As a female leader in Vietnam’s business landscape, what specific ways has your company and your leadership contributed to the country’s economic growth?
Vietnam’s social and economic development is indeed an inspiring story. It is an absolute privilege for Ascending Strategies to work here, with so many impressive individuals and companies.
At Ascending Strategies, our work is centered on one thing: connection. We help organizations enter new markets and scale with confidence, while partnering with senior leaders to shape strategy and governance that support long-term growth. A key focus of our work is strengthening commercial ties between Australia and Vietnam. By supporting Australian market entry for leading Vietnamese companies and facilitating visits that connect Australian businesses with potential partners in Vietnam, we help our clients open new channels for trade, investment, and expansion.
These opportunities, which are often impossible without international collaboration, drive real outcomes: job creation, economic activity, and sustainable growth. But importantly, at the heart of this, is building people-to-people links and working to create long-term business relationships, including future generations of the workforce.
As the founder and leader of Ascending Strategies, I see firsthand how this work also elevates women’s leadership in shaping Vietnam’s global business presence. In parallel, my role as Vice-President of AusCham allows me to contribute to broader economic growth by supporting enterprises across multiple sectors in both countries.
Beyond commerce, I am deeply committed to building strong global professional communities. To lift standards and strengthen professional development across Australia and Vietnam. I have helped connect three professional membership associations in property, law, and governance - each initiated and led by women. These partnerships encourage knowledge exchange, raise the quality of practice, and foster enduring relationships among practitioners.
I have also worked closely with female leaders and champions in both countries to deepen business ties and advance women within these networks. For me, leadership is about more than commercial success. It is about empowering women and supporting Vietnam’s even greater integration into the global economy. I have seen this impact firsthand across higher education, digital transformation, AI, and sustainable building practices - where cross-border collaboration is already driving innovation, trade, and growth.
Vietnam is aiming for double-digit GDP growth in the coming years to transition towards high-income status. What key initiatives or strategies do you believe are essential for the country to achieve this target? What specific action in your company taking to support this goal?
Vietnam’s economic growth is one of the most impressive in the region and indeed the world. Double-digit growth discussions in the country are usually accompanied by the word “ambitious”. Ambition, supported by strategic plans, paves a pathway for achieving such ambitions. Multi-layered strategy to achieve and sustain growth of this kind will be a key driver for a double-digital GDP target.
Vietnam has and continues to develop these multi-layered strategies, focusing on institutional reform, infrastructure expansion, digital transformation, green growth, and the strengthening of domestic enterprises.
Ascending Strategies is connecting businesses with growth opportunities across Australia and Vietnam every day. We provide advice to top-tier corporates on governance, compliance, and market entry strategies that align with Vietnam’s growth and strategic pillars.
Specifically, cross-border partnerships that accelerate the adoption of digital transformation and innovation and enhance cyber-security and the safety of people and systems. Particularly for large Vietnamese corporates who have global ambitions. Additionally, another key pillar we are strategically aiming to contribute to is companies’ commitment to sustainable industrial practices and improving vocational training in the property and infrastructure sectors.
Vietnamese businesses have much to offer the world, and by showcasing these strengths while fostering long-term partnerships, they can play a vital role in achieving ambitious growth targets.
What challenges have you faced as a female leader in contributing to national development?
In many countries, there are certainly still echoes of a business world that was designed by and for men but thankfully practices that exclude women are becoming less frequent. They also make no business sense.
It is now more common to encounter both men and women who balance productive and busy work lives with home and caring responsibilities. Being successful at work doesn’t need to be done at the exclusion of being present and active at home. The companies we are working with at Ascending Strategies have shown this and I personally aim for this.
Vietnamese businesses often have family connections and long histories drawing organizational culture and values from family pioneers and entrepreneurs. So, when we bring a flexible and inclusive approach to the table (something which is good for women and men) we find it much easier to overcome any cultural challenges that might exist between markets and connect in a truly meaningful way.
As a result, we are so proud of the valuable client partnerships we have developed in Vietnam. We partner and collaborate with some of the best and brightest minds in technology and innovation, in design and building and sustainable and digitally-innovative productivity in building and construction, and more recently, with some of the brightest educational, research and scientists. All proudly Vietnamese companies and organizations, with a passion, commitment, and vision to expand and deepen their market strength in Australia and with Australian partners.
What policies would you recommend to further empower women entrepreneurs and leaders to accelerate Vietnam’s path towards sustained double-digit growth in the new era?
The most meaningful outcomes and empowerment for individuals and teams come when people are working together and are connected, both men and women. This means investing time to understand both personal and organizational strategies, and then methodically achieving great outcomes. Partnerships can’t just be transactional they ought to be transformational.
Even when working with large corporates that often have male-dominated leadership teams, I have found ways to encourage and nurture meaningful connections. As deals grow in scale, more staff become involved, which naturally creates opportunities for relationships that might not otherwise emerge, especially with women.
In practice, this has meant facilitating pathways for Vietnamese women to engage directly with international leaders and senior executives in Australia. What has struck me most is how, through these partnerships, consciously supporting women in middle and junior roles can open rewarding opportunities for mentorship, connection, and shared growth.
Policies that embed women in international delegations, prioritize women-led enterprises in joint ventures, and create structured leadership development programs across industries accelerate Vietnam’s path toward sustained double-digit growth. By formalizing frameworks that ensure women have equitable access to networks and global opportunities, Vietnam can continue to harness the full potential of its talent.
As someone actively building these connections, I know firsthand that when women are given the tools, access, and trust to lead, they not only transform their organizations but also contribute directly to Vietnam’s economic future. As Vietnam advances towards double-digit growth, it can accelerate its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs.
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