18/08/2026
| MBA IMMERSION PROGRAM: LEARNING ECOSYSTEM STRATEGY IN THE CRADLE OF CHAEBOLS – INSIGHTS FROM COHORT 1 MBA STUDENT HA LAN PHUONG
Concluding a rich journey of learning and hands-on experience during the international exchange in Seoul, Ms. Ha Lan Phuong (Business Strategist at Viettel Digital, MBA Cohort 1 Student) returned with profound takeaways on ecosystem expansion and corporate culture. Join us to discover the stories behind the historic halls of SKKU, lessons from Korea’s leading innovation hubs, and how she applies this strategic mindset to her current work!
LESSONS ON THE CHAEBOL MODEL FROM A 600-YEAR-OLD CAMPUS
Stepping onto the grounds of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), often dubbed the "Temple of Literature" of Korea, my initial feeling was awe at the seamless blend of ancient architecture and modern infrastructure. Studying directly at a 600-year-old educational landmark, a cradle that once trained royalty and outstanding leaders, filled me with immense curiosity and excitement.
One of the most profound academic highlights for me here was the lecture on Korea’s Conglomerate model (commonly known as Chaebols). The lesson delved deep into ecosystem expansion strategies and cross-shareholding mechanisms, a structure that enables conglomerates to optimize resources, share cash flows, and swiftly dominate new business sectors. Observing the reality in Vietnam, I notice many major corporations are also breaking through following this trajectory. These serve as remarkably successful and valuable case studies for a strategist like myself to learn from, thereby uncovering optimal solutions for expanding product and service ecosystems for domestic enterprises.
A COMPREHENSIVE "LAUNCHPAD" FOR INNOVATIVE STARTUPS
Beyond classroom lectures, our visit to Seoul Startup Hub provided a powerful boost to my managerial and ecosystem development mindset. I was truly impressed to witness firsthand how the Seoul metropolitan government proactively nurtures and empowers innovative startups right from the starting line. Here, startups are provided with professional workspaces at a fee of just $860/year (less than 25 million VND). Even more remarkably, the center fully sponsors state-of-the-art machinery, modern tools, and a team of top-tier expert advisors to help founders build prototypes completely free of charge. Such close companionship and root-level obstacle removal serve as an invaluable "launchpad," enabling young enterprises to shed financial burdens and confidently experiment, disrupt, and realize bold ideas.
Looking back at our domestic startup ecosystem, I look forward to Vietnamese startups receiving equally comprehensive and tangible support policies in the future, empowering the new generation of founders to take flight without being weighed down by initial capital investments.
DECODING VIETNAM - KOREA CORPORATE CULTURE DNA
During our presentation before SKKU professors, our team successfully defended our research project on the cultural differences in business environments between Vietnam and South Korea. The analytical findings uncovered highly intriguing perspectives. While on an individual level, Korean culture exerts a massive influence in Vietnam through music, film, and beauty trends across generations, the story in the corporate workplace is fundamentally different. Alongside a clear top-down management model, Korean enterprises place high value on directness, loyalty, and view organizational promotion as a benchmark for social status. In contrast, Vietnamese professionals tend to preserve "face," minimizing direct confrontation while fostering motivation through care, empathy, and interpersonal connection.
However, this barrier is gradually dissolving among Gen Z, powered by the social media explosion. Young individuals in both nations are becoming more dynamic, confident in expressing their identity, and focused on developing internal capability rather than being dictated by external cultural factors. This openness and global mindset serve as the key for Vietnamese Gen Z to adapt effortlessly and integrate smoothly into international work environments. It also presents a golden opportunity for domestic companies to attract next-gen talent while building momentum for future cross-border B2B strategic collaborations.
To realize this passionate research, our team spent many late nights meticulously preparing for the final presentation. The trip itinerary was quite "hustle-packed" with classes, discussions, and company visits, but that very pressure bound all team members closely together. Just as our classmates shared, it might be a long time before we experience such a complete and unforgettable journey again.
Thank you, Ms. Ha Lan Phuong, for bringing such practical and high-value strategic perspectives on ecosystem strategy and management culture from your Seoul exchange! Wishing you abundant creative energy as you continue to bring impactful strategic visions to life and keep sharing knowledge with the VinUni MBA community!
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