AmCham
Mission
Work with women and their allies to enhance women leadership in AmCham, their workplaces, and the broader community in Vietnam.
2022 Strategic Plan
Top Priorities for 2022
- Serve as a resource and support team to AmCham members to enable and empower Women in Leadership.
- Create opportunities for professional networking and build a community for women leaders (AmCham members)
- Create platform for leadership skill development for entry-mid level female professionals.
- Create opportunities to showcase aspiring and established female leaders.
Key Events for 2021
- Create a series of events/ sessions for leadership skill development for entry-mid level women, both through regular meetings with speakers, and additional optional longer-term programs cross committee through monthly/quarterly meetings/events.
- Hold a quarterly series of events in partnership with other chambers to promote enabling environments, flexible format (cocktail, networking, well-being sessions, CEO breakfast meeting with facilitator, luncheon…)
Top Advocacy Issues
- Ensure female participation in all AmCham panel discussions.
- Promote female leadership in AmCham committees and Board.
- Support women leadership in other international chambers and the VBF.
Leadership Team
![]() Co-Chair Minh Nguyen, Country Manager, Vietnam, Aetna International Minh Nguyen is an Innovative Executive in Healthcare and Insurance services. Her current job is as Country Manager of Aetna International, a CVS Health company, partnering with Bao Viet General Insurance in Vietnam. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in leadership roles in insurance in emerging markets, fronting partnership, general management responsibilities ensuring operational excellence, merging and acquisitions, distribution management, talent development and driving profitable growth. Her previous employment was at American International Group (AIG) (profit center management),Prudential Insurance (distribution management), APAVE Consulting (enterprises quality certification consulting) and Taylor Nelson Sofres (media research). She graduated with honors at Foreign Trade University, hold a Master of Science, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom and EE, Global Healthcare Leadership at Harvard Medical School. She has been volunteering at recent committees: APAC Aetna WISE (Women Inspiring Success and Excellence (WISE) with event series to embrace D&I, drive changes and create platforms to support women’s opportunities around the region. Member of Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce, HCM chapter in Vietnam since 2018 up to now, including as its Vice Chair and EXCOM committee in 2019. Co-founder of AmCham Women in Leadership Committee and continue to serve as its Board liaison and Co-Chair. Vice Chair for Private Insurance committee of Amcham Healthcare committee. Strategic Planning Advisor for Private Insurance/Payer groups & participate in several projects relating to Quality Healthcare improvement for Vietnam and advising in the promising Health/Med Tech, InsurTech start-ups She has been most proud of the courage she had for Himalayan mountain trekking, Son Doong largest cave discovery and back packing the Ha Giang’s trail. She also motivates the growth of young females & women leadership during her career by Sponsoring the Youth Talent and Women Engineering Scholarship Fund and giving lectures at local universities, giving coaching programs of leadership skills for mid-entry young women leaders. She also is a wellbeing leader by joining in many virtual and offline marathon races, a core member of Vietnamese women’s golf club and inspire the women community for a healthy lifestyle change. |
![]() Co-Chair Irene Ohler, Co-founder, Lightpath Consulting Group Irene founded Lightpath Leadership drawing on her 20+ years experience in leadership development on four continents with leaders from the corporate and government sectors. Irene has been based in Vietnam since 2012 and has since become a sought-after expert for her work to promote women leadership. Irene has pioneered a number of initiatives to inspire women: she co-authored an awarded book on Vietnamese women leaders, BaTrieu’s 21st Century Daughters. Stories of Remarkable Vietnamese Women, and founded the Women’s Storytelling Salon, an inter-cultural and inter-generational events series, in 2014, which runs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. LightPath Leadership now offers cutting edge international women leadership programmes tailored to the Vietnamese context.Irene holds a Master Degree in Sinology from Vienna University, Austria, is a certified global executive coach, and has an executive certificate: Public Narrative: Leadership, Storytelling and Action from Harvard Kennedy School | Executive Education. |
