Veteran entrepreneurs impart wisdom to creative industry startups

Veteran entrepreneurs impart wisdom to creative industry startups

Continuous learning is vital for all entrepreneurs, regardless of whether the business is long-established or newly-founded.

(From left) Chula Co-founder Diego Cortizas, Le Group CEO Le Quoc Vinh, Hanoi Grapevine Director and Chief Editor Ms Truong Uyen Ly, Behalf Studio Founder Nguyen Hung Giang and facilitator Karen Rieschieck at the Creative Conversation event in Hanoi. (From left) Chula Co-founder Diego Cortizas, Le Group CEO Le Quoc Vinh, Hanoi Grapevine Director and Chief Editor Ms Truong Uyen Ly, Behalf Studio Founder Nguyen Hung Giang and facilitator Karen Rieschieck at the Creative Conversation event in Hanoi.

Creativity is not the only success factor; entrepreneurs have to learn and adapt to different and often paradoxical aspects of running a business including human resource management, legalities, accounting and client management. 

“You have to learn it the hard way,” said Chief Editor and Director of Hanoi Grapevine Ms Truong Uyen Ly. “The resources are there, you just need to meet with the right people and learn from each other on-the-job.” 

Ms Ly is an award-winning journalist, media consultant and researcher. This year she created Vietnam’s Creative Hubs initiative, a social enterprise and network which aims to gather a greater voice and support for organisations in the creative scene. 

As well as learning through trial and error, Ms Ly said staying true to values is essential when doing business in the entrepreneurial space. “If one day you find out that your company’s values have deviated from your core values, you will lose the motivation to continue the business,” Ms Ly said.  

Ms Ly spoke at a panel discussion event, Creative Conversation which was part of the inaugural Vietnam Festival of Media & Design held in Hanoi this month, a festival designed to celebrate Hanoi’s creativity and culture through exhibitions and workshops. 

Creative Conversation welcomed more than 60 participants wanting to learn more about startups in Vietnam’s creative industry. Five expert panellists – Le Group CEO Le Quoc Vinh, Chula Co-founder Diego Cortizas, Behalf Studio Founder Nguyen Hung Giang and Hanoi Grapevine Chief Editor and Director Truong Uyen Ly - shared their startup stories with students and budding entrepreneurs. The event was facilitated by RMIT’s Activator Manager Karen Rieschieck.  

Chula Co-founder Mr Cortizas built the fashion brand in 2004 with his partner Laura Fontan shortly after the two arrived in Hanoi, a city they both immediately fell in love with which inspired the brand and artwork. The label and its Made in Vietnam pieces can now be found in Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Social impact, and the brand’s spirit and core values are critical parts of its identity. 

“When your people are given autonomy in work and a sense of belonging, they feel motivated to give you all they have,” said Mr Cortizas. 

Story: Cindy Tran

19 November 2019

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