VietNamNet Bridge – The emergence of more women in the corporate world has caused some controversy and public concern.

With this topic in mind, Alphabe – a business networking community in Viet Nam – recently held a networking night in Ha Noi entitled Women: Weak or Strong, which gave participants the opportunity to have heart-to-heart talks with three successful female CEOs who shared their experiences of work and home life. Each of the women was a successful leader, a dream for many people, but as human beings, especially as women, they also had feelings and concerns.

"Never neglect the responsibilities of a wife and a mother," said Le Thanh Hang, deputy general director of HACO Group. A woman must try to balance her roles, which she described: "acting the right part in the right scene". Whether a spouse is "ideal" or not depends on how he or she is "cast" in the family, she said.

"If one of the spouses goes ‘forward', the other must go ‘backward'," she said. Going backward, in her definition, does not mean "not ideal" but "going back to the right role of a wife and a mother when she is home".

Many of the participants expressed interest when she revealed she had never given her children keys to their house. She gave a surprising reason: "If my children have the keys, I may allow myself to linger at work. I always try to finish my work and leave the office at 4.30pm so that I will be the one who opens the door for my children and I will have more time to cook for them."

Le Thu Quyen, CEO of Galaxy Communications, presented a different view. Since she and her husband are both business-persons, they are more understanding toward each other when they have to leave home early and arrive home late, sometimes missing their family dinners. However, it does not mean that this woman may indulge herself in negating her responsibility as a wife and a mother.

"Love will fade after two years of marriage, so the wife should learn not to expect too much and should become more practical; the husband and the wife should treat each other like friends," she said.

Ha Thu Thanh, president of Deloitte Viet Nam, shared her secret: "I never bring stress home even though I work under pressure like most CEOs."

"I usually walk around for a while to release stress before going home," she said.

Thanh also shared the philosophy she has learned over the years: "Successful businesswomen tend to look down on their husbands who may consequently criticise their wives in return. To avoid this, women should be grateful to this life for having a happy family and to their lifetime partners for always travelling with them through the years."

Live with passion

People who meet Quyen are often impressed by her stylish and elegant appearance. Moreover, she seems to have the ability to convince colleagues and partners of her great passion and commitment to communications – her profession for more than 15 years.

At the event, the audience listened to a story in which one of her former employees wrote a letter to "confess" to her that she used to be upset and even angry about Quyen's strict dress code. Eventually the employee began to feel grateful for her boss's comments which helped her to grow up and become more mature in her job and her life.

Audience members said they felt Thanh was an example of a strict leader. This is understandable since accounting is usually best for those who are rational and precise. When she was asked whom she believes is the most difficult to work with, she said: "Myself!"

She shared that her biggest hobby was working and learning. "Whenever I take up doing something, I do it with all my passion!". She revealed with no hesitation that she is a straightforward person and always commented immediately if employees did something wrong.

In addition to her full-time work, Hang has also been a part-time co-ordinator for a kids charity project for more than two years at Ha Noi's Paediatrics Hospital.

Her biggest joy, besides her family, was "making children believe that there are still so many good things in life and that they are not alone", she said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News