Ngô Thành Huấn: The Steward of 1,500 Vietnamese Families and the Philosophy of Lifelong Learning

From a math student with dreams of teaching, he became the “fund manager” for over 1,500 Vietnamese families and a pioneer in personal financial planning—a field that was still very new in Vietnam at the time. In the third episode of the podcast What High Achievers Don’t Say, the CEO of FIDT emphasized that learning is not only the key to breaking through but also the fastest way to “stay in the game” in the volatile digital age.

Over two decades ago, Ngo Thanh Huan was a third-year math student at a Vietnamese university. Back then, his only goal was to graduate and become a lecturer. The academic path seemed pre-programmed.

But then, a Hollywood film about Wall Street changed everything. “I researched and realized that personal asset management in Vietnam was almost non-existent,” he recalled. The film sparked his curiosity and drove him to delve deeper into Financial Planning, a field rarely seen in Vietnam at the time.

Deciding to study abroad in Australia for a Master of Commerce in Financial Planning was a challenging turning point. “At that time, most of my friends chose Accounting or Finance and Banking, but I chose a new field. It was truly a difficult crossroads,” he said. However, with a long-term vision, he pursued an internationally recognized program, seeing it as a solid foundation for his future career.

Returning to Vietnam in 2013, his career flourished. Over the past 12 years, he has supported over 1,500 families, providing financial advice to individuals and organizations, and teaching at multiple universities. A significant milestone was his collaboration with the Banking Academy and Van Lang University to develop Vietnam’s first Personal Financial Planning program.

“Formal training has given me a solid foundation that no one can take away,” he stressed. In a Vietnam rapidly evolving in savings, investment, and financial freedom, his choice of advanced education has not only advanced his career but also contributed to building a foundation for society.

According to Ngo Thanh Huan, a master’s degree is not just a certificate but a comprehensive foundation for accessing in-depth knowledge and creating a sustainable competitive advantage, especially in the young field of personal financial management in Vietnam.

The Master of Commerce program in Australia gave him a “systematic and long-term perspective,” keeping him ahead in the market for over a decade. “It gave me access to advanced education and a field that didn’t exist in Vietnam,” he shared. An international degree not only expanded his network but also affirmed his professionalism, laying the groundwork for him to later found FIDT.

The CEO of FIDT likened pursuing a master’s degree to being a “general practitioner,” offering a comprehensive view of how different departments coordinate and manage a business. In contrast, specialized certifications like CFA or CFP are like “specialists,” focusing on specific skills. “You can’t perform surgery without first doing an ultrasound or blood test,” he explained.

During his time in Australia, he was fortunate to have a mentor, who was also his direct supervisor, helping him connect theory with practice. “The foundation is right, but reality needs to shift to fit life,” he said. “It’s like a compass in a long journey.”

Thanks to this, the young entrepreneur learned to avoid “getting lost,” developing a systematic mindset for long-term decision-making—from building teams and expanding markets to managing capital flows. For the younger generation, he believes advanced education not only fosters personal growth but also serves as a competitive tool in an open economy, where financial products are increasingly diverse—from stocks and bonds to investment funds.

In what Ngo Thanh Huan calls the “VUCA world” (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous), continuous learning is essential to “stay in the game.” “If you stop learning for a day, you fall behind the world by a day,” he asserted.

He emphasized three pillars: self-learning, critical thinking, and technology application. Critical thinking helps ask counter-questions: “Was a company’s success over the past two years due to luck?” Technology is not just a tool but a core element in every field—from coffee to tourism.

From a practical perspective, he highlighted the upGrad online learning platform, which connects with over 300 top universities worldwide. With upGrad, learners not only access international-standard knowledge but also benefit from programs specifically designed for busy working professionals, allowing them to learn anytime, anywhere, without missing work. “I wish Vietnam had upGrad in 2009; it would have saved me a whole year of searching for the right program,” he shared. Combining flexibility with practical application, upGrad bridges the global knowledge gap, helping Vietnamese learners apply what they learn to their businesses quickly.

In conclusion, he stated: “Learning is like swimming upstream; if you don’t move forward, you fall back.” In a rapidly developing Vietnam with growing financial awareness, he encourages everyone to choose the path of learning to live fully. “Don’t measure happiness by money. Enjoy every experience,” he advised.

In a constantly changing economic world, advanced education is not just a certificate to decorate a resume but a foundation for expanding one’s mindset, building long-term competitive capabilities, and shaping a sustainable career.

For those pursuing finance—a field requiring systemic thinking and international standards—advanced education is like a “compass,” helping navigate through countless choices. More importantly, it’s a journey of self-improvement, leading not only to career success but also to confidence and happiness in life.

https://www.upgrad.com/vn/cao-hoc/