Dr. Lori Ana Valentín spent years in a forensic chemistry lab processing controlled substances, identifying emerging drugs, and testifying in criminal cases for the New York State Police. Now she applies that same investigative precision to a different kind of challenge: helping STEM leaders manage their teams, their organizations, and themselves.
As the founder of Radiant Journey LLC, Dr. Valentín is an analytical chemist and management coach for leaders in STEM. She coaches scientists and engineers in management and executive roles, delivering keynote lectures and leadership training for organizations across the globe. Her clients include professionals at NASA, Merck, and Estée Lauder.
What makes her approach different is that she treats leadership challenges the way a scientist treats a research problem. She assesses individuals to determine core characteristics, including personality, communication style, and information processing, and prescribes management strategies custom-fitted to the individual or the group. She says she now works with her favorite element: people.
Her programs are built for analytical minds. She uses what she calls chemisms to relate management concepts to scientific processes, making the material intuitive for professionals who think in hypotheses and data. The topics she covers are the ones where STEM organizations consistently struggle: succession planning, organizational communication, conflict resolution, workforce development, and performance optimization.
Dr. Valentín holds a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Binghamton University and received specialized leadership training from the NYSP Civilian Leadership School and the American Chemical Society. Before launching Radiant Journey, she held roles spanning forensic casework, lab management with a focus on quality assurance, and intellectual property law at IBM. She also holds a black belt in martial arts.
Raised by immigrant parents from Puerto Rico, she brings a deep commitment to service and a perspective on leadership shaped by her own career transitions. She has been featured by Women in Chemicals, recognized by the ACS as an early-career chemist making an impact, and served as 2022 Chair of the ACS Eastern New York section.
