The Power Of Small Steps: Lessons From The Country Manager Of Visa Vietnam and Laos | Vietcetera
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The Power Of Small Steps: Lessons From The Country Manager Of Visa Vietnam and Laos

"Success is built not just on major breakthroughs, but on steady efforts to perform even the smallest tasks with discipline and dedication," Mrs. Đặng Tuyết Dung shared.
The Power Of Small Steps: Lessons From The Country Manager Of Visa Vietnam and Laos

Source: Fusnguyen for Vietcetera

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In a world where grand achievements are celebrated, we often forget the importance of small efforts. Embodying this mindset, Đặng Tuyết Dung, the Country Manager of Visa Vietnam and Laos, has proved that even the smallest tasks can lead to great success.

Being a Russian language student, Mrs. Dung made the bold decision to apply for a position in the banking and finance sector. Competing against a large number of candidates, she not only passed the challenging exam but also gained an unforgettable experience. This marked the beginning of her 30-year career in the banking and finance industry.

The Subtraction Mindset

We tend to think of many things we want to do, but it's impossible to complete them all with the same level of effectiveness. There's a saying: "If you want to climb higher, lighten the backpack you're carrying." This is the subtraction mindset that Mrs. Dung refers to.

From that, a leader who fails to recognize the big picture will become less effective and have trouble clarifying roles, defining boundaries and focusing on the right priorities.

Ability to make tough decisions, knowing what is good for you and what leads to better results is part of the subtraction mindset. This requires a high level of discipline as well as decisiveness.

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"If you want to climb higher, lighten the backpack you're carrying." | Source: Fusnguyen for Vietcetera

Small Habits Will Take You Far

Đặng Tuyết Dung’s success story illustrates that great achievements are born from dedication to the smallest habits. By applying principles like prioritization, discipline, and incremental change, she has helped drive meaningful innovations in the payment industry.

Ready For Any Challenge

"Never say 'no' to a challenge - this mindset is deeply ingrained in me," Mrs. Dung shared. To her, nothing is impossible; it's just a matter of how you prioritize. With this mindset, you'll be more open to embracing new challenges in both work and life.

Throughout her career in the banking and finance industry, Mrs. Dung has gained experience in various departments and areas, but she has never lost faith in this principle.

Finish What You Start

Mrs. Dung believes, "When I commit to a task, I make sure to do it thoroughly, refusing to settle for a shallow understanding, even when it comes to the most basic one.”

Back when she first entered the industry, she wasn’t familiar with Excel, and there weren’t many training courses available at that time. Thus, she became an enthusiastic learner that actively go find and ask her accounting colleagues to teach her how to use that software.

Later, when she was in the high-level leadership position, she still made time to visit the business branches and watch closely how the bank tellers work. This helps her understand each brand’s procedures and know how customers response to services. Without these experiences, the leader would find it difficult to see the big picture and can not craft effective strategies aligned with the market’s demand.

Small Steps, Big Achievements

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"If you want to climb higher, lighten the backpack you're carrying." | Source: Fusnguyen for Vietcetera

Mrs. Dung's story is just a part of a much larger picture that Visa is working toward: big dreams can only become reality when we appreciate small opportunities and infuse passion and discipline into making them happen.

According to Visa's 2023 Consumer Payment Attitudes Study, 88% of Vietnamese consumers now prefer cashless payments, while other top countries in the region record an average range from 64 to 83%. When consumers use their cards for payments, whether online or offline, they experience a sense of joy behind each purchase thanks to its convenience.

Imagine you grab your morning coffee on the way to work. By simply tapping your card, you swiftly finish the transaction and waste no time. A little spark of joy just lightens up your day.

So, what are the “small efforts” that Visa has been working on?

Building A Card Acceptance Infrastructure

To complete a payment, you need a tool, such as a bank card, and a system that accepts that tool. Visa's primary role is to ensure a robust infrastructure for card payments, both offline (such as in-store payments at restaurants and hotels) and online (like e-commerce platforms).

Leveraging Card Issuance Platforms

Visa has continuously expanded its partnerships, connecting banks, financial institutions, fintech companies, and major players like retailers and e-commerce companies. Together, they create innovative and secure payment platforms.

With this cross-border payment network in place, consumers can benefit from fast and convenient transactions wherever they are in the world.

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Host Kim Dung (left) and Mrs. Dung (right) | Source: Fusnguyen for Vietcetera

Ensuring Security

Security is always Visa's top priority. To safeguard both consumers and businesses in the cashless economy, Visa implements cutting-edge payment security technologies.

Visa also works closely with banks to introduce and roll out secure payment technologies like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay, and Samsung Pay. These new payment methods are backed by token technology. In the past, swiping your card would leave your 16-digit card number on the payment system. Now, thanks to tokenization, those numbers stay with the issuing bank or Visa system, minimizing the risk of personal data exposure during transactions.

Bringing Digital Payments To The Community

To make cashless payments more accessible, Visa has been involved in global partnerships and events, helping to spread awareness and enhance customer experience. These efforts include collaborations with events like the FIFA World Cup, the Paris 2024 Olympics, and sponsorships in fashion, music, and culinary events.

Through these initiatives, Visa continues to ensure that cashless payments are easy, secure, and a part of everyday life.

Translated by Phương Nguyễn