Meet Mr. Tam Nguyen, a talented leader with eight years of experience at Samsung Vietnam, who recently completed a challenging journey through MBA Talent 2023.
For Mr. Tam, the program delivered far more than a diploma or acquiring management knowledge. It gave him an entirely new “operating system for thinking.” From someone once fluent only in the language of business numbers, he transformed into a leader oriented around a more holistic model built on three pillars: Heart – Body – Mind.
Below is an inspiring conversation about his journey of transformation.
One of the biggest changes you mention was developing a “new mindset framework.” Specifically, how did your leadership mindset shift after this program?
I used to focus mainly on work performance, but after this journey, and especially after going through Final Challenge 2, I found a foundational framework built on three elements: Heart, Body and Mind. A healthy “Body” provides a strong foundation for a peaceful “Heart” and forms a clear and grounded heart, our “Mind” can develop to its fullest potential. For me, cultivating inner strength through practices such as meditation and mental training is an important foundation for sustainable career development in the future.
I also want to share that this mindset didn’t come naturally on its own. A mentor who introduced me to the Heart – Body – Mind framework left a powerful impression on me. Her guidance throughout the journey, especially during Final Challenge 2, helped me truly appreciate the value of turning inward, and I hope to share this mindset with more young people in the future.
Many people worry that MBA knowledge can be overly academic. How did you make MBA concepts practical and applicable into real-world business situations?
The biggest difference lies in the ability to integrate and solve problems holistically. Take the Final Business Project as an example: even though my professional background is in Sales, I could not approach the project through sales performance alone. I had to step into the role of a business owner and build a comprehensive solution that connected multiple areas of business including finance, marketing, event planning, and supply chain management.
The knowledge from MBA Talent taught me how to connect the different pieces of organization and bring together insights from multiple functions to build a comprehensive business plan. Now, in my everyday work, I think in much broader terms, no longer confined to the narrow view of a salesperson.
If you had to sum up your growth in one keyword to report back to your manager, what would it be?
The word would be Transformation. If my manager looks at who I am today, I hope they would recognize the transformation from a Sales person into someone with a genuine, holistic business mindset. I’m now ready to do more than just work within one department. I understand how an entire business actually runs.
With the goal of eventually reaching a C-level role, how would you rate your current level of readiness?
In terms of capability and personal preparation, I’m confident that I have reached 90% for that breakthrough. However, capability alone isn’t enough to reach C-level. I still need the remaining 10%, and I see that as the “spark” needed to ignite the breakthrough in my career. That 10% comes from opportunities and networks.
Senior leadership positions typically demand specific criteria and access to industry networks to even be considered. MBA Talent has been exactly where I found that missing piece to connecting me with leading figures in the industry, from CEOs and GMs in Vietnam to international leaders as well.
If you could summarize the entire MBA Talent journey for those who are considering taking the same path, what would you say?
If I had to put the entire experience into one thought: MBA Talent is a program worth experiencing, necessary for building yourself, and one that will undoubtedly bring you unexpected achievements.
MBA Talent is a leadership development program designed to nurture Vietnam’s next generation of talented leaders. The program combines the academic foundation of Western Sydney University and the International School of Business (ISB) with practical Business Cases developed by the PSO Institute, enabling high-potential professionals to apply modern leadership knowledge and frameworks to real-world business contexts.
MBA Talent
