When much of the world shut down in 2020-2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it clarified what was important in business. Working remotely presented many challenges that businesses, both large and small, had never considered. It also highlighted what aspects of business are taken for granted until they are suddenly gone. This was not lost on Quan Pham, an emerging businessman and industry leader who began his journey into the global business world right before COVID-19 struck and was able to use that experience to focus his skillset and gain an advantage now that things have returned to normal.
Quan was working in retail while attending business school when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. He returned to Vietnam and was able to secure a job at Goldsun managing a relationship with a large U.S.-based client. He learned several key lessons, such as the value of trust between business partners, clear lines of communication in external deals with other companies, and internal communication among team members. Some of this can be done remotely and has been done in the past, but the consistent, constant, remote work threw into sharp relief the power of in-person business communication.
Investing in his education, he went back to school, earning a postgraduate degree in Supply Chain Management and Logistics from one of the top universities in Australia. This decision stemmed from another observation made in his early business career, namely that the world is globalizing fast. He realized that his multicultural background gave him a huge edge if he positioned himself in the critical business sector of international supply lines. Anyone who tried to purchase something during the pandemic knows that orders, especially in certain manufacturing sectors, were backed up for over a year. It’s a complicated industry that requires people skills, logistical know-how, and a nuanced understanding of global relations.
Another part of understanding global sales is understanding different product demands. Different parts of the world are more interested in certain types of products or even different brands within a market. That’s why Quan has made it a priority to work in many different sectors, such as homeward goods, fashion, and luxury accessories. Working in this variety of fields has given him a huge scope of insight into different markets, cultural business practices, team expectations, and, most importantly, how all of them work together to move the global economy.
The pandemic taught us a lot about ourselves as a society. Good business comes from using the newest technology to be as efficient as possible, but it also requires people skills and a modern understanding of the global stage. People like Quan Pham, who are the future of the business, people with diverse backgrounds, culturally and professionally, can easily move from market to market.
