Ms. Thao Nguyen

It is known that Ms. Thao is currently the Brand Manager at a luxury watch startup – TOPBOP. Could you share more about your work?

My name is Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, and I am the Brand Manager at TOPBOP, a startup in the luxury fashion sector. I am currently a student in the PSO MBA program, class of 2024. TOPBOP mainly imports and exclusively distributes unique, famous watch brands from Switzerland and other European countries. At the moment, I am focusing on business developmen

What key aspects influenced your decision to choose the PSO MBA program?

I have long dreamed of starting my own company. After researching, I found that many famous CEOs around the world hold an MBA degree. Therefore, I decided to pursue this path to equip myself with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective leadership and business management.

While researching international master’s programs in Vietnam, I was impressed by PSO MBA’s professionalism in organizing talk shows with participation from many alumni and experts. From the meticulous content and presentation to the overall setup, I believe the program has reputable instructors. This is why I chose the PSO MBA program.

What has been the biggest challenge you faced during your PSO MBA studies?

The biggest challenge I encountered during my studies was balancing my time. I hardly had any breaks in my day while juggling both work and study. To complete assignments on time, I took advantage of every moment to study, whether I was on the bus or on a plane. All these difficulties helped me cultivate a certain level of discipline while participating in the program.

Scheduling group meetings was one of the major challenges we faced throughout our studies at PSO MBA. The busy schedules of each member made it difficult to find common time for the entire group.

Initially, we tried to hold online meetings, but the effectiveness was low because we couldn’t communicate directly and resolve issues quickly. Realizing this, we decided to establish a new rule: to meet offline at a café at least once a week. Meeting in person allowed us to exchange expertise more effectively, resolve issues more swiftly, and strengthen group cohesion. The café environment also inspired us and encouraged open and creative idea sharing.

What has been the most impressive course for you during your PSO MBA studies?

Throughout my studies, the course that impressed me the most was Integrated Business Experience. I believe this course is logically designed and serves as a foundation for students to understand how businesses operate through the experience of managing a simulated company.

In this course, my team and I had the opportunity to take on leadership roles, making decisions about business strategy, financial management, marketing, human resources, and more. Thanks to our collaborative efforts and relentless spirit of learning, our team excelled, placing our simulated company in the top 15 globally and first in our class.

In this course, each team was responsible for operating and developing a bicycle sales company. The first challenge we faced was effectively allocating our investment funds. Initially, due to a lack of experience in fund allocation, we encountered differing opinions. To address this issue, team members with different experiences utilized their strengths to support their views when concluding where the funds should be invested.

After overcoming the first challenge, our team faced a second challenge: consecutive losses in three out of six quarters. Immediately, our instructor worked with us to analyze the situation and suggested solutions by asking open-ended questions to identify insights we had previously overlooked. Additionally, he provided us with a wealth of resources for further reference. Ultimately, our team applied “reverse thinking” to turn things around in the last two quarters, enabling our company to achieve the highest profits in the market.

Looking back on our operations, we realized that targeting a small market segment was the reason for our early failures. To get back in the race, we expanded our market, adjusted our pricing strategy by enhancing quality and price, and focused our marketing efforts on a larger market. This helped us make a remarkable comeback against our competitors.

Who is your favorite instructor?

My favorite instructor is Ms. Mai Linh, the General Manager for Indochina at HALEON, in the Leadership and HR Management course. Her insights helped me understand that it is important for a leader to express their views candidly to improve work processes, even if it may lead to conflict. Thanks to her guidance, I learned how to approach issues more gently and communicate more effectively with team members.

In addition, I was also impressed by Ms. Nguyen Ha Trang, the Human Resource Director at PepsiCo Foods Vietnam, during MBA Talk #69, which focused on “The Guide to Conquering Leadership Positions for Gen Z.” She shared that to become a leader, a Gen Z individual needs two key qualities: (1) ambition for advancement and (2) abundant energy. Through her discussion on the “outward mindset” – a win-win mentality – and the “dare mindset” – a mentality of overcoming limits and growing, I was strongly inspired to become a leader with vibrant energy who is always willing to be different.

What changes have you experienced after joining the PSO MBA program?

Participating in the PSO MBA program has provided me with invaluable learning experiences, helping me develop two important skills: self-learning and systems thinking.

The PSO MBA program encourages critical thinking. Instead of merely delivering information, instructors act as guides, stimulating curiosity and fostering creative thinking among students. As a result, I have learned to ask questions, seek information independently, and solve problems on my own. This improvement in self-learning has opened up new knowledge and fascinating perspectives for me.

Additionally, I have had the opportunity to enhance my systems thinking during my studies. Through the Management Information Systems course, I gained insights into information systems and processes for organizing and managing customer data in business operations. By actively participating in CRM system practices, I gained a deeper understanding of customer experience stages, allowing me to develop suitable care programs. After the course, I felt more confident in the systems thinking foundation I acquired through the program.

What advice would you give to those considering the PSO MBA program?

First, you need to manage your time effectively, as the volume of knowledge and assignments in the program can be quite substantial. Adhering to a disciplined schedule will help you allocate your time efficiently.

Next, it’s important to set clear learning goals. I believe that you shouldn’t see obtaining the degree as the ultimate goal; instead, you should focus on meeting and connecting with classmates, experts, and instructors to gain diverse perspectives and accumulate valuable experiences.

Finally, cultivating a self-learning spirit is crucial for maximizing the knowledge you gain from the program. In today’s information-rich era, you need to develop a proactive attitude toward learning, exploring, and critical thinking to enhance your knowledge and skills.

The PSO MBA is an internationally accredited master’s program designed by Western Sydney University, Australia, which is ranked among the top 1% of the world’s best universities.