![]() Vice Chair Linh Thai, CEO and Founder, TVL Group Ms. Linh Thai has over 20 years of experience in finance, marketing, and operations. Her prior roles include CEO of Vingroup Ventures, a corporate venture capital fund; Head of Strategy and Operations at VinaCapital, one of the leading asset managers in Vietnam; and Director of Investments at DFJ VinaCapital, one of Vietnam’s first venture capital funds. Linh is also a “shark” on the Vietnamese version of Shark Tank. Linh graduated with honors from the University of Southern California and holds an MBA from The Wharton School. Linh grew up in Los Angeles, CA and has called Ho Chi Minh City home for the past 12 years. She is a mother to two daughters ages 4 years and 4 months. |
![]() Vice Chair, Enabling Environment Programs Dr. Astrid Matarrita, Psychologist, Dr. Astrid Saigon Psychology & Co Dr. Astrid is a Clinical Psychologist and Couples Counseling with +10 years of experience exclusively in Private Practice. Astrid is the vice-chair of Amcham’s Women in Leadership Committee. Her practice as a Psychotherapist has always been influenced by the concept of seeking growth through rethinking and challenging society’s paradigms and doctrines. Astrid is an advocate for both women empowerment and personal agency. Working towards the substantial efforts we are each responsible for individually, in order to reach our full potential in connection to our need for the support, experience and influence of a like-minded community. Learn more at www.saigonpsychology.com. |
![]() Vice Chair, Advocacy Mimi Vu, Partner and Consultant, Raise Partners Mimi Vu is a partner at Raise Partners, a consulting practice that helps nonprofits, philanthropists, private sector, and governments work together to achieve their highest social and environmental impact. She also serves as a Board Member of the Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. Mimi has 20 years of nonprofit experience in communications, policy, fundraising, law enforcement training, trafficking and modern slavery prevention in supply chains, program development, and advocacy for organizations including Pacific Links Foundation, Vinacapital Foundation, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. |
Vice Chair
Loi Ung, P&G Vietnam |
Honorary Advisor
TBC |
Secretary
Alissa Duong, Hinrich Foundation |
![]() Board Liaison Sai Ramana Ponugoti, Country Manager & General Director, P&G Vietnam Sai Ramana Ponugoti (Sai) leads P&G’s Vietnam operations since 2019, serving Vietnamese consumers through leadership brands across all P&G categories: Hair Care, Fabric & Home Care, Baby Care, Shave Care, Skin & Personal Care, Feminine Care, and Oral Care. He is focused on creating value for consumers and customers through defining Commercial strategies, leading Business Operations and building Go-to-market strategies – to drive category growth. Sai joined P&G in 2001 as an Account Executive in India. In his various leadership roles in P&G, he has got extensive experience in leading businesses spanning diverse consumer goods categories and trade channels. He has demonstrated expertise on developing markets, having worked across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa markets and by leading P&G’s Global Innovation center for low-income-markets. He also has extensive experience on ‘Shopper-centric retail innovation’ and partnering with retailers to create category value. He is passionate about making a difference to the lives of consumers in developing markets through P&G brands. A strong advocate for talent development, Sai has worked across diverse cultures through his P&G career and lived in India, Singapore and Switzerland. Before being appointed Country Manager & General Director for P&G Vietnam, Sai was the ‘Sales Head of India-Middle East-Africa’ for Baby Care and a key member of the Regional Business Unit leadership team based in Geneva, Switzerland for the period 2016 – 2019. In his current role, Sai works closely with government/industry bodies and serves on the Executive Committee & Board of Governors for American Chamber of Commerce, Vietnam. He has played a leadership role with the government, industry & non-profit organizations all through the pandemic period. Sai graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, and holds an MBA degree in Marketing & Operations from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow. Sai is married to Swetha and has 2 children: Anshul, 13 years old and Aditi, 10 years old. |
2022 Meeting Schedule
The Committee meeting is organised monthly and open for members only.
