Young Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan share IT career

Those in attendance also included five leading experts in the field of information technology (IT) with a view to providing valuable insights to youngsters to better shape their career prospects.

The first session, themed IT trends and in-depth perspectives, provided participants with the latest updates on digital transformation, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

According to Nguyen Dong Dung, Senior IT Consultant at HBLAB, digital transformation is not just an IT issue but a comprehensive overhaul of how businesses operate and create value. Drawing from his experience at major corporations, he outlined the realities and challenges of digital transformation. He predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to surge in the next decade, though human intervention in project management and strategic decision-making will remain indispensable.

Nguyen Phuong Thao from KDDI Digital Security gave a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity in Japan.  The Japanese government is poised to invest 6 billion JPY (US$39 million) in cybersecurity by 2025, creating significant career opportunities for Vietnamese IT and security professionals.

Launching a successful startup in the IT sector was another talking point of the forum. Do Ba Duc, founder and CEO of Tokyo Techies, shared practical lessons from his start-up journey. He gave advice to participants on technical expertise, management, and planning to successfully develop and market products.

In the second session, Nguyen Huy Thang, CEO of HBLAB, and Vu Nhat Minh, Senior Software Engineer at Stripe, presented two distinct perspectives - one from leadership and the other from technical expertise. Both speakers, however, echoed a common piece of advice - there is no one-size-fits-all career path, what matters is to make the best of the choice and persevere.

Established in 2016, VPJ is a non-profit organization of young Vietnamese professionals in Japan. Its mission is to serve as a hub for career advice and networking, offering workshops, interview training, and career consultancy. Building on the success of past events, the VPJ Career Forum 2024 not only inspired young professionals with real-world experience and expertise but also opened up opportunities for networking and enhancing connections within the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Participants noted their appreciation for the event’s practical guidance, especially in navigating careers in IT amidst Japan's rapidly evolving technological landscape. The forum concluded with a networking session, reinforcing ties within the vibrant Vietnamese professional community in the East Asian nation.