As an expert in international business and human resource management, Dr Dang Thao Quyen believes in the concept of competitive advantages for economies, entities, and individuals navigating an ever-changing world.
Dr Dang Thao Quyen is the Senior Program Manager for International Business at The Business School, RMIT University Vietnam.
“I teach International Business, so I believe in the concept of competitive advantages,” she said. “Nobody can be perfect and it’s the same for countries. No country can be the best at everything, and we need to know what we are good at and try to maximise it.”
As low-cost labour has been Vietnam’s competitive advantage for a long time, Dr Quyen now urges for a shift of focus to high-quality, highly productive labour that can match or even stay ahead of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 trends.
When asked what her personal competitive advantage is, she said it’s her passion for connecting and developing people, which was nurtured during her pursuit of a master’s degree and a PhD in Australia in human resource management and international human resource management, respectively.
“In my current work, I love bringing industry experts to my classroom, and doing consulting projects for companies in international expansion and human resource management”, she shared.
Find out more about Dr Quyen in our video:
As an expert in international business and human resource management, Dr Dang Thao Quyen believes in the concept of competitive advantages.
I teach International Business, so I believe in the concept of competitive advantages. Nobody can be perfect and it’s the same for countries. No country can be the best at everything, and we need to know what we are good at and try to maximise it.
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Dr Dang Thao Quyen
Unlocking competitive advantages in international business
My name is Dang Thao Quyen. I’m a lecturer in International Business at RMIT University Vietnam. I’m also the Senior Program Manager of the program.
I would say international business is any business that involves an international aspect, and it’s an area in which Vietnam is thriving.
Vietnam has been a top destination for foreign direct investment, not only in the region but also on a global scale.
So, the FDI sector contributes around 73% of Vietnam's export turnover and around 20% of our GDP. And you know, that is very telling.
For a long time, Vietnam’s competitive advantage was cheap labour. But now we must focus on high quality, highly productive labour.
We must think about Industry 4.0 and 5.0, how the skills in our workforce can match or even stay ahead of those trends.
Another way to gain competitive advantages is green nation branding, or become known as a country that emphasises and excels at sustainable development, while protecting the environment.
If you asked me what my personal competitive advantage is, I’d say it’s my passion for connecting and developing people.
I did both my master’s and PhD in Australia in human resource management and international human resource management.
In my current work, I love bringing industry experts to my classroom, and doing consulting projects for companies in international expansion and human resource management.
I'm actually an introvert. So, it took lots of personal growth and stepping out of my comfort zone to get to a point where I can network with ease. What helps me is to think about the potential values for all parties.
Whenever I approach an industry partner, I think about the potential benefits for them and for my students. If we come together and share common goals and values, then that's already very good grounds to talk to each other.
That applies to international business as well. You’ll want a win-win situation, where everybody can bring the best to the table, make the most of their competitive advantages, and create prosperity together.