During a workshop on open innovation for social impact held on 12/12, Do Thuy Duong, chief executive officer of management consulting firm The Map, highlighted the issue of too many individuals wanting to support and guide the younger generation.
The event was part of the National Innovation and Startup Festival TechFest Vietnam, organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD).
The prevalence of mentors and coaches is confusing future human resources with excessive advice. "Taking action and learning through trial and error will provide more relevant lessons than simply listening to guidance from older generations," Duong stated.
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Do Thuy Duong, CEO of The Map (left), and Dinh Tran Tuan Linh, founder of Unikon (right), at the event. Photo: MSD |
Dinh Tran Tuan Linh, founder of technology company Unikon, echoed this sentiment, noting that successful individuals often use past experiences to assess the training and development needs of young people. Another common mistake, he added, is judging others by their own standards or viewing old methods as the only correct approach.
Regarding failure among young people, experts suggest that entrepreneurs should "let them fail and stumble" instead of judging the severity of their fall or how they should be helped up. Advice and guidance, they proposed, should be organized scientifically, like a buffet, allowing young people to choose the support they want.
Concerning essential skills for future employees, experts believe young people need to unlearn outdated knowledge or irrelevant experiences, and disregard others' perspectives and biases to discover their own identity. The Map's CEO identified three core competencies for the future workforce: self-understanding, rapid learning, and creating market-needed value.
Nguyen Phuong Linh, director of MSD United Way Vietnam, stated that human resources represent one of the significant barriers to Vietnam's social innovation and startup ecosystem, alongside challenges in data and cooperation mechanisms.
Pham Hong Quat, director of the Department of Startup and Technology Enterprises under the Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized the crucial role of open innovation in national development. "Open" is defined as creating new spaces for all parties to participate, listen, and co-create solutions, considered the most effective approach to address challenges such as inequality, climate change, and rapid urbanization.
"When an elderly person in a rural area, a woman with disabilities, or a student from a remote region can contribute data and feedback, the ecosystem becomes not only smarter but also more equitable and humane, addressing root issues for sustainable development," the MSD director added.
Bao Bao
