How can Vietnam's next generation of leaders confidently take on the very top roles — not only at domestic firms but also at multinational corporations?
The story of Ms. Le Huynh Phuong Thuc — a resolute CEO with more than 20 years of experience, shared in the “A Cup of Leadership” series — is a vivid answer. From an expert with a solid foundation, she went through a powerful “transformation” to become the first Vietnamese CEO at an international corporation, and the lessons from that journey are a valuable compass for the young generation of leaders.
1. The “transformation” journey of a Vietnamese CEO
Before becoming a senior leader, Ms. Phuong Thuc spent the first full 10 years of her career building foundations. At Unilever, she focused on expertise, learning to work professionally and — most importantly — cultivating a steadfast, resilient attitude. She shared: “I strongly believe that to be good at something, you need a certain number of hours, like the 10,000-hour rule.” This stage was not a race for titles but an accumulation of experience and willpower to prepare for bigger steps. A major turning point came when she decided to pursue an MBA. That was when she realized experience alone was not enough — a comprehensive system of knowledge was needed to develop thinking. She candidly admitted: “When I did my MBA, I was quite surprised because most of what I had achieved before was based only on accumulated experience… When you study, you gain a very good system to confidently move forward.” This decision not only helped her improve herself but also opened up opportunities to hold key roles at L'Oréal and Guardian afterwards.
2. The challenges of a Vietnamese CEO
Beyond the barriers of expertise and experience, Vietnamese leaders face even greater challenges when taking on the top position at an international corporation. It is not only the pressure of sales targets but also having to build trust, prove oneself and shift one's mindset to fit a multinational environment. Ms. Phuong Thuc stressed: “If you don't have an open mind, a long-term view, and you confine yourself within your own work, it's very hard to grow.” To do that, Vietnamese leaders must bravely step out of their comfort zone and hone social skills so they aren't afraid to engage and voice their views in global discussions. Ms. Thuc also believes that “integrity is very important, especially when you are in the highest position,” because it is the foundation for building absolute trust from the team and partners — extremely necessary in a competitive international business environment.
3. Closing the gap and optimizing time with Talent Connect Plus
Ms. Phuong Thuc's journey is an inspiring story, but not everyone has 20 years to trial and error. For the young generation of leaders, the “problem” of development needs to be solved faster and more effectively. This is exactly where the companionship of an organization like Talent Connect Plus becomes vital. Talent Connect Plus offers not only in-depth training programs but also a trusted companion. The programs are designed to systematize knowledge and pass on hands-on experience from top CEOs, helping young leaders shorten the time to reach the “understanding” that Ms. Thuc took many years to accumulate.
