Pride Summit 2024 fosters inclusion, diversity, and equity in Vietnam

The Vietnam Corporate Pride Network (VCPN) and KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia organised Pride Summit 2024, a collaborative effort with the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, ACCA, ICS, Pito, International SOS, and Sun Life.

Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia, delivered an opening speech emphasising the critical role of IDE culture in organisational success and VCPN's mission to grow and inspire new generations. Linh Ngo, director of ICS, also updated VCPN's progress in the past years and upcoming initiatives.

The first panel discussion, "Leading & Empowering for Change", featured Michele Wee, CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam; Joseph Vu, people engagement partner of KPMG; Simon Pugh, CEO and shareholder of QLM Label Makers; and Tan Nguyen, CEO of Cho Tot. 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 organisations.

"In this marketplace, we can't survive and thrive without diversity," emphasised Vu. “There is no way you can consider it homogenous or apply one prototype to all people." He also stressed the importance of leading by example in promoting the IDE agenda within organisations.

Wee proudly shared that Standard Chartered was the first 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' wellbeing.

In the second part of the Pride Summit, Will Lawrenson, British deputy consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, led the topic "NextGen Navigating IDE in Vietnam: Bridging the Gap", joined by Bao Hoang, CEO of UNImedia; Loi Ung, marketing director of P&G; Minh Le, senior associate of Baker & Mackenzie; and Van Anh Duong, HR and finance lead of SOCO Exploration Vietnam.

On the challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, Duong highlighted the discrimination and prejudice of some conservative industries through a case of hiding illnesses due to fear of judgement. Besides, Hoang and Le acknowledged that while the younger generation was more open to expressing their identities, they also exposed themselves to judgement and criticism, underscoring the need for solid mental resilience to navigate these challenges.

Over the next 5-10 years, the panelists anticipated 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.

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