The Human Equation in the Age of AI

Redefining Talent, Trust, and Leadership in the Intelligent Economy

A Vanguard × WashU Olin Executive Briefing | Ho Chi Minh City
October 30, 2025 | 16:00 - 18:30

Request Tickets

Contact for Sponsorship

AI is changing everything — but leadership is still human.

Presented by Washington University in St. Louis (Olin Business School) and Vietnam Vanguard, this private forum brings together business and academic leaders to confront one critical question:

How can organizations harness AI without losing the human core that drives innovation, trust, and long-term growth?

This session explores how AI is transforming leadership, capability building, and the future of work in Vietnam and across Asia.

Focus: AI, human capital, leadership, organizational learning

Format: 2.5-hour private forum + networking cocktail

Participants: 70-100 C-suite members, senior leaders, founders, and diplomats

Host: Washington University in St. Louis × Vietnam Vanguard

AGENDA

16:00 - 16:30

Registration & Networking

16:30 - 16:40

Opening Remarks

Cuong Dang, Founder & Chair of Vietnam Vanguard

16:40 - 17:15

Keynote: “The Impact of AI on Human Capital Development”

Prof. Markus Baer, Vice Dean, WashU Olin Business School — on creativity, adaptability, and decision-making in the AI era.

17:15 - 18:00

Panel Discussion: Building Organizations That Learn

Featuring experts from WashU, Google, Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), and OCB Bank — how companies turn disruption into capability.

18:00 - 19:30

Cocktail & Networking Reception

Featured Speakers

A man in a dark suit, glasses, and a yellow tie smiling while holding a microphone, standing indoors with a decorative background.

Prof. Markus Baer

Vice Dean of Executive Education, Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business School

Prof. Markus Baer is a leading global authority on creativity, innovation, and leadership in complex, fast-changing environments. As Vice Dean of Executive Education at Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, he helps leaders and organizations build cultures that thrive amid disruption. His research focuses on how individuals and teams generate breakthrough ideas, adapt to uncertainty, and lead transformation — the very capabilities that define success in the age of artificial intelligence.

Prof. Baer’s work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and MIT Sloan Management Review, and his executive programs have guided senior leaders from Fortune 500 companies and government institutions across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Pham Hong Hai

Chief Executive Officer, OCB Bank

Phạm Hồng Hải is the Chief Executive Officer of OCB (Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank), one of Vietnam’s leading private banks. A seasoned banking executive with nearly three decades of experience in international and domestic financial markets, he is widely recognized for his strategic leadership in driving digital transformation and organizational modernization in the banking sector.

Before joining OCB in 2024, Mr. Hải spent 28 years at HSBC, where he made history as the first Vietnamese CEO of HSBC Vietnam and later served in senior international roles with HSBC Canada. His leadership has consistently centered on building open banking ecosystems, leveraging technology and data to scale financial services, and fostering high-performance talent cultures.

At OCB, he is spearheading an ambitious strategy to position the bank as a top-tier player in Vietnam through digitalization, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.

Marc Woo

Managing Director, Google Vietnam (Google Asia Pacific)

Marc Woo leads Google’s business operations in Vietnam, overseeing growth strategy, partnerships and talent development in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-moving digital economies. He joined Google in 2011 and previously served as Managing Director of Google Malaysia & Frontier Markets, building the company’s presence across regional markets.

He holds a first-class honours degree in Actuarial Science from the London School of Economics and began his career in technology consulting and digital agency work.

Under his leadership, Google is deepening investment in Vietnam’s startup ecosystem, AI talent development and digital transformation agenda.

Herman Loh

Head of SEAO & Deputy Executive Director of Digital Industry Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board

Herman Loh joined the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) in 2019. He is the Senior Vice-President & Head of Region covering the markets of Southeast Asia and Oceania. He is concurrently the Senior Vice-President & Deputy Executive Director of Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), the single interface of the Singapore Government for the Infocomm and Media industry, that aims to encourage technology companies to create competitive products and services from Singapore for Asia, and for the world. Until October 2025, he was the Senior Vice-President & Head of Region covering the markets of South Asia, Middle East, and Africa. He was previously a Vice- President of the Conglomerates Division.

Prior to joining EDB, Herman spent over a decade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), with a focus on the Southeast Asia region. He has also covered the Middle East and South Asia regions during his MFA career. He was posted to the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta from 2009 to 2012, before being appointed as Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Minister for Law.

Leadership in the Age of Intelligence

AI is easy.
Adaptation is hard.

Tools are advancing faster than people — and organizations are struggling to keep up.

Human capital is Vietnam’s next strategic advantage.

As automation scales, creativity, ethics, and learning agility define competitiveness.

This forum is about foresight and action.

We’re connecting leaders who shape policies, cultures, and teams that thrive amid technological upheaval.

