Nhà đầu tư được trả lương để khởi nghiệp - Linh Nguyễn, Founder in Residence ở .NFQ Asia | VIV S3EP5

TL;DR

Linh Nguyen discusses his role as Founder in Residence at NFQ Asia.

Transcript

Welcome to Vietnam Innovators Season 3. I'm Miro Nguyen, the host of the show. Today, I invite a close friend and also my colleague who also hold a "unique" position. He's Linh Nguyen and currently the Founder in Residence of NFQ Asia. He studied abroad and worked in Germany for a long time. He now returns to Vietnam to engage in the labor market ... Read More

Key Insights

• Linh Nguyen returned to Vietnam after studying and working in Germany, driven by a desire to contribute to the developing Vietnamese market.
• As a Founder in Residence, Linh is paid to start businesses, with financial and operational support from investors, reducing typical startup risks.
• The role involves mentoring co-founders and accelerating startup projects, with a focus on achieving key milestones like MVP and fundraising rounds.
• NFQ Asia employs a diverse workforce, including expats, to foster a multicultural environment that improves soft skills and professionalism among Vietnamese engineers.
• The IT labor market in Vietnam is evolving, with high wages and remote work opportunities influencing job seekers' decisions to stay in their hometowns.
• NFQ's growth strategy during the pandemic involved leveraging expatriate talent and expanding its office locations to tap into local labor markets.
• Professionalism and a progressive spirit are key qualities Linh looks for in potential hires, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in a diverse workplace.
• The Vietnamese education system's focus on rote learning contrasts with the creativity encouraged by foreign education systems, impacting students' open-mindedness.

Questions & Answers

Q: What motivated Linh Nguyen to return to Vietnam after working in Germany?

Linh Nguyen returned to Vietnam after working in Germany because he wanted to contribute to the country's development. He saw the Vietnamese market as full of promising opportunities, driven by its rapid growth. This desire to give back to his home country and be part of its evolving tech industry motivated his return.

Q: What is the role of a Founder in Residence?

A Founder in Residence is an individual who is paid to start a business with the support of investors. This role involves mentoring co-founders, accelerating startup projects, and achieving key milestones like MVP and fundraising rounds. The position reduces traditional startup risks by providing financial and operational support.

Q: How does NFQ Asia utilize a diverse workforce?

NFQ Asia employs a diverse workforce, including expatriates, to foster a multicultural environment. This approach aims to improve the soft skills and professionalism of Vietnamese engineers, who are already strong in technical skills but may lack in areas like language proficiency and workplace professionalism.

Q: How has the IT labor market in Vietnam changed recently?

The IT labor market in Vietnam has evolved, with high wages and remote work opportunities becoming more prevalent. This has influenced job seekers' decisions to stay in their hometowns rather than move to larger cities like Saigon. Companies are increasingly accommodating remote work while offering competitive salaries.

Q: What is NFQ's growth strategy during the pandemic?

During the pandemic, NFQ's growth strategy focused on leveraging expatriate talent and expanding office locations in Vietnam. The company aimed to narrow the gap with larger tech firms by utilizing a diverse workforce and seizing opportunities presented by the pandemic to expand its presence and capabilities.

Q: What qualities does Linh Nguyen prioritize in potential hires?

Linh Nguyen prioritizes professionalism and a progressive spirit in potential hires. He believes that while technical skills can be developed through company programs, character traits like professionalism are harder to change. These qualities are crucial for success in NFQ's diverse and multicultural workplace.

Q: What is the main difference between Vietnamese and foreign engineers?

The main difference between Vietnamese and foreign engineers lies in soft skills and professionalism. While Vietnamese engineers are strong in logic and coding, they often lack the soft skills and professionalism found in their foreign counterparts. A multicultural workplace can help bridge this gap and enhance their capabilities.

Q: What advice does Linh Nguyen have for Vietnamese students studying abroad?

Linh Nguyen advises Vietnamese students studying abroad to experience different cultures and education systems, then gain real working experience before returning to Vietnam. He encourages them to step out of their comfort zones and face challenges, as these experiences will make them more mature and competent in their careers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Linh Nguyen, a Founder in Residence at NFQ Asia, discusses his journey from Germany back to Vietnam, aiming to contribute to the country's growing tech industry. His role involves starting businesses with investor support, reducing traditional startup risks.

• NFQ Asia employs a diverse workforce, including expats, to enhance the skills and professionalism of Vietnamese engineers. The IT labor market in Vietnam is changing, with high wages and remote work opportunities influencing job seekers' decisions.

• Linh emphasizes professionalism and a progressive spirit in potential hires. He contrasts the Vietnamese education system's focus on rote learning with the creativity encouraged abroad, highlighting the need for adaptability in a diverse workplace.