KMS CEO: 'I believe in the balance between long-term and short-term investments'

Having been with KMS for 16 years, Mr. Nguyen Lam Vinh Du continues his new journey as General Director, leading the company into the AI era with a philosophy of sustainable innovation.

On April 21, KMS Technology Vietnam officially appointed Mr. Nguyen Lam Vinh Du to the position of General Director, in charge of all the company's operations in Vietnam.

At a pivotal moment when AI continues to change the way all aspects of life operate, Mr. Nguyen Lam Vinh Du - head of a team of more than 1,100 technology engineers - shared about leadership identity, value fulcrum philosophy, a series of innovation challenges, as well as how to maintain the vision of being a leading company in providing comprehensive, flexible and sustainable software development solutions.

In 2000, information technology (IT) in Vietnam was in a period of transformation following the world, initially approaching and applying software in many economic and social fields. Mr. Nguyen Lam Vinh Du decided to join a pioneering Vietnamese company developing software for the US market, in the context of the software outsourcing industry beginning to emerge. It was here that he had the opportunity to work with veteran names, consultants and pioneering software engineers in Vietnam.

In 2009, joining KMS Technology as Delivery Director, Mr. Du directly participated in consulting services, developing solutions and managing software projects for domestic and international customers, in diverse fields such as e-commerce, banking, digital finance and insurance. He is trusted for his extensive experience in both technical capacity and specialized management skills in the software industry.

Starting with a background in technical logic, and cultivating leadership skills through software products that require high teamwork challenges, Mr. Du defines the leadership role as a journey of companionship: Where the leader listens and connects collective energy, like links linked through an optimal algorithm.

The new CEO of KMS Technology believes that the most difficult thing in human resource management is not assigning tasks or monitoring performance, but rather the vision of each individual, with the limitations, constraints and different variables they carry. Leaders do not only expect a homogeneous group, but must also awaken diverse potential and create conditions for each person to maximize their own potential.

“Leadership is understanding. Working alone, individual will can make a difference. But in a large organization, that will needs to be transformed into collective energy,” Mr. Du shared.

After more than two decades working in the IT industry, Mr. Du looks back at his passion and excitement for the constant development of the technology industry, along with the joy of learning every day at work and with colleagues, as the great motivation that keeps him going.

“The more I work, the more I realize that the greatest value is not in what I already know or have, but in what I can learn every day,” said Mr. Du.

Throughout his career, Mr. Du has shaped his own working philosophy, applied to his role as a business operator, based on four core values: Modesty, cooperation, perseverance and customer focus. Modesty to avoid being domineering, cooperation to avoid being alone, perseverance to avoid retreating, and customer focus so that every decision has a valuable foundation.

He emphasized the role of integrity in decision-making, especially controversial decisions. A leader, he said, needs to be courageous enough to choose what is right for the organization, even if it is not convenient for the individual.

“As an employee, each individual can only do their own job well. But as a leader, success is no longer a personal story, but a resonance. If you do not put the organization first, it is easy to fall into the trap of 'ego' and let it lead instead of the company's interests," Mr. Du expressed.

It is these simple but difficult to practice principles that have helped Mr. Du gradually build the trust of his staff, management and customer partners. For him, the quality of a leader does not lie in standing out from others, but in creating conditions for others to shine while still maintaining their own individual identity.

Taking on the position of General Director of KMS Technology Vietnam at a pivotal time, when artificial intelligence continues to change the way the technology industry operates, Mr. Du maintains the vision of leading KMS to transform into a leading provider of comprehensive, flexible and sustainable software development solutions and services.

According to Mr. Du, innovation is not a race against the market, but a long-term journey, guided by a clear strategy and real values. Innovation is only valuable when it meets three core criteria: Solving real customer problems, improving team capacity, and contributing to the sustainable growth of the organization. These are not short-term initiatives for show, but purposeful investments, linked to long-term goals. This philosophy is also the compass that helps him make strategic decisions in his new role.

“First, I always start with the customer, innovation must have a specific reason, stemming from their real needs. Second, I believe in the balance between long-term investment and ‘quick wins’, which keep the organization motivated without losing sight of the vision. And finally, I always prioritize human development because human resources are the company’s most valuable and long-term asset,” Mr. Du emphasized.

As someone who has been with the company since the early days with 20 engineers, until now, when the organization has surpassed the milestone of over 1,000 employees and is present in three major markets: the US, Vietnam and Mexico, Mr. Du understands better than anyone that scale creates strength, but the value of internal connection is the solid foundation for the ability to break through.

KMS is currently focusing on promoting service provision in three areas of strength: Enterprise software, healthcare, and digital finance. Under Mr. Du's leadership, KMS Technology's goal is to achieve double to triple growth in the next 3 to 5 years, leading the software market in at least two segments, and increasing the proportion of revenue from consulting services.

One of the key factors for KMS to achieve that goal in this AI era, Mr. Du said, is that the company is continuing to build an Innovation Center, focusing on researching and developing AI solutions applied in key areas. This is not just to keep up with trends, but to build deep expertise in integrating AI into specific software solutions, solving real customer problems.

“We do not invest in R&D to follow trends but to solve practical problems in the industry - a field in which we have strengths. That is the way to innovate without being swept away by the market but leading the market,” the new CEO of KMS Technology shared.

Along with the goal of business development, building a working environment to attract and retain talent is also one of the top priorities under the leadership of the new General Director. The flexible working model "Flexi-work" is maintained and optimized, combining working at the office, at home and at the customer's office. But the more important thing is how to make each employee feel attached, have a clear development path and feel that they are growing with the organization.

“I don't just want to look at the talent retention rate, but pay more attention to the professional development path and employee satisfaction with the company,” Mr. Du commented.

Within the overall strategy of organizational development, Mr. Du affirmed that contributing to the community is the core value that he and the leadership team will continue to aim for on the next journey.

“We continue to expand knowledge and experience sharing activities for the IT community, maintain career guidance and train the young generation,” he said.

At the same time, KMS is on the path to promoting ESG practices, focusing on environmental protection activities, improving social security issues towards the goal of sustainable development.

“I believe that by combining business development with comprehensive ESG efforts, KMS will not only be a successful technology company but also an organization with a positive, long-term impact on society and the environment,” Mr. Du shared.