Previous Speakers

Amb. Pham Quang Vinh

Vietnam Ambassador to the US (2014 - 2018)
His Excellency Marc E. Knapper

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
Doan Viet Dai Tu

Co-Founder, Chairman — OpenAsia
Mai Huu Tin

Chairman, CEO — U&I Investment Corporation
Prof. Markus Baer

Vice Dean of Executive Education — Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School
Jade Koh

Regional Director (Thailand and Vietnam) — Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
Trong Kien Tran

Chairman, CEO — Thien Minh Group (TMG)
Ngoc Thao Tran

Vice Chairwoman — Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ), CEO — PNJP
Il-Dong Kwon

Managing Director & Partner — BCG Vietnam

Co-Host
Washington University in St. Louis — Olin Business School
A top 15 U.S. business school, recognized globally for research and executive education in leadership, innovation, and organizational strategy.

Seal of Washington University in St. Louis featuring a shield with stars, fleur-de-lis, and a banner with the Latin motto "Per Veritatem Vis," surrounded by a red circular border with white text reading "Washington University in St. Louis 1853."

Washington University in St. Louis —
Olin Business School

Partner with Us to Shape the Future of Work

Be part of Vietnam’s most forward-looking leadership dialogue.

Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for companies driving transformation in technology, talent, or leadership development.

Request Sponsorship Prospectus

A man with a beard and gray hair speaking into a microphone at a conference. He is wearing a striped shirt, black pants, and a red lanyard. A large screen behind him displays text about leaders scaling their approach. A podium labeled "Vanguard Conne

A man speaking into a microphone during a conference, seated on a yellow chair, with a dark background, with bottles of water and flowers on the table in front of him.

A man in a gray suit speaks into a microphone during a panel discussion or conference.

Four people engaged in conversation at a conference or networking event, with others and tables in the background.

Two men in suits smiling and posing at a conference with a backdrop behind them. The backdrop contains logos and text, including 'SG Leaders Network' and 'Scaling Beyond Borders.'

A woman with short black hair and wearing a beige blazer with black trim, sitting at a formal event with a floral centerpiece, surrounded by other guests, and looking attentively to the side.

A group of people attending a conference or event, with some taking photos and others watching a presentation, including a woman in white and a man smiling.

Group of six professionally dressed people at a conference or event, smiling for a photo, with floral arrangements and conference signs on the table in front of them.

Business professionals shaking hands and engaging in conversation at a conference or networking event.

Audience seated at conference, clapping, with floral centerpiece and water bottles on black tables.

A man with glasses and gray hair wearing a white shirt and a VIP badge seated at a conference, with other attendees listening in the background.

Three people in business attire smiling at a conference or event, with a large red 'VANGU' sign nearby.

Panel discussion at a conference with five speakers on stage, large screen behind them displaying 'Leadership Stories Behind Global Growth,' audience seated in a darkened room, and decorative light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.

A man with long, dark hair tied back, wearing a navy suit, white shirt, and patterned red tie, speaking into a microphone at a conference. He has a watch on his left wrist and a blue lapel pin on his suit jacket.

A group of men sitting at a conference table, listening attentively, with water bottles and floral arrangements in front of them.

A woman with long black hair smiling while holding a glass of red wine, engaged in conversation with a bald man wearing glasses, in a social event setting.

Attentive man with glasses on his head, white shirt, and a red lanyard sitting at a conference table with water bottles, a glass, and notepad, in a professional setting with other seated attendees in the background.

A woman with black hair, glasses, and red lipstick wearing a patterned black and white top attending a conference.

A woman sitting at a conference table, listening attentively. She has long dark hair, is wearing a navy blazer and a light-colored dress with stripes. Behind her, a man in a white shirt is looking at his phone, and another person is standing with arm

A group of professionals at a conference or networking event, with one woman in a white blazer with navy trim in the center laughing and engaging with others, surrounded by people including a man in a patterned shirt and a woman with glasses, all wea

A group of professionals attending a conference, sitting at a table, listening attentively, with some taking notes, wearing conference badges.

Two men in conversation at a professional event, one wearing a blue suit and the other wearing a white shirt, both with red conference lanyards, smiling and holding smartphones.

Three men smiling and talking at a networking event, holding glasses of wine, with other attendees in the background.

Three people engaged in conversation at a professional event, with name badges around their necks, in a well-lit indoor setting.

Three men in suits at a formal event, holding glasses of white wine, engaging in a toast or conversation with a festive background featuring fireworks and the partial word 'Vaccine'.

Panel discussion at a conference with five speakers seated on stage, a large screen behind them displaying the event details, and an audience in the foreground. The stage features a red 'Vanguard' sign.

A woman in a white blazer sitting in a dark room, holding a smartphone and taking a photo of a presentation on a screen. A man is seated next to her, looking ahead.

By the Numbers

(from previous events)

500+

total attendees

420+

C-level executives and founders

400+

leading companies

sectors including FMCG, real estate, manufacturing, tech, logistics, and capital markets

Attendees included:

Founders of $10M–$200M businesses
Next-gen successors from Vietnam’s top family enterprises
Senior execs from MNCs and high-growth startups
Institutional advisors, investors, and board-level mentors

Participation & Access

Participation at The Human Equation in the Age of AI is by invitation to ensure a high-caliber, senior-level dialogue.

A limited number of professional access seats are available for emerging leaders and executives who wish to engage in this conversation on the future of human capital and leadership in the age of artificial intelligence.
* ALL prices are exclusive of VAT