Former CEO of Microsoft Vu Minh Tri’s education startup story at the age of 44

By Kim Yen - Sep 19, 2017 | 07:22 AM GMT+7

TheLEADERAt the age of 44, Vu Minh Tri, former Microsoft Vietnam's country manager, surprisingly turned his direction from technology to education dream, hoping to greatly contribute to the next generation.

Former CEO of Microsoft Vu Minh Tri’s education startup story at the age of 44
Vu Minh Tri, current Deputy General Director in charge of university and post-graduate at Nguyen Hoang Group.

Vu Minh Tri, who helped Sony Ericsson Vietnam, Yahoo Vietnam, Qualcomm Indochina and Thailand overcome the crises and achieve remarkable growth, was an outstanding CEO in the field of technology. Five years at Microsoft Vietnam, he made a spectacular breakthrough with Microsoft becoming the fastest growing global company.

The sudden shift in his career once again shows that the "career anchor" is the destination of a business life, for a better future for young people and the country.

Mentioning the legendary story of Microsoft saving its strong rival, Apple, how has the opinion on co-operation especially in the field of technology changed?

Vu Minh Tri: The boundaries between rival and partnership is very fragile as a person can be both friend and enemy, producing the term “Frienemy” in business. The story of Microsoft using its US$150 million investment to save its rival, Apple, in August 1997 is an example. If Apple had died, the computer market would experience a dark future. A computer cannot function without Microsoft’s software products and Apple’s hardware products; therefore, both of them are essential to each other. This is not only the friendship between the two sides but also the common interest.

The relationship between Qualcomm and 3G chip manufacturers is another example. Such giants as MediaTek, Nvidia, Broadcom, Apple and Samsung are Microsoft’s friends as they have to pay royalties to Microsoft in order to manufacture 3G equipment using Qualcomm's Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology. They are also Microsoft’s rivals in the field of chip manufacturing.

As the regional head of Indochina & Thailand at Qualcomm Incorporated, I had to develop the two areas harmonizingly. For instance, Samsung is our rival when it does not use Qualcomm’s chipset and we have to focused on other brands like Snap Dragon and Nokia who use our chipset. However, as Samsung holds a high market share in the 3G segment, it has been Qualcomm’s important partner in developing the 3G market.

Also, Facebook is Microsoft’s rival in the social networking segment of the corporate environment and also its strategic customer who use Microsoft’s Office 365.

As the cloud computing services are growing rapidly, the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become more popular; and Microsoft buying LinkedIn, a professional networking site that helps individuals connect with other professionals in their industry, is an example. Microsoft has integrated LinkedIn into Dynamic 365 in order to produce new features utilizing the technology and the huge database of LinkedIn.

How about the situation that a lot of Vietnamese businesses might cooperate successfully in the first one to two times but then split and lost their brand names or try to destroy each other even within the same system?

Vu Minh Tri: In many cases, Vietnamese enterprises tried to fight for an existing cake, not a new and bigger one.

In 1997, Microsoft and other giants in the field of beverage and telecommunications were listed in the top five largest company in the world by market capitalization.

In 2007, Microsoft and some oil and gas companies’ names were written in the list while such giants in the field of beverage and telecommunications disappeared. 10 years later, in 2017, only Microsoft is still on the list because the oil and gas companies do not have the ability to develop like such technology firms as Microsoft, who has always been the pioneer in the new areas. If Microsoft is only satisfied with the Personal computer (PC) market, its revenue would only be US$25 billion per year despite the 100 per cent market share.

Microsoft’s revenue in Q1/2017 is over US$25 billion as it is creating a US$4,500 billion digital transformation market.

We can see that even though Microsoft, Google, Amazone and Facebook are fiercely competing, they still co-operate in many fields to create and develop this market.

Many enterprises have lost their chances to develop and even detrimentally impacted the national development due to their co-operation spirit. Can you share with us your precious lessons drawn from Microsoft’s experiences in Vietnam and in the world to establish the partnership capacity for leaders?

