Inspirational words of encouragement and enriched experience made by Ms. Do Thi Kim Lien, also known as Shark Lien, the Chairwoman of the AquaOne Corporation, at the 'Startup journey with Shark Lien’ talk shows recently held in Da Nang offered local students the opportunity to acquire real-world experience and the know-how to launch their own startup projects in the future.

Shark Lien addresses a talkshow at Da Nang-based Duy Tan University. Photo: T.V

The talk shows with this special guest took place at the private universities of Duy Tan and Dong A University, along with the University of Economics, a member school of the University of Da Nang (UD), with support from the Da Nang Youth Union and the city’s Students’ Association.

Attending such a talk show at the Duy Tan University, student Huynh Thi Thu Tam, a second-year student majoring in business administration eagerly said: “I looked forward to getting something highly interesting about Shark Lien's entrepreneurial journey. Because of my strong passion for doing business, I have come up with a lot of startup ideas but I have not yet dared to start up. The talk helped me orient what to do when starting a business as well as must-have skills to seize opportunities to start my own bussiness.”

With the same desire to learn from Shark Lien's startup experience, student Do Thi Thanh Hang from the Dong A University said that the entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm and passion on the path of establishing a career is always in each person is always an interesting story. Shark Lien's startup lessons have inspired and spread business motivation to many young people at home and abroad. Therefore, consulting the practical experience from shark Lien helps me gain more new entrepreneurial knowledge.

According to Shark Lien, once embarking upon their own business, each person needs to be psychologically prepared to accept success or failure. Those two facts always go hand in hand and the entrepreneur himself/herself does not have the right to choose. “It forces us to change our perspective, turn negative things into positive ones, balance all emotions so that we can overcome failure strongly,” said shark Lien.

Answering the question raised by Nguyen Thanh Phuong, a third year student in marketing at the Da Nang University of Economics about how to convince companions and investors to pour capital into startups, Shark Lien emphasized, in order to bring a product to market, you need to survey customer needs, calculate the investment route, investment risk, strengths and differences compared to other products in the same segment, how long it take to start up and make a profit. Importantly, the products should be sustainable and environmentally- friendly. I believe that starting a business is not only to make money but also to leave a legacy for future generations. That's my rule when I intend to pour investment capital in a startup business”

Sharing the same opinion, Master Tran Nhat Tan, Vice President of the Duy Tan University, said that starting a business is not limited to setting up a business or opening a service, but also starting your own career, creating positive values for individuals, families and communities. To be successful in life as well as in the entrepreneurial journey, we need to cultivate great aspirations and uphold real-life spirit and practice. According to Mr. Tan, Shark Lien-offered valuable sessions will help to form strategic judgments and apply them to business ideas.

In the context of growing globalisation, the interweaving of culture, education, economy, technology, and social networks brings great challenges to the young generation. Therefore, the role of learning and creativity is an important foundation that students need to equip on the path of entrepreneurship. With the desire to help young people gain more knowledge and awareness about entrepreneurship as well as develop inherent skills, the Da Nang Youth Union is organising a talk show series ‘Startup journey with shark Lien’ at 12 senior high schools and universities, junior colleges across the city from February 18 to March 12.

Shark Lien is a famous investor, diplomat, volunteer and inspirational personality in Vietnam. Currently, her projects involve the fields of insurance, technology, water quality, environmental protection and startup investment.

The talented woman usually mentors young people on how to build a solid foundation in preparation for starting a business immediately on graduation, and how to choose a suitable career and turn their passion into reality. She advised students to think positively, appreciate every different aspect of their lives, their passions and happily learn how to earn money.

Reporting by HUYNG TUONG VY - Translating by A .THU