Opening ceremony for the first cohort of the UEH CEO Program

23 Nov, 2025

On the morning of November 22, 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) officially held the opening ceremony for the first cohort of the UEH CEO Program. The event marked the beginning of a journey to nurture a new generation of resilient, innovative, and pioneering business leaders in the digital era.

The UEH CEO Program, designed and implemented by UEH, is based on the philosophy: Understand - Evolve - Heighten. It aims to train 3,000 business leaders and entrepreneurs in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces during the 2025-2030 period. The program not only helps realize the Politburo's Resolution 68-NQ/TW on private sector development but also makes a tangible contribution to the goal of establishing HCMC as a leading regional center for economics, finance, and innovation.

The solemn inauguration was held at Campus B of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH)

The launch of the UEH CEO Program is a testament to UEH's 50 years of experience in training and research. It lays the foundation for the University's strategy of developing high-quality human resources and building a new generation of leaders with Resilience - Innovation - Pioneering spirit for the new era.

Attending the ceremony were representatives from various organizations, experts, and business leaders, including: Mr. Le Phung Hao – Chairman of Global AAA Consulting; Ms. Dang Pham Minh Loan – Chairperson of Sunrise Software Solution and Arch Cafe, and CEO of Yen Viet Joint Stock Company; Le Quoc Thai, M.A. – Lecturer at RMIT University, former Business Director of the consumer goods sector at L’Oreal Vietnam; Nguyen Duy Nhat, M.A. – Member of the Academic Board of SAP University Alliance for the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, Lecturer at the University of Economics and Law, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Tran Ba Thanh – Project Development Director of CapitaLand Vietnam.

From UEH, the event was attended by: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao – Chairman of the UEH Council; Dr. Dinh Cong Khai – Vice President of UEH; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong – Chairman of the UEH Development Strategy Council; along with leaders of departments, members of the executive board, faculty, training experts, program advisors, and the 16 participants of the first cohort of the UEH CEO Program.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Dinh Cong Khai emphasized the program's orientation and significance: "The UEH CEO Program is developed as a key pillar for UEH in implementing Resolution 68, with the goal of training 3,000 CEOs - entrepreneurs and successor leaders for businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces from 2025-2030. The first cohort holds special significance as the first group of entrepreneurs to partner with UEH to realize this important Resolution; they are the pioneers who will help shape the quality, identity, and impact of the program for years to come.

UEH is committed to delivering a practical, modern, and internationalized training program with a team of experienced lecturers, experts, and entrepreneurs; up-to-date learning materials; and an extensive network connecting the university, experts, businesses, and local governments. We aim not only to train skills but also to build a sustainable knowledge ecosystem for the Vietnamese CEO community."

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai – Vice President of UEH and Head of the UEH CEO Program Executive Board, delivered his opening remarks

Providing an overview of the program, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Le – Director of Institute of Human Resources and Business Development, explained that the curriculum is designed around a three-stage leadership development journey:

Understand: Helps participants reflect on their leadership capabilities, understand their enterprise's characteristics, and clearly identify the competitive landscape.
Evolve: Focuses on transformation strategies, technology management, human resources, marketing, and digital value, creating a space for participants to restructure their organizations and lead change.
Heighten: Through a capstone project, participants have the opportunity to develop and implement a practical project aimed at sustainable business development, international integration, and achieving outstanding growth.

The program is implemented under a flexible partnership model, where UEH undertakes the academic role and quality assurance; partners accompanying UEH provide practical expertise, communication support, and learner connections. The faculty includes domestic and international academic experts, and notably, features the participation of practical CEOs from leading enterprises.

Through application projects and the ecosystem connecting participants - experts - businesses, the program expects 70% of participants to successfully implement startup projects or business restructuring projects, while forming the UEH CEO Alumni community for experience sharing and sustainable development cooperation.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Le – Director of Institute of Human Resources and Business Development shared about the curriculum of UEH CEO Program

Speaking as a program advisor and representative of the business community, Mr. Le Phung Hao expressed his high expectations for the practical value that the UEH CEO Program will bring to the new generation of leaders: "The learning process for leaders never stops; they must constantly innovate themselves. The UEH CEO Program is designed to be highly practical, helping CEOs not only acquire modern knowledge but also systematize their leadership thinking. Through real-world projects developed within each participant's own enterprise, guided by a team of experts, the program creates tangible, applicable value, helping leaders reinvent themselves, adapt to digital transformation, unlock strategic thinking, and spread positive energy to their teams. This is a key differentiator that will prepare Vietnamese CEOs for a new era of competition and integration."

Mr. Le Phung Hao – Chairman of Global AAA Consulting, emphasized the program's training value

Mr. Nguyen Tan Hung – Director of the Market Department, Saigon Trading Group (SATRA) and a representative of the first cohort, highlighted the value of updating modern management mindset and nurturing executive capabilities in the digital economy: "The UEH CEO Program is an opportunity for us to refresh our thinking, broaden our perspectives, and gain access to modern management methods suited to the rapid pace of market change. The program's greatest differentiator is its practicality, where participants don't just learn but must do, apply, and change through a Capstone Project built around their own businesses. This is incredibly valuable for any leader in today's era of restructuring and transformation."

Mr. Nguyen Tan Hung – a representative of the first cohort, expressed his expectations for the program's practical impact

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Duc Viet, M.A., a representative from the UEH Department of Training, presented an overview of the academic regulations and provided guidance on using UEH's systems, helping participants prepare for the training process.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Viet, M.A., shared information on academic regulations and support for UEH CEO Program participants

Concluding the opening ceremony, the program continued with the kickoff session, “CEO DNA – Defining Executive Fortitude.” Ms. Dang Pham Minh Loan – Chairperson of Sunrise Software Solution and Arch Cafe, CEO of Yen Viet Joint Stock Company, and former General Director of International Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (IDP) (2019-2023), delivered key insights that laid the foundation for shaping the mindset and fortitude of leaders in the new context.

Ms. Dang Pham Minh Loan presented key points from the "CEO DNA – Defining Executive Fortitude" session

With the message "Pioneering Leadership, Elevating Vietnamese Enterprises," the inauguration of the first cohort of the UEH CEO Program marks the beginning of a new journey for its participants—leaders who are steering their businesses through the modern economy. The program not only demonstrates UEH's commitment to training high-quality leaders but also underscores the University's pioneering role in partnering with Ho Chi Minh City and the region to build a leading economic, financial, and innovation hub in Southeast Asia.