Vietnam's Quest to Improving Gender Diversity in the Workforce

Known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities Vietnam is one of the most dynamic emerging countries in Eastern Asia. The country's shift from a centrally planned to a market economy has transformed the country from one of the poorest in the world into a lower middle-income country, over the period today. Its economy is based on large state-owned industries such as textiles, food, furniture, plastics and paper as well as tourism and telecommunications. According to World Bank, 2022 reports, Agriculture represented 14.8 percent of GDP, and employed 38 percent of the total workforce in 2021. Where countries across are growing humongous due to globalization, Vietnam has benefited too as major companies have moved their manufacturing there to take advantage of the low costs, developed infrastructure, supportive business environment, and success in mitigating the economic effects of COVID-19. Moreover, World Bank also reports Vietnam's economic recovery to have accelerated over the last six months on the back of resilient manufacturing and a robust rebound in services.

Barriers and support to women in education and job world have widely been a topic since ever, globally, and it has been no different for Vietnam, too. However, despite the Gender Equality Law introduced in 2006 by the Vietnamese government to promote equal opportunities to women and also reducing the Gender Gap Index score of 70 percent in Vietnam, there are few women in leadership roles in several sectors. And, some those exist, and are leading the Vietnam's business and industry sector to grow & stand out in the world today need to be acknowledged for their dexterous skills.

Our endeavour at Women Entrepreneur Magazine has always been to highlight remarkable women leaders across geographies and industries. In keeping with our motto, the current issue of the Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine features a list of prolific women leaders from Vietnam.

In this month’s magazine edition meet Ha Tram, Managing Director, Oriflame Vietnam. Ha Tram’s journey began as the Chief Financial Officer at Otis Elevator, where she honed her skills in financial management and strategic planning. Her journey within Oriflame VN began in 2002 when she joined as the CFO. Her remarkable trajectory led to her appointment as the CEO in 2015. Her impact on the company was profound, particularly in the realm of direct sales. Under her leadership, Oriflame Vietnam witnessed an impressive turnaround, experiencing three-digit sales growth percentages over three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018.

In this edition also read about Lai Nguyen, President & CEO, Vinatoken. She spearheads innovative strategies in non-woven fabric and personal protective equipment manufacturing. With over two decades of industry expertise, Lai drives sustainable growth while championing ethical leadership. Recognized as a trailblazer, they propel Vinatoken towards global prominence through visionary leadership and strategic foresight.

Read more about these women leaders and the secret to their success.

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