Vu Minh Tri: First of all, the two sides must have the same vision for the future which comes from the leaders or else a split is unavoidable. Secondly, the two sides must see their benefits which are equal in the co-operation and also identify each side’s equal contributions.

Why did you decide to switch to education and join Nguyen Hoang group in charge of university and post-graduate when you were still the CEO of Microsoft, a global technology giant?

Vu Minh Tri: I started my career as a CEO of many technology companies from the toughest time; however, I always strived to overcome difficulties.

Ten years ago, I determined that I would focus on education at the age of 43 or 45 after doing businesses. I am 44 now and my position at Microsoft would be my last job before involving in the field of education, finishing its important period in Vietnam with a more positive look from customers and the government. If I continue working for Microsoft, my duty in the next five years would be turning Microsoft into a cloud computing service provider.

Having experienced in big corporations, I know how they are operated and how to be successful. The more I worked, the more I wanted to share with the young generation, helping them manage and change their future. Obviously, I can benefit more from education.

Besides, Chairman of Nguyen Hoang group and I had chances to co-operate in many other fields and he understands my passion for education. To me, this is not a job but a startup which comes from my passion and determination.

What can you contribute the most to Nguyen Hoang Group?

Vu Minh Tri: Nguyen Hoang offers the lump-sum education system at all levels from kindergarten to post-graduate with advanced educational programs for students having different living conditions.

In terms of education, we have Hong Bang International University (HIU) and Ba Ria-Vung Tau University (BVU) and others that will be built in the upcoming time. The high school system produces the high quality with many students receiving scholarships to study abroad. However, I want to spend more time on university system in Vietnam, closing the gap between Vietnamese universities and international ones.

I want to start with two universities, with all the subject being taught in English, following the international curriculum. I also want to upgrade the facilities, recruit high-qualified teachers and co-operate with foreign universities, etc.,

What is your strategy in the context that the 4th industrial revolution will change all the educational system?

Vu Minh Tri: The Information technology will dramatically change the education system, which is happening in HIU and BVU. Each university must create its academic focus to build up their brand names. HIU’s focus will be some areas related to the 4th industrial revolution as well as health. We have promoted the co-operation with the top universities in the world.

We also focus on skill sector to support the academics, letting my students have chances to meet enterprise. HIU also plans to apply Office 365 in teaching and providing an electronic library which greatly supports the teaching at HIU and connecting with other schools. The information technology will help students from all the corners of the world to connect and exchange any topics at any places.

I feel lucky to meet and receive great support from the chairman of Nguyen Hoang Group and presidents of universities. A lot of things which are mostly related to humans must be done immediately.

Do you have any anxiety over the co-operation with Hoang Quoc Viet as the failure of co-operation in private universities usually comes after just two to three years?

Vu Minh Tri: I have received great support from the corporation. This is a serious collaboration between us who have the same vision. In the upcoming time, a professional university administration and information technology will be applied to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. The quality of the staff must be regularly upgraded to efficiently implement the development strategies.

What do you think about the situation that the failure of many private universities came from the unclear roles of universities’ managing directors and presidents?

Vu Minh Tri: A professional education administration must have a managing director to support the president. Specifically, presidents of universities are responsible for the educational quality, teachers, and teaching programs while managing directors seeing the school as a company must take responsibility for recruiting, business relationship, infrastructure management, etc. These two positions must support each other.

Do think that your family tradition affected to your decision to become an educator?

Vu Minh Tri: My family has influenced my decision a lot. I still remember that when I was small, my father always assigned tasks for me and my siblings before going to work. We must support each other and finish them before he came back. Thanks to that tradition, we were still excellent students despite joining no extra classes.

When public school had not established in Vietnam yet, my father set up a private one at home and used his curriculum from the French colonial period. He had a huge ambition for teaching, which has influenced me a lot.

If we want to reach our goal, we must do it ourselves. Not only did my father teach us knowledge, he also gave us the leadership virtues and necessary living skills so that we can train ourselves to become good citizens in society.

I hope that the co-operation between me and Nguyen Hoang which needs more time and effort will have greater influence than other decisions, realizing the university dream.

Thank you so much!