'International Women Leaders Forum 2017' – A bridge connecting domestic and international business communities.

PV: Hello, Miss Vietnam runner-up Nguyen Thu Huong. As the head of the organizing committee for the 2017 International Women Leaders Forum, could you share with everyone what makes this year's program different and more special compared to previous years?

Around March 8th each year, the International Women Leaders Network organizes a forum for women leaders to share and provide additional knowledge and experiences in their work and lives.

The 2017 Women Leaders Forum, themed "Leadership Without Borders," aims to provide Vietnamese women leaders with the opportunity to hear and share the methods and stories of women leaders from various countries. From this, Vietnamese women leaders can gain insights into how to thrive in diverse environments and become leaders unconstrained by culture or geographical location. We have seen many foreign women leaders come to Vietnam and work very effectively. However, not many Vietnamese women leaders have confidently developed their businesses abroad. So how can Vietnamese women leaders overcome these barriers? These are the key meanings that the theme "Leadership Without Borders" will bring to this forum.

PV: As you just shared, this year's Forum theme is "Leadership Without Borders." Could you share some of your views on this year's theme? Why did you choose this theme?

Having worked in the media field for 20 years and collaborated with many leaders from various countries, I've observed that in any environment or organization, we all share a common understanding and definition of leadership. That is, a leader must have vision, integrity, and a mission to contribute to society. With this perspective, they can adapt to any environment they enter.

I've worked with leaders from different countries, and their first priority was understanding the culture and how to contribute to the community where they worked. From there, they gradually improved and integrated into that environment. Because of this, I learned a valuable lesson: we shouldn't limit ourselves to a fixed market or a comfort zone and think that we can only thrive within that environment. I believe the world is becoming flatter, information technology is developing rapidly, and opportunities for trade between countries are expanding. Therefore, we should broaden our comfort zone, expand our markets, and collaborate with partners in many different countries to seize more new opportunities for growth.

PV: A highlight of the International Women Leaders Forum is the Awards Ceremony honoring the Top 50 outstanding women leaders globally. So, what criteria would make a woman leader worthy of this recognition?

Women Leaders is an international network for women leaders, and each year it celebrates dynamic, committed women leaders who contribute to their communities and support the next generation. We are looking for women leaders who are members of the Network or nominated by the Network. These are women who have made significant contributions and exerted considerable influence, inspiring other women. Therefore, this year's forum will be a place to honor these outstanding women leaders.

PV: Recently, you successfully organized the Top 100 Business Style Awards in February 2017. People also saw you appearing as the Head of the Organizing Committee of the International Women Leaders Forum. It's safe to say your energy never seems to run out. Could you share with everyone how you manage to maintain such energy and enthusiasm for your work?

Over the years, as the head of the organizing committee for two major programs, the Top 100 Business Style Awards and the International Women Leaders Forum, I have acted as a bridge connecting successful individuals to build a better community of male and female entrepreneurs. My energy comes from the people around me, the clients and partners I meet. The Top 100 Business Style Awards were very successful, providing many opportunities for the program's attendees. I hope the International Women Leaders Forum will also help women feel more confident by providing a dedicated forum to share their concerns, such as: how to make society better, how to help women develop further, and how to create a better environment for the next generation. The issues women care about are always detailed and subtle, but they are fundamental to sustainable development and social balance. Therefore, I wish to maintain both the Top 100 Business Style Awards and the International Women Leaders Forum to balance the activities of the male business community and the network of female leaders.

Interviewer: You've previously shared with the press that family is your joy and motivation. However, you're currently very busy with a series of new projects and programs. So, could you share what time you dedicate to your family and how a modern female leader like you balances work and family life?

I believe that family, work, career, and social activities are the beautiful colors of the canvas called life. As a modern woman, I don't want to be completely biased towards any one aspect. To make my life diverse, I try to balance and organize it scientifically. My children are used to their parents' activities. We always have principles of communication so that when I'm away on business trips, the children still feel that their parents are watching over and participating in their activities. I think that applying scientific management principles to family management will help us easily handle many things simultaneously without feeling overwhelmed or overloaded.

Thank you for your insights, Miss Thu Huong, and we wish the 2017 International Women Leaders Forum great success!

The Thanh