Strong characters of entrepreneurs born in the year of the tiger

Le Vinh Son, General Director of Son Ha International Company: An entrepreneur must be the sole leader of his colleagues.

I could easily feel the closeness and confidence once I first met him. Establishing his career as a manufacturer of Inox water tanks, Son Ha has now become the leading stainless steel manufacturer in Vietnam. The annual total revenue of the corporation is around VND1 trillion and it is striving to reach VND1.2 trillion by the end of 2010. Its products are often voted “High Vietnamese quality products” and have won the “Vietnamese Gold Star” award. Son Ha is among Vietnam’s top 500 private enterprises. For this great contribution, the corporation was awarded the Labour Order third class by the State.

Reporter: As you have said, when you are younger you were naughty and always up to some mischief or other every time you play with other children. What made you change so rapidly to become a very successful entrepreneur?

Son: It must be my family’s guidance. My parents were very strict with their children. Then one day, I realised I needed goals in my life. After that, I started to gather my knowledge and determine to reach those goals.

Reporter: Do you ever think in terms of defeating your competitors?

Son: That thought crossed my mind 10 years ago when I was still young and very ambitions. However, that thought is now out of my mind. I am now calmer than before. Some people even say that I am a little too calm.

Reporter: The global financial crisis has badly affected domestic enterprises. What have you done to iron out snags?

When the crisis hit, I too felt myself losing hope as the banks withdrew all the credit it had extended to enterprises. However, at the same time I felt a deep sense of responsibility for my company and for my thousands workers. I told myself that I had to face this head on and keep doubts to myself. I also resolved to encourage my staff so that they could handle any difficult tasks lying ahead.

Hoang Minh Chau, General Director of Nam Duoc Joint Stock Company: credit where credit due.

In 2001, Chau established Nata-Hoa Linh Medical Company. He then suddenly resigned from the company in 2009 while it was very successful to become director of the nearly bankrupt Nam Duoc Joint Stock Company with a mission to rescue the business. Talking about his unusual decision, he shared that he wanted to know how he could help an endangered company.

Reporter: Was it not extremely risky for you to give up a successful company to chair a company in great difficulty?

Chau: I have poured in around VND28 billion to become the largest stockholder of the company. Over the last 4-5 months, I have been very busy just keeping the company alive and I suppose that it will take at least one year for it to fully recover.

I have changed all the targets for the company and put aside the Western medicine which suffered great losses in three successive years to concentrate on Southern medicine.

I was born in a poor village in Nam Dan district, central Nghe An province. It is no pain no gain for the people with rural origins like me. It is no bed of roses, it requires real determination to achieve success.

Reporter: Why did you invest such a huge amount of money to invest in Southern medicine?

Chau: There are four main reasons for my decision:

The first is a personal affair. The former director and now chairman of the Nam Duoc Joint Stock Company did his very best to establish the company, but failed to make it success. He is also my brother-in-law so I really want to help him.

Second, I think that it is a great challenge for any young person. We do business not only for profit but also for our specific ambitions. So when push comes to shove T will be willing to try.

Third, after years of study, I can see the great potential of Southern medicine.

The final reason is the responsibility I feel for the hundreds of devoted people in my company. Although they did not receive any wages for 7-8 months, none of them resign from their jobs.

I came to the company last August and four months after that the company turned a profit for the first time after 3 years of operation. By January this month, we had paid all the salary for the workers. There are still many troubles ahead but it is up to people my age to clearly identify our dreams and dare to challenge these troubles.

Tran Viet Hung– Investment Director of APEC Investment Company: I want to take on new exciting challenges.

Although he graduated from Construction University, Hung is now very successful in a totally different business. He is an investment director for APEC Investment Company, established in July 2006, with charter capital of VND500 billion. The company aims at becoming a flag carrier in real estate and financial investment.

Reporter: You seem not to have the temperament of a tiger. May be you do not have a strong character?

Hung: Actually, I am a pleasant person but I am very decisive at work. I find that people born in the year of tiger are often straightforward, full of determination and manly. You may find me a little introverted but this is how I consider my business.

Reporter: I guess that you have not had to face any difficulties in life?

Hung: How do you know? I feel that I am very lucky to have received help from a lot of people. My parents always took care of me and encouraged me to study hard when I was young. I met my wife through a match maker and then decided to work in other fields at the suggestion of my friends. I think one good turn deserves another.

Reporter: You worked in construction sector for around 9 years and then all at once changed your mind. What is the reason for your sudden move?

I want to take on new exciting challenges. Besides, my friends, who are leaders at the APEC Investment Company asked me to work with them. How do you feel when fighting off a new challenge? For me it is really incredible.

Reporter: Did you ever think you may still lack knowledge when moving to a brand new business.

I have to admit that I read a lot of books related to financial investment and had participated in the stock exchange market before accepting the job. I am very flexible and my job has gone very smoothly. So far I have not faced any problems.