2021 Meeting Schedule
Mar 23, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - March (For AmCham Members Only) May 25, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - May (For AmCham Members Only) Jun 22, 2021 – 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - June (For AmCham Members Only) Jul 27, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
SUMMER BREAK: AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - July (For AmCham Members Only) Aug 24, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - August (For AmCham Members Only) Sep 28, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - September (For AmCham Members Only) Nov 24, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - November (For AmCham Members Only) Dec 28, 2021 – 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
CANCELLED: AmCham Women in Leadership Committee Meeting - December (For AmCham Members Only) |
Reference Materials for Members
Contact
Please contact us if you have any questions at wil@amchamvietnam.com
191029 Women in Leadership Wellness Event
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What a wonderful turn-out at our Women in Leadership Wellness Event!
The evening explored yoga practices for office and home that refreshed and energized the audience, guided by Robin Shepard. Members also gained fresh insights from Dr. Basma M’Barek on new data and facts on breast cancer causes and prevention methods. The event wrapped up with Q&A session on the impact of breast cancer and education opportunities with Mr. Chris Blank of Pharmacity and Dr. Basma of FV Hospital.
Thank you to our evening’s host Nike, as well as our other sponsors, speakers and the engaged audience that made our wellness event a success!
191007 Women in Leadership October Committee Meeting
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Our Women in Leadership committee had a full house for its October planning meeting. Members offered their ideas, time and talent to help plan for a robust 2020 for this initiative. Up Next: WIL’s wellness event hosted at Nike’s corporate offices on October 29th at 5:30.
191002 Business Investing in Women
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A special thank you to Intel’s Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, Suzanne Fallender, who presented at our Business Investing in Women event. Suzanne shared ideas and strategies through various Intel case studies on global and local diversity and inclusion programs that have made a positive impact on Intel’s hiring and retention of women in various technical fields and in community outreach. As Suzanne put it, a company will make “better business decisions if it has an inclusive culture.” Thank you AmCham members for your engaging dialogue and participation!
Fore more information, please view event page
190612 Women in Leadership presents its Female Empowerment Social
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This event features guest speaker, Dr. Astrid Matarrita-Chinchilla, clinical psychologist with Saigon Psychology & Counseling, who will share with us the value of female empowerment that can be achieved through each other. It is the unification of gender and solidarity among friends where women can achieve even greater successes and personal fulfillment. As Dr. Astrid puts it, “It’s Pho for the Soul!”
Fore more information, please view event page
190410 Women in Leadership Event
10 April 2019 – Women in Leadership Event
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On 10 April, AmCham Vietnam’s Women in Leadership Committee hosted its inaugural event to a sold-out audience. The Morning Briefing offered participants robust networking and an interactive morning learning from experienced women leaders in Vietnam who shared valuable insights and information on identifying what it means to be a leader. Our keynote speaker, Irene Ohler, presented information on the traits necessary to lead in the world tomorrow, as well as the four leadership archetypes. Our guest panelists and speaker also answered audience questions on various topics, including information on their own leadership styles and overcoming challenges and barriers to their career development.
Some of the more poignant messages shared with the women professionals in attendance included:
“Clarity creates confidence.”
“Find your role models… have a vision for yourself. Lead yourself.”
“Be true to your authentic self.”
“Sometimes a warrior has to come out.”
“Be more kind to yourself…Believe in yourself.”
Special thank you the event’s sponsor Gamuda Land and to our speaker and panelists:
Ms. Irene Ohler, an Author, Consultant and Coach inLeadership.She is the co-author of an award winning book on VietnameseWomen Leaders, ‘Ba Trieu’s 21st Century Daughters’. In her business, iglobal, Irene focuses on preparing future leaders for their next role, andgetting people into the mindset to move ahead. http://www.iglobal-coaching.com/
Panelists:
Moderator: Ms. Amanda Rasmussen, AmCham’s Chairperson and Chief Operating Officer of ITL Corp
Ms. Mary Tarnowka, Consul General, U.S. Consulate inVietnam
Ms. Uyen Ho, Director, Global Public Affairs, Intel Vietnam and Malaysia
Ms. Sandra Cho, Sustainable Manufacturing & Sourcing RegionalDirector, SE Asia for Nike Inc., and member of AmCham Vietnam Board of Governors