Speaker: Henry Nguyen, Chairman of Phoenix Holdings; Executive Chairman of Timo; Master Franchisee, McDonald’s Vietnam; Executive Chairman of Beacon Asia Media Bloomberg Businessweek Vietnam
Moderator: Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Director, Weatherhead East Asian Institute; Dorothy Borg Associate Professor of the History of American-East Asian Relations
Are you interested in learning about life and work in a rapidly developing Vietnam? Come join an open conversation with Dr. Henry B. Nguyen as he shares stories from over two decades’ experience in a modernizing Vietnam. From being the first venture capitalist to bringing other parts of his American experience back to his native country, Dr. Nguyen will share unique stories from launching McDonald’s to starting a pro basketball team.
Speaker Bio:
Hoang (Henry) B. Nguyen is the Chairman of Phoenix Holdings, an investment firm focused on business and operations in technology, retail/consumer, financial services, education, healthcare, media, and sports & entertainment. Some of Phoenix Holdings’ companies include Vietcap Securities (HOSE:VCI), Ban Viet Bank, VietCredit, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Nobu Hotels & Restaurants in Vietnam. Prior to Phoenix, he was the Managing General Partner of IDG Ventures Vietnam, the country’s first venture capital and private equity firm focused on consumer, technology, media, and telecom investments in Vietnam. In addition to these two roles, Henry is the Developmental Licensee (Master Franchisee) for all McDonald’s restaurants in Vietnam as well as the Executive Chairman of Timo, Vietnam’s first digital banking service and leading neobank in Vietnam.
With a deep passion for sports, he established the Saigon Heat pro basketball team in 2011, which competes in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). He is also the Founder of the VBA (Vietnam Basketball Association), the country’s premier professional basketball league. He also serves as the President of the Vietnam Basketball Federation (VBF) and was recently elected President of the South East Asia Basketball Association (SEABA). In addition to his work in basketball, he is the Founding Owner and Vice Chairman of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), the most successful new club in Major League Soccer (MLS). LAFC began competition in the MLS in 2018 with the completion of the construction of the BMO Stadium for their inaugural year. The Club won the Supporters Shield league title in 2019 and 2022, and most recently won the MLS Cup title in November 2022.
As a deep advocate for the improvement of education in Vietnam, he is a Founding Trustee of Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV), the country’s first private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning. Henry is also currently the President of the Harvard Alumni Club of Vietnam and has also served as a trustee for British University Vietnam.
Henry is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and an Asia 21 Fellow of the Asia Society. He has been bestowed with many honors including being named an “Asia Game Changer” by the Asia Society for his leadership in bridging cultures through policy, business, arts, and education initiatives. He was also honored with the John Connor Humanitarian Award 2015 by Operation Smile due to his deep contribution in the role of the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Operation Smile Vietnam.
Henry earned his B.A. (Magna cum Laude) in Classics at Harvard University, and his M.D. and M.B.A. from Northwestern University Medical School and the Kellogg School of Management. He is married with twin daughters who are ten years old.
This event is hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and cosponsored by the Columbia Journalism School. Dinner will be provided.
Registration: To attend this event, please click HERE.
