With a thirst for conquering new knowledge, Mr. Phan Trần Nguyên Thạnh – Senior Manager at Lazada – decided to join the MBA Talent program, embarking on a promising learning journey.
After more than 12 years working in Logistics, Mr. Nguyên Thạnh felt that his “capital” of knowledge from learning and work experience was almost exhausted. Therefore, he craved to seek new and more in-depth knowledge, not only to serve his current job but also to open up long-term development opportunities in the future.
What are the criteria you set when considering an MBA program?
First, I always prioritize an MBA program with high applicability. With the main goal of improving work efficiency, I wasn’t looking for a purely theoretical or academic program.
Second, the program must receive a lot of positive feedback and be highly regarded. As someone who works in the field of e-commerce, I understand the importance of user feedback. After researching, I found that MBA Talent received a lot of good reviews from both lecturers and participants. I believed this was a great opportunity to learn from both the lecturers and fellow participants.
What goals did you set for yourself when studying MBA Talent?
Coming to MBA Talent as a “blank slate”, I was ready to absorb as much knowledge as possible. My goal was to learn, acquire new knowledge, and then apply it directly to my current job, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of the work that I was doing.
What are your feelings about the Selection Rounds at MBA Talent?
When I received the MBA Talent Selection Rounds schedule, I was really overwhelmed by the density and intensity of the rounds. However, on the positive side, I saw this as a thorough screening process to ensure that participants are capable of meeting the program’s objectives. Therefore, I was determined to pursue it to the end and overcome this challenge. For me, the MBA Talent Final Selection Rounds were the perfect “sprint” to start the MBA journey smoothly.
What preparations did you make for the MBA Talent journey?
The challenging selection process helped me visualize more clearly the difficulties that awaited me on the MBA Talent journey. I realized that preparation time is extremely necessary. Currently, we not only have to work and take care of our families, but also need to spend time studying. Therefore, I actively planned my time and discussed with my family and relatives to receive their support throughout the learning process.
In addition, I was very fortunate to receive support from the human resources department and direct superiors at the company during the application process, as well as in my studies. I believe that empathy from the company is an important factor, because studying the MBA Talent requires me to share a part of the “fire” from work with the task of studying. This support not only helped me feel more confident but also created favorable conditions for me in the learning journey at MBA Talent.
After more than a year of study, how do you feel about the teachers in the MBA Talent program?
In the first subject, I felt the dedication of the lecturers at MBA Talent. They put a lot of effort into imparting knowledge and preparing case studies. Never have teachers refused requests for private meetings to explain more about the subject. When we encountered difficulties in the process of doing homework, Dr. Đức Võ, Mr. Michael Saram, or Dr. Lâm Nguyễn were always willing to spend their own time to advise us further.
Not stopping there, the experts participating in MBA Talent to support the case challenge were always willing to spend extra time to help us in the learning process. I understand that this support is not part of the official curriculum but stems from the enthusiasm of the lecturers, ensuring that the content of the subject is fully conveyed and each participant gains real value from the program.
What impressions do your MBA Talent classmates leave on you?
After going through many subjects and doing many group assignments, I realized that my classmates are all extremely talented individuals, sometimes I even joke that they are somewhat “warlike.”
Once, our class participated in a simulation game activity of a shoe company. Initially, I thought people only participated to gain more experience. However, after the first 1-2 rounds, I realized that I was wrong. My classmates were very determined, constantly launching very bold marketing and production strategies. There were times when our group fell to the bottom of the rankings, forcing us to quickly adjust our strategy to recover the business and return to the top 3.
The seriousness and determination of my classmates throughout the MBA Talent journey made me feel extremely excited. Sometimes, when I felt overwhelmed by the pressure from studying, working, and family, the enthusiasm and energy of my classmates became a great motivation, helping me to constantly strive.
Tell us about the difficulties you faced during the MBA Talent journey.
I think choosing to study for an MBA means accepting to face countless difficulties and challenges.
Previously, I only specialized in the field of Logistics, so “clashing” with other areas such as Human Resources, Finance, and Marketing was a completely new experience. But these challenges were an opportunity for me to acquire interdisciplinary knowledge, more importantly, to have an overview, which helped to improve the operating efficiency of the business. This also meant that I was forced to step out of my comfort zone, learn, and upgrade myself to achieve big goals.
How have you applied the knowledge learned from MBA Talent to your work?
First, I learned how to optimize and prioritize my work more effectively. Second, the program has helped me have a more multi-dimensional view of the company’s operating situation. Previously, when the Finance department presented the figures in the financial statements, I often didn’t pay much attention. But now, I have a better understanding of the financial decisions of the company or group.
I realize that understanding the perspectives of other departments is extremely important. This not only helps me find a compromise but also facilitates cooperation between departments, thereby contributing to improving the company’s development efficiency.
How have you changed after participating in MBA Talent?
Firstly, I have broadened my thinking, no longer just looking at the problem from the perspective of the department I am working in. I started to actively seek opportunities to cooperate with other departments to optimize the overall work efficiency. Through these experiences, I realized the great value of inter-departmental cooperation: Sometimes, 1+1 is not simply equal to 2, but can reach 3, 4, or even more.
Besides, I also had many positive changes in soft skills. In the process of studying and doing presentations, sometimes lecturers asked questions that made participants feel “hurt” at the time. However, looking back, I realized that these questions helped us to look back at the problem and recognize the shortcomings in the learning process. From that, I learned from the lecturer how to ask questions effectively to quickly detect the problem.
In addition, I also developed soft skills through interaction with classmates. We learned how to give constructive feedback, thereby helping the whole group and class progress together.
What are your plans after completing the MBA Talent program?
To prepare for the next steps, first, I will review the knowledge accumulated over the two years of study. Then, I will consider how I have applied that knowledge to my current job and how to apply what I have learned to my upcoming career.
For example, my team needs to develop more in terms of human resources, so I will review the knowledge about HR to find ways to bring positive changes to the organization. For me, the most important thing is to be able to use what I have learned, otherwise, the two years of study will become meaningless.
A secondary goal of mine is to keep in touch and bond with classmates and lecturers if I have the opportunity. Currently, our class often organizes many fun activities to strengthen the bond between members. I hope that the MBA Talent class of 2023 will maintain this connection and together participate in other interesting activities in the future.
Do you have any messages for the next generation of MBA Talent participants?
Prepare well in terms of time! As soon as the first subject starts, you will immediately feel the enormous pressure of time. Good preparation will help you have an MBA Talent journey that is not only fun but also brings a lot of valuable knowledge.
MBA Talent
