Early Life
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 7, 1970. She comes from a respected family, the Nguyen Canh family. At 17, she went to Moscow to study finance and economics, during a time of economic hardship in the Soviet Union.
Rise to Success
Thao started her entrepreneurial journey at a young age, importing goods like rubber, electronics, and agricultural products, becoming a millionaire at 21. She later earned a PhD in economic management from the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. In 1993, she co-founded Sovico Holdings. She was a founding investor in Techcombank and VIB. However, her most significant achievement is founding Vietjet Air in 2011. The airline, which was the first privately owned airline in Vietnam, went public in 2017 and quickly became a market leader.
Key Business Strategies
Thao is known for her bold and unconventional strategies, which disrupted the aviation market. Her business motto is "don't go small, go for the big deals". Vietjet Air focused on low-cost fares and aggressive route expansion, making air travel accessible to more people. She expanded into international markets, and the airline's success led to significant revenue growth and market capitalization.
Philanthropy
Thao is involved in philanthropy. She made a substantial donation to the University of Oxford's Linacre College, which could lead to the college being renamed. She also supports children's villages and advocates for education.