Thu Nguyên Lâm in Vietnam

Let’s get to know Thu Nguyên:

• City, Country: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

• Title:: Staffing Manager

• Industry: Information Technology

• Number of years of work experience: 10+

• Languages: English, Vietnamese

• How do you say project manager in your language? Quản lý dự án

• Diploma: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

  Currently pursuing an MBA, expected graduation in April 2026.

• Certifications: PMP; PgMP; PfPM; PMI-ACP; PMI-PBA; PMI-ATP Instructor; PMO-CP; PSM I, PSM II;

  ITIL® and others

• Social Media: LinkedIn

• Website: https://itsnguyen.com/

• Awards:

  PMI Future 50 2024;

  PMI Rising Leader Finalists 2025

How would you describe yourself?

I’m a project and program manager who loves turning ideas into real impact. Over the years, I’ve led cross-regional technology projects, coached teams, and supported thousands of professionals through mentoring and community work. I’m passionate about helping people grow, learning nonstop, and bringing positive energy into everything I do. As someone who started with a Bachelor’s in Business and is now pursuing an MBA, I believe learning is a lifelong adventure. Outside of work, you’ll most likely find me traveling, exploring new cultures, or sharing stories with people from all walks of life. My goal is simple: inspire others, contribute to the community, and make the world of project management a little brighter.

What are your passions?

• Creating positive impact — Every project, program, or initiative I join, I aim to make things better — for teams, clients, and the community around me.

• Continuous learning — I’m passionate about building new skills, exploring new frameworks, and constantly improving how I lead and deliver projects.

• Travel & new cultures — I’m happiest when exploring somewhere new, meeting people, and learning how different cultures think, work, and live.

Why did you become a project manager?

I actually became a project manager by “good luck and good timing”. I first stepped into the tech world as a Business Analyst, then moved into roles like Scrum Master and Product Owner. With every role, I realized how much I enjoyed connecting people, solving problems, and bringing ideas to life.

Eventually, project and program management became the natural next step. And honestly, earning my PMP gave me a huge confidence boost — it helped me understand the bigger picture, lead with clarity, and show up stronger in every project I joined.

That mix of curiosity, growth, and a bit of destiny is what brought me here.

If you have one tip to give to a new woman project manager, what would you say?

Focus early on stakeholder engagement. You can have the best plan, the best timeline, and the best team — but without the right stakeholders supporting you, everything becomes harder than it needs to be.

Take time to understand what they care about, how they prefer to communicate, and what “success” looks like to them. Build trust, stay proactive, and find small strategies to keep them engaged.

When your stakeholders are truly on your side, the whole project moves smoother — and you’ll feel much more confident as a leader.

As a project manager, what is one thing you would like to improve or learn in the future?

Networking. It might sound surprising, but I’m naturally more introverted, so connecting with new people — especially when meeting for the first time — doesn’t come easily to me.

I truly admire people who can walk into a room and instantly build rapport. For me, it takes a bit more warm-up time. So in the future, I want to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone, meet more people, and strengthen my networking skills.

Because in project management, relationships matter — and I know this is an area where I can grow and have a lot of fun along the way.

Do you have any resources to recommend to a new project manager?

Yes! I have a couple of great recommendations for new project managers.

After attending PMI Global Summit 2025, I was really impressed with two updates:

• PMI CPMAI – Certified Professional in Managing AI :A very fresh and practical certification for PMs who want to understand how to manage AI-driven projects. It covers AI lifecycle, data readiness, and how PMs can lead responsibly in this space.

• Advanced Project Management: A solid resource if you want to go beyond the basics and learn how to manage complex projects with more structure and confidence.

If you're curious about where the profession is heading — especially with AI and advanced delivery approaches—these are great places to start exploring.