Reporter: What led you to pursue a career in technology, a field that many people believe is typically only suitable for men?

Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy: I came to the technology sector by chance. Initially, my major was finance and accounting, so I applied for an accounting internship at MISA .

However, upon joining the company, I took on various responsibilities, sometimes accounting, other times consulting on implementation, QA (quality assurance), software testing, and when needed, I was transferred to sales.

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MISA General Director Dinh Thi Thuy, "iron lady" of Vietnam's technology industry.

At that time, the company's staff was small, mainly consisting of individuals responsible for programming, research, and software production.

Because of my expertise in finance and accounting, I was assigned to provide professional advice to the software engineering team. After the software was released, I continued to be the person who introduced and deployed the software to customers.

Thanks to my mindset of always being ready to learn and change to grow, I have held many positions from employee, team leader, department head, office director, deputy general director, and currently the CEO of MISA.

The journey to becoming a tech "leader" must not be easy. Could you share some of your experiences?

As I shared previously, from a simple girl who wanted to apply to MISA for an accounting internship, I was fortunate enough to be entrusted by the leadership with many key management positions in the company and am now the CEO.

Throughout that journey, the biggest challenge for me was managing, operating, and leading a technology company without any technical expertise.

This requires a great deal of effort from me. First, I must constantly seek out and learn about technological trends, especially the application of technology in products. Then, I must diligently research to thoroughly understand the technological solutions developed by the company. Only then will I have the confidence to introduce and advise clients and partners on solutions, and to provide professional training to the company's staff.

Alongside the challenges, I was also fortunate to have certain advantages. MISA is a company that provides and implements solutions and software for customers, with its core strength being finance and accounting. As a leader, I had many advantages because of my strong expertise in this field. MISA's use of automation solutions in business management also made my job easier.

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Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy has been the General Director at MISA for 8 years.

Having been with the company for 26 years, dedicating my youth to it, I have a deep understanding of the work involved in each HR position. This has been incredibly helpful in my leadership role, especially in making sound decisions.

Finally, I feel lucky to have the companionship and understanding of the company's executive board. Each member of the executive board has their own strengths, thereby creating a synergistic strength for the whole group. This is also the motivation that helps me complete my tasks well.

What about the other obstacles? How does she balance her time between caring for her family, raising her children, and working with her partner?

To balance my time between taking care of my family, raising my children and the company's diplomatic work, I have learned to work with a plan, scheduling early in order of priority. The deciding factor in the schedule is the goal and importance of each activity in each stage.

However, to balance work and family, I also have to accept some sacrifices, giving up time for myself. For example, during the week, I dedicate my enthusiasm to work, but on weekends, I will spend time with my children.

Leveraging its strengths as a technology company, MISA also offers many solutions to support me in managing and handling work remotely, thereby helping me to be more flexible in balancing my time at work and with my family.

For example, I can easily review online performance indicators and sign contracts remotely without being in the office, minimizing work bottlenecks while still having time to care for my children.

To be able to do well in both roles at the company and at home, I am always aware of the need to train well both mentally and physically, and at the same time, always keep a bright and resilient mind. In any position, women need to keep the "fire" of enthusiasm and passion for themselves, only then will they have enough endurance to maintain and do everything better every day.

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Women possess many personality traits that men lack. Is this a unique advantage for women working in technology?

There are differences between women and men when it comes to leadership. This is true not only in the IT industry but in other fields as well.

First, women are more resilient and willing to make sacrifices than men. Female leaders are often called "iron women" because they are sharp, tough, and forged by challenges. They can persistently pursue their goals over the long term while maintaining their performance.

Another strength of women is their greater tact and gentleness compared to men. This makes it easier for women to communicate and empathize with those around them.

Communication is one of women's best skills. They always know how to choose their words and use it as an invisible weapon to persuade others. Besides that, they possess exceptional tact and intuition, knowing how to be flexible and adaptable, easily handling and resolving any issue thoroughly.

At MISA, an environment where most of the leaders are men, I feel that my “femininity” is more clearly promoted. My softness and gentleness will compensate for the rigidity and dryness of my colleagues of the opposite sex.

What message would she like to send to women working in technology on International Women's Day (March 8th)?

Gender has never been a factor in judging an individual's work or leadership abilities. In any situation, women need to be self-assured and fully utilize their strengths to excel in every position and role.

On the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8th), I would like to wish all women, especially those working in technology, continued success in their careers and a balanced personal and family life. Careers are important, but they need to be balanced with personal and family life.

Thank you, ma'am!

Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy was born in 1976 in Tu Ky, Hai Duong . She graduated from the Accounting Department of the Hanoi University of Finance and Accounting and holds a Master's degree in Economics, Finance, and Banking from the Academy of Finance. In 2016, she was appointed General Director of MISA and has held this position ever since.
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