On 12 July 2024, the Vietnam Corporate Pride Network (VCPN) and KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia organized Pride Summit 2024, a collaborative effort with the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, ACCA, ICS, Pito, International SOS and Sun Life. [C] Vietnam was a media partner for the event. Centered around the theme “Meet the IDE Champions,” the event brought together diverse voices to share challenges and successes in fostering Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE) within the workplace.
Warrick Cleine, Chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia, delivered an opening speech emphasizing the critical role of IDE culture in organizational success and VCPN’s mission to grow and inspire new generations. Linh Ngo, Director of ICS, also provided an update on VCPN’s progress over the past years and upcoming initiatives.
The first panel discussion, titled “Leading & Empowering for Change,” featured Michele Wee, former CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam, Joseph Vu, People Engagement Partner at KPMG, Simon Pugh, CEO and Shareholder of QLM Label Makers, and Tan Nguyen, CEO of Chợ Tốt. Moderated by Alex Smith from the British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, the panel shared insights and experiences on fostering diversity and inclusion within their organizations.
“In this marketplace, we can’t survive and thrive without diversity,” emphasized Joseph Vu, People Engagement Partner, KPMG.
Michele Wee proudly shared that Standard Chartered was the leading foreign bank in the market to offer 20 weeks of paid parental leave, irrespective of gender, marriage status, or how a child comes to their employees’ families. She said this initiative reflected the firm’s commitment to gender equality and employees’ well-being.
In the second part of the Pride Summit, Will Lawrenson, British Deputy Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, led the discussion on “NextGen Navigating IDE in Vietnam: Bridging the Gap.” He was joined by Bao Hoang, CEO of UNImedia, Loi Ung, Marketing Director at P&G, Minh Le, Senior Associate at Baker & McKenzie, and Van Anh Duong, HR and Finance Lead at SOCO Exploration Vietnam.
During the discussion on the challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, Van Anh Duong highlighted the discrimination and prejudice in some conservative industries, illustrated by a case of hiding illnesses due to fear of judgment. Additionally, Bao Hoang and Minh Le acknowledged that while the younger generation is more open to expressing their identities, they also face judgment and criticism, underscoring the need for strong mental resilience to navigate these challenges.
Over the next 5 or 10 years, the panelists anticipate a society where LGBTQ+ equality is so widely accepted that dedicated discussions on the topic will no longer be required. Instead, they looked forward to a world where everyone can openly celebrate themselves and their love without fear.
