Meet Phuong Nguyen – an MBA Talent alumna who began her career at Vinamilk and has since made significant strides at Unilever and other major corporations.
What started as a mindset of simply “getting a degree to keep up with peers” turned into a profound shift in thinking. Phuong Nguyen came to realize that a diploma is only the tip of the iceberg – beneath the surface lies something far more valuable: systemic thinking and a bold ambition to see Vietnamese professionals take their place in C-suite roles at multinational corporations.
What first motivated you to pursue an MBA?
Honestly, back when I was at Vinamilk, my motivation was pretty naive. I looked around and saw that all my managers had an MBA, so I figured I needed one too – just to be on the same level as them.
At that point, I wasn’t the least bit concerned about what I would actually learn. I had already mapped out my next two years: show up for attendance, scrape through exams, and count down the days until graduation. That mindset, without me even realizing it, had already built a wall between me and the real value the program had to offer – before I’d even walked through the door.
So, what was the turning point that made you realize you had it all wrong?
The biggest wake-up call was the people I met. I was completely blown away by the energy of my classmates – driven, sharp, and relentlessly determined.
I also developed a deep respect for the faculty. They didn’t just teach through knowledge – they taught through their own accomplishments and the setbacks they had lived through.
Listening to them, watching them put in the work, I felt genuinely ashamed of how shallow my original attitude had been. I realized that if I kept my eyes fixed only on the diploma, I would be the one walking away with the least.
From that moment on, I approached learning completely differently: I became genuinely hungry for knowledge, and I soaked up every lesson about thinking and how to navigate the world with others. Two years that once seemed endless – by the time it was over, I only wished we had more time.
You’ve mentioned knowledge as one of the biggest benefits. What exactly sets MBA knowledge apart from the experience you accumulate on the job?
After years in the workforce, there were times I handled situations purely on instinct. I was good at what I did, but if you asked me to explain how I did it, I’d draw a blank. Whenever a manager asked me to walk them through my thinking, I’d find myself with too many ideas and not enough words – fumbling, unable to express myself clearly.
The MBA gave me the vocabulary I needed to solve that problem. When I started learning frameworks and mental models, things clicked: “Oh, so that’s what I’ve been doing all along.” The program helped me bring structure to my practical experience, turning vague intuition into articulate, well-organized thinking.
Knowledge stopped being an abstract theory. It became the foundation I could use to break down complex problems and work toward real solutions. Difficult situations no longer feel overwhelming. I know to stay calm and trace things back to first principles.
Beyond knowledge, how did the environment and your peers shape your thinking?
To me, the value of a network isn’t measured by how many people you know; it’s about the quality of those who walk alongside you. My classmates all came from major corporations. They had a genuine growth mindset and a clear sense of direction. Being surrounded by that kind of energy naturally pushed me to want to be better, to evolve, to grow, to keep pace.
Through teamwork and the support of those around me, I discovered capabilities in myself I never thought I had. From someone who had only a hazy sense of where she was headed, that internal transformation helped me paint a far clearer and more inspiring picture of my career.
How has your MBA translated into concrete career milestones so far?
The truth is, I didn’t have to wait until graduation day to feel the difference. The changes happened in real time, alongside the learning itself.
When I started the program, I was a Key Account Manager at Vinamilk. About a year in, as the new way of thinking began to take hold, Unilever’s HR team reached out and invited me to join them. That was when I could feel, tangibly, that I had leveled up. After completing the program, I received another offer from a different company, for a senior role – a step higher again.
It became clear to me: when you’ve genuinely built something within yourself, opportunities follow naturally. If all you have is a piece of paper and an empty mind behind it, I’m certain I wouldn’t be where I am today.
People often say an MBA is a “leadership factory.” After MBA Talent, are you aiming for a C-level role?
It was never on my radar, but now it’s a firm goal. That shift came from Prof. Dr. Tran Ha Minh Quan’s vision: training Vietnamese professionals to take on senior leadership positions at multinational corporations.
That story inspired me deeply. Right now, I’d put my readiness at about 70%. For the remaining 30%, I have a concrete plan mapped out for the next five to six years, what I still need to learn, and what roles I need to experience along the way.
What would you say to someone who is about to embark on their MBA Talent journey?
Come with an open mind. Think about the knowledge you’ll gain, the relationships you’ll build, and the person you’ll become. When you open yourself to those deeper values, rather than fixating on the diploma, you’ll walk away with far more than you ever expected.
Phuong Nguyen’s story is perhaps the clearest proof that the true value of a program lies not in the destination but in the transformation along the way. What began as a desire to “study like her managers” evolved into something far greater — a high-performing leader with a systemic mindset and an ambition that reaches well beyond borders.
MBA Talent
