Unlike Ms. Bich, Mr. Nguyen Duy Duc (FHM.AKAT) faced his own set of challenges in the United States. “During my time onsite, the US was grappling with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he recalled. “Riots erupted, and the city went into lockdown.”

In March 2020, amidst the escalating global pandemic, FSOFT secured a groundbreaking contract with a multi-billion dollar US company. The initial deployment of the project, a collaboration between the C99 Program and FSOFT, faced repeated delays due to the worsening pandemic. However, with great efforts from both sides, by April, the client entrusted FSOFT with a critical system integral to their core digitization initiative of the enterprise, a testament to the trust and resilience built during those challenging times.

Mr. Tran Van Dung, FHM Director at the time, enthusiastically affirmed that this was “a rare opportunity FSOFT couldn’t afford to miss.” With its diverse business units and numerous projects, the C99 Program offered a chance to establish a foothold in the US market, paving the way for future collaborations. Nguyen Duy Duc (FHM.AKAT, now Director of FHM.META), a highly experienced SA with a proven track record in million-dollar projects, was entrusted with the prestigious opportunity to lead the initiative. Previously, Duc was the youngest FSOFTer to go onsite in the US while still a third-year student at FPT University.

At this time, the US had become the world’s leading country in terms of Covid-19 infections and deaths. However, Duc’s primary concern was his wife’s well-being as she had to stay behind to care for their children back home.

The United States was also quite different for Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang (FAM.ST9), who joined FSOFT in November 2005 as a PM. Prior to her onsite experience in the US, she managed the offshore team for AT&T in Hanoi. The initial stress of  juggling project review schedules and client requirements while navigating cultural differences is palpable in her recollection: “Sometimes I wondered why the client kept pressing us, how come they couldn’t put themselves in our shoes. It was really frustrating!”

Then, through her short-term onsite trips to the US, ranging from two weeks to a month, Trang gradually embraced new perspectives. Working directly with clients helped her become more open-minded. Trang actively engaged in conversations & discussions with clients to understand their perspectives and requirements. The more she interacted, the more she grew to enjoy the working style and the atmosphere there. The PM started nurturing the American dream in her heart, hoping that one day she would be able to settle down in this country. And then in June 2017, her long-awaited journey began.

In the US, she played the role of a bridge, coordinating between the client and the offshore team in Vietnam. While her workday at the client’s site spanned from 9 am to 5 pm, she often continued collaborating with the offshore team until 1-2 am upon returning home. “In Vietnam, my main job was project management, focusing on management,” Trang explained. “In the US, the work is more hands-on and technical, which aligns with my strengths. I have access to various project lines, giving me the opportunity to learn new technologies. The client’s Solution Architects (SAs) are incredibly supportive and provide me with clear guidance. Having well-defined templates and processes makes the work much smoother.”

Landing in the US, stepping into a new project, and navigating foreign languages, visas, and personal adjustments might seem daunting, but the true test for FSOFTers lies in seamlessly integrating into new work environments.

Upon arriving in the US to start a project, amidst initial chaos and structured processes, Nguyen Duy Duc received a weighty email from the client’s CTO, highlighting the project’s criticality. Previously, both sides had never collaborated, so the client had high expectations but also many reservations. “Arriving onsite and meeting the client instilled a sense of their professionalism and close collaboration style,” Duc recalls. “Every project step garnered significant attention due to the sheer scale – billions of USD in annual transactions and tens of millions per month. The pressure was undeniable.”

The client’s extensive system was full of stakeholders but lacked comprehensive documentation. Further complexities arose as the project transitioned between subsidiaries, resulting in stakeholder identification challenges, while the client side failed to provide support for encountered issues.

Furthermore, setting up the team’s working environment was another hurdle. The offshore team had to work from home using VDI, which had significant latency. Despite these challenges, both onsite members, Duc and Vu Nhat Tin (long-term onsite BA in the US), along with the entire offshore team, proactively found solutions to ensure the project stayed on track.

After just two sprints, FSOFT had completely won over the client, earning a Class A evaluation from the largest unit’s Program Manager. This achievement laid the foundation for future multi-million dollar projects. The program, C99, went on to become FSOFT’s first to reach over $100 million in annual revenue.

Reflecting on the years in the US, Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang (FAM.ST9) is filled with gratitude, recognizing the warm support of clients and colleagues who cultivated her courage and composure within the workplace. For Trang, every client interaction, every task, no matter how seemingly small, and every document she meticulously reviewed, has demonstrably contributed to her professional development and instilled a positive work ethic.

Working with clients honed Trang’s ability to analyze and evaluate specific issues. “It’s crucial to understand the client’s or Product Owner’s perspective, which we call the ‘Business View’, and translate it effectively into the language of the software developers, or the ‘Software View’,” she explains. “This often involves asking probing questions to truly grasp the client’s needs and then relaying that information clearly to the offshore team so they can deliver solutions that exceed expectations.”

Working with both FPT and Intellinet teams, Trang had the opportunity to interact with colleagues from many countries and different cultures, differing in language and work style. “One of the initial challenges for any FSOFTer adapting to the US is navigating the nuances of communication. Sometimes, you strain your ears to listen and understand but only grasp the tiniest details,” Trang acknowledges. “Therefore, careful preparation is key, from crafting a clear outline of discussion points to utilizing slideshows for enhanced clarity and engagement. Actively listening, taking detailed notes, and sending confirmation emails summarizing key takeaways further ensure seamless communication and build trust.”

The onsiter who fell in love with the Software family in Australia 15 years ago. “During my journey at FPT Australia, I had the opportunity to learn how locals do business, from building relationships with new/potential clients through events to approaching new project opportunities. One of the most special and memorable experiences was when I participated in a project worth over $20 million from the tender stage, directly persuading clients, negotiating, and finding ways to overcome complex contract issues. The experience accumulated from working offshore along with new understandings of the local corporate culture in Australia greatly helped me conquer this important project.”

In the magical land of the Middle East, within just 3 weeks, the core members of a project at FSG.GFS not only achieved the goal of successfully implementing the project with the client but also gained valuable experiences working here.

The project’s three core members were Kelly Le Dieu Trang, Nguyen Duc Trung, and Mike Tran Quang Huy. Trang, deeply impressed by Dubai’s culture of high-octane work ethic where every minute is meticulously utilized, gained a fresh understanding of efficient productivity. Meanwhile, Trung and Huy grasped crucial knowledge about the client’s and end-users’ true needs for the product. While the client prioritized stability and app security, the users craved user-friendliness and intuitive design. Recognizing the distinct desires of both stakeholders proved to be the most significant takeaway for Trung and Huy, paving the way for enhanced collaboration between the offshore team and the client.

This enriching experience resonates with the vision of FSOFT Chairwoman Chu Thi Thanh Ha, who consistently applauds the impactful leadership of Nguyen Thanh Nam, FSOFT’s former Chairman and first CEO. His unwavering commitment to empowering young talent, fostering a proactive culture, and creating multiple opportunities for them has yielded remarkable successes, as Ms. Ha herself acknowledges.

“In business trips where I was his ‘attached file’, Nam has instilled in me that the more you go, the more you meet talented people, the more you learn,” Ms. Ha recounts. “Perhaps this philosophy underscores why FSOFT actively encourages job rotations and international assignments, fostering personal and professional development.”

By immersing themselves in the global landscape, FSOFTers cultivate their skills, mature

not only in their expertise and work styles but also as individuals.

Editor: Minh Anh

Designer: Minh Han