“Chairman Nguyen Tuan Hai of Alphanam: Avoiding the ‘Timid’ and ‘Overconfident’ Mindsets in Business Planning”

At the CEO Circle Forum 2026, hosted by CafeBiz on the afternoon of January 7th, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Chairman of Alphanam Group and a member of the Appraisal Council, shared profound insights on the mindset of “Think Big, Act Right.” According to him, to elevate a business to new heights, young CEOs must possess three essential qualities: solid knowledge, alignment with national destiny, and astute risk management skills.

Vision Must Be Grounded in Knowledge

Beginning his talk, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hai challenged the common belief that vision stems from distant dreams. For the Alphanam leader, vision is the culmination of relentless knowledge accumulation.

“A person’s vision depends on their knowledge. The only path to knowledge is lifelong learning,” Mr. Hai emphasized.

To him, learning extends beyond textbooks, encompassing real-life experiences, social interactions, and even the way one enjoys life. This learning spirit is the core “gene” he strives to instill in his team, viewing it as the key to transforming individual and organizational destinies.

The Philosophy of “Think Big, Act Right” and the National Flag on Every Ship
A pivotal aspect of Mr. Hai’s management philosophy is the seamless integration of corporate growth with national interests.

Observing the success of major corporations in South Korea and the United States, he concluded: Companies that align national goals with their own objectives are invariably the strongest.

He termed this “smooth sailing” at its peak. When businesses closely follow a nation’s development direction, they harness the collective power of policies, government support, and societal unity.

“I was deeply impressed by the Prime Minister’s statement: ‘Harmonious benefits, shared risks.’ For a business to be sustainable, its leader must embrace the concept of harmonious benefits. A company’s interests must align with community welfare and never harm the nation,” Mr. Hai shared.

The “3 Rights” Formula for CEO Success

The Alphanam Chairman distilled success into three critical choices:

Choose the Right Task: Excellence in small tasks precedes tackling grand endeavors. Focus on achieving perfection in core activities is paramount.

Choose the Right People: Beyond talent acquisition, it’s about strategic team alignment. He warned against assembling too many exceptional individuals without coordination, which leads to conflict and failure.

Choose the Right Timing: This element creates breakthrough advantages. Timing is the “catalyst” optimizing both material and spiritual resources.

Risk Management: Avoid Building on Sand

From a professional standpoint, Mr. Hai asserted that business essence lies in selecting financial models to generate resources for societal good. For sustainability, CEOs must manage through planning and, crucially, risk management.

He offered sage advice to young enterprises: Avoid extreme planning—neither too timid (low goals) nor unrealistic (unattainable goals). Treat risk management as a profitable investment and the leader’s highest responsibility.

He painted a vivid analogy: “Managing a business without risk management is like sailing a fast ship without life jackets or storm warnings. Even in calm seas, one fierce wave can sink the ship instantly.”

Reflecting on his 26-year journey since winning the Red Star Award at a young age, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Hai expressed his desire to mentor the next generation of CEOs. His final message transcended business, emphasizing national responsibility: Strive relentlessly to elevate the nation, making it prosperous and worthy of societal expectations.