MASTERING THE SECOND CURVE
— Governance, Succession, and Growth Beyond the Founder

August 14, 2025 | 13:30 - 19:30
JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon — Ho Chi Minh City

OPENING REMARKS by:

His Excellency Marc E. Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam

The world is shifting — and Vietnam is, too.

From tariffs to capital flight, from succession paralysis to institutional reform, this is not a moment for business-as-usual. Global markets are fragmenting. Supply chains are rewiring. And Vietnam is entering a new phase of political and economic discipline (the Đổi Mới 2.0 era) — where bureaucracy is being cut, governance is tightening, and power is being restructured.

The margin for error is shrinking.

But here’s the real problem: most companies aren’t preparing. They’re still relying on instinct, heroics, and hustle — the same habits that worked in a more forgiving era.

What they’re not doing is building what matters most now:

  • Strong governance

  • Clear succession

  • Leadership teams that can operate without them

And this isn’t just a family business issue. It’s hitting self-made founders, growth-stage startups, and even market leaders — all facing the same truth:

The company has outgrown the leadership model.

There’s scale — but no system. Growth — but no clarity.

This is what we call the Second Curve: The point where the instincts that built your business start to quietly hold it back.

Vanguard Connect – August 2025 is where Vietnam’s serious leaders come to confront that curve — before it breaks them. Not with theory — but with structure, strategy, and a new kind of leadership mindset.

Whether you built the business or inherited it, the challenge is the same: Can you evolve fast enough to lead the next phase?

AGENDA

1:30PM

ARRIVAL & NETWORKING, CHECK-IN

2:00PM

OPENING REMARKS

  • Pham Quang Vinh, Vietnam Ambassador to the US (2014 - 2018)

WELCOME REMARKS

  • Cuong Dang, Founder & Chair, Vietnam Vanguard

2:15PM — 2:45PM

STRATEGIC PANEL
Navigating the New Playing Field: Investment, Incentives, and Institutions in a Realigned Asia

  • Il-Dong Kwon— Managing Partner, Head of BCG Vietnam

  • Jade Koh— Regional Director, Singapore EDB

  • An Vo (Moderator)— Founding Partner, JANUS Executive Search

2:45PM — 3:05PM

EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE
Staying the Course: Structure That Outlasts Momentum
A candid conversation with Doan Viet Dai Tu

  • Doan Viet Dai Tu— Co-Founder, Chairman, OpenAsia Group

  • Cuong Dang (Moderator)— Founder, Vietnam Vanguard, Managing Director, rēsu

3:05PM — 3:20PM

LAUNCH: VANGUARD EXECUTIVE ACADEMY
In partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School

  • Pro. Markus Baer, Vice Dean of Degree and Non-Degree Executive Education

3:20PM — 3:40PM

TEA BREAK & NETWORKING

3:40PM — 4:10PM

EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE
The Hard Path to Growth: From Survival Instinct to Institutional Agility

4:10PM — 5:10PM

LEADERSHIP PANEL
The Leap to the Second Curve: Inside the Breakthrough Moment

5:10PM

CLOSING REMARKS

  • His Excellency Marc E. Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam

  • Cuong Dang, Founder & Chair, Vietnam Vanguard

5:30PM — 7:30PM

PRIVATE COCKTAIL RECEPTION & NETWORKING
Hosted gathering with all attendees, speakers, Vanguard members, and regional guests. Opportunity for informal peer learning and cross-border introductions

Strategic Partnership Announcement

Vanguard Executive Academy — a bold new partnership between Vanguard and Olin Business School (Washington University in St. Louis), delivering executive education for Vietnam’s new era of leadership.

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Washington University in St. Louis —
Olin Business School

Supporting Partners

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Speakers

  • Amb. Pham Quang Vinh

    Vietnam Ambassador to the US (2014 - 2018)

  • His Excellency Marc E. Knapper

    U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam

  • A man wearing glasses in a dark suit with arms crossed, standing in front of a dark background.

    Doan Viet Dai Tu

    Co-Founder, Chairman — OpenAsia

  • Mai Huu Tin

    Chairman, CEO — U&I Investment Corporation

  • A smiling man in a white dress shirt stands in front of a wall with a framed black and white portrait of a historical figure. The room features elegant decor, including silver candleholders on the wall.

    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

  • An Vo

    An Vo (moderator)

    Founding Partner — JANUS Executive Search & Talent Advisory

  • Il-Dong Kwon

    Managing Director & Partner — BCG Vietnam

  • A smiling woman in a red wrap top and pink skirt standing outdoors near a large abstract sculpture with trees in the background.

    Chrystie Dao (moderator)

    Managing Partner, rēsu Consulting & Capital Advisory (RCCA)

  • Gopal Shukla

    CEO — IIT Bombay-Washington University in St Louis

  • Quang Pham (moderator)

    GP, Executive IC Member — ABB Private Equity

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    Cuong Dang (host)

    Founder, Chairman — Vietnam Vanguard

  • David Do

    Founder, GP — Vietnam Investments Group (VIG)

  • A man in a suit with a pin on his lapel, speaking at a professional event or conference.

    Ba Diep Nguyen

    Co-Founder — MoMo (M_Service)

Previous Speakers & Special Guests

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    Te Cheng Pang

    Consul General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City

  • A middle-aged man with a beard and short hair, wearing a navy blue button-up shirt, posing against a neutral background.

    Marco Brue

    Senior Advisor and Former Founding Partner — McKinsey & Co. Thailand, Vietnam

  • Man smiling in a chair wearing a light blue denim shirt with folded hands.

    Michael H. Nguyen

    Deputy CEO — Masan Group

  • A smiling person wearing a light gray suit and a blue shirt, standing with arms crossed.

    Uc My (Omi) Dang

    Chairlady — TTC AgriS, Betrimex

  • Tri Thong Le

    Tri Thong Le

    Vice Chairman, CEO — PNJ

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    Thai Binh Nguyen

    Deputy CEO — REE Corporation

  • Linh Thai

    Linh Thai (moderator)

    CEO — Skills Bridge

  • Man laughing in a formal setting with blurred foreground

    Cuong Dang

    Founder, Chairman — Vietnam Vanguard

  • A bald man wearing a blue suit and white shirt with red accents, standing in front of a screen with text, holding a microphone labeled 'Vanguard', and speaking while holding a white notepad.

    Nadir Ali Zafar

    Chief Experience Officer (CXO) — Human Capital Leadership Institute

By the Numbers
Vanguard Connect (May 2025)

120+

total attendees

100+

C-level executives and founders

90+

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

What to Expect

Vanguard Connect is a closed-door forum where Vietnam’s most serious leaders confront what most avoid:

  • Governance that enables growth

  • Succession that empowers, not confuses

  • Teams that function without the founder

This is not theory.

This is strategy, structure, and unfiltered leadership insight — from those who’ve done it.

“Marco Breu’s session completely reframed how I think about growth. Instead of chasing one big bet, I walked away with a practical framework to manage multiple initiatives with clarity and discipline. ‘Portfolio of initiatives’ concept was one of the most useful things I’ve heard all year.”

TICKETS

Vanguard Members

2,460,000vnd

(~$95)
(early bird 20% off, ends July 25th, 2025)

Non-Members

3,250,000vnd

(~$125)
(early bird 20% off, ends July 25th, 2025)

NOTE: Vanguard Connect is a member and invite-only event, please send us email to request for tickets and indicate whether you’re a member or non member, our team will connect further.

Please contact us if you have further questions.

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