some students, where they interviewed locals on their sustainability efforts and built greenhouses. She said it was an eye-opening experience as she got to experience living in a village without electricity and mobile service.

“I've never been to such a rural area. We walked miles and miles to talk to locals, trying to learn about what they were growing. The resources were very limited,” she recalled.

The Zambia trip was also a reflective time for Chung, she said.

“I started thinking about the future," she said. "What I want to do, what type of work I should pursue after the trip."

Indeed, she said, she had a clearer mind as she was determined to finish her degree at Penn State. She graduated in 2016 with a double major — international relations and African studies — and a minor in social entrepreneurship.

Earning a bachelor’s degree was not enough for Chung, however, she said. She decided to pursue her master’s degree in international relations and economics at Johns Hopkins University, which led her to some internship positions at non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the World Bank.

After graduating with her master’s in 2018, Chung returned to Taiwan with her husband. After a brief stint in a think-tank organization, she collaborated with her former colleague, who is now her current supervisor, to establish a sustainability-focused organization in Taiwan.

“We need an organization to bring researchers together," she said. "There are a lot of researchers or professors, they're doing a lot of great papers, but most of them don't really benefit or give back to the local community." Chung and her supervisor wanted to help change this situation, she said, by connecting researchers with various stakeholders to bring sustainable efforts to the communities. That was when they established the Taiwan Sustainability Hub (TSH).

“We want to use researchers’ resources — their knowledge and science — and also let them come together with different stakeholders,” Chung said.

TSH allows stakeholders to brainstorm and come up with ideas to tackle sustainability-related issues, said Chung.

“It is a very challenging but also very interesting way of changing how we do research in Taiwan. We want to identify some of the key issues in Taiwan that we need to solve to pursue a sustainable path,” she added.

Since starting out as an individual project, TSH’s operation has grown. Eventually, the organization, which was initially spearheaded by scholars, needed a new face — somebody who knew research and could engage scholars with other stakeholders, including governmental officers and other organizations, Chung said.

That was when Chung’s name came up for CEO consideration. Now, she leads scholars in various sustainability projects.

How does it feel for Chung to lead a team of researchers?

“Definitely challenging," she said. "Natural science, social sciences … they have different languages. We're putting them together, trying to solve [some issues]. We let them understand their purposes, like, ‘We're not trying to see whether you're good or bad in your research. We're not there to judge you or cut your funding, but we try to make the system smooth.’”

Respect and patience are key, she added, especially when building connections with different stakeholders. Chung’s ability to collaborate with people ties back to her studies at Penn State, where she attended various cultural events, joined the sorority Sigma Omicron Pi, and took advantage of University resources to flourish. She encouraged current students to take full advantage of what Penn State has to offer.

“There are a lot of things that you could explore. Don't just be in your apartment,” she said. “Use those resources. Talk to different advisers to figure out [your career]. Find your interests. And try to figure out what are some of the things that you don't want to do.”

Networking is vital, she added: “When I was at my graduate school, I started networking, talking to people to see whether I can do some of the work that they're doing. You need to start somewhere. Grab a coffee and talk to the person."

While building her organization is her top priority, Chung said she has tried to keep a work-life balance. During her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband to visit different countries, as well as tasting different cuisines. When she is at home, she spends time cooking, baking, or cuddling with her six-year-old dog, Pudding.           

Chung’s journey is far from over, she said. Being a CEO is not the end for her, as she still has dreams. One of her aspirations is to enter the field of international development.

“That is still my passion," she said. "I’m also considering going back to school in the future to pursue a Ph.D. in this field or something related.”

Global alumni who are interested in reconnecting with Penn State, or for more information about global alumni, contact Kelly Morgante at ksm18@psu.edu.