UCLA Goes to Vietnam!

UCLA Global Immersion is off to Vietnam! I am grateful that they invited me on this trip as an Alumnus. Coming on post graduation allows me to reflect on the trip a bit differently than when I was a student, as well as provide guidance, insight and mentorship to current students.

Professor Abe ensured that we would also have plenty of cultural exposure while in country, and in my opinion, that is very important. The world isn’t simply just business and numbers. Having IQ and EQ is important, but so is CQ (Cultural IQ). Allowing us to visit and explore various cultural aspects of Vietnam, alongside the business meetings, presentations, and readings, we have been able to better understand the IQ, EQ, and CQ of wanting to do business in Vietnam.

I was able to build some important relationships with UCLA Alumni in Vietnam, and am confident that these relationships will help my work and the startup I am employed with graciously.

Since Vietnam has an abundance of high-quality nickel reserves that have become increasingly attractive due to the EV explosion, they have now gotten the attention of international mining companies as they are set to become a hub for lithium-ion battery manufacturing (this is all happening now in 2022!!).

Our class covered the Taxes and Fiscal policy of Vietnam as well s International trade and Dollarization. With Vietnam becoming a hub for nickel mining, I have felt that this trip and course have been evidently helping set me on the right path. Seeing Professor Abe in person and learning from his leadership has lead to assisting me in obtaining both my professional and personal goals, in addition to my leadership development journey. Professor Abe is a leader and professor whom I want to continue learning from.