Not learning about Alibaba, but learning how to build a business that can grow long-term
Three days in Hangzhou were designed as a specialized training program instead of a business tour. In the working space of Alibaba and Ant Group, 28 CEOs successively approached core topics that are changing the way businesses in the world operate.
From the shift of the digital economy, the role of data in making decisions, applying AI to business operations, to leadership models, talent development and building organizational culture, the sessions are all led by experts who have directly participated in building the Alibaba ecosystem.
The special feature of the program lies in the way the lectures are always linked to real-life situations. Instead of presenting theoretical models, the speaker spent most of his time analyzing the strategic decisions that helped Alibaba adapt to market changes, and at the same time directly discussed with the CEO about the problems that Vietnamese businesses are facing.
Through each session, AI is no longer simply seen as a new technology, but becomes a tool for businesses to improve operational capacity. The strategy is no longer just a plan on paper, but the ability to organize, culture and people to operate together according to a unified goal.
What remains after three days of study is not just knowledge
Many CEOs participating in the program said that the most valuable thing they received was not the speakers' presentations, but the way the program made them look back at their own businesses.
Mr. Hoang Tien Duc, Viet My Beverage Company shared: "The program ended bringing me many useful and valuable lessons, more than some new relationships established through the trip. After this program, I will be able to apply these knowledge and lessons to the operation of the company as well as in life.
Mr. Huynh Ngoc Duy, Mat Bao Joint Stock Company, shared: "Visiting is very easy, but both visiting and learning about one of the leading corporations in the world is truly an honor for me.
Mr. Nguyen Ba Minh - Phu Thai Steel Co., Ltd. - shared: "Although the time is very short, it must be said that there is a lot of experience, some experiences must be said to create new perspectives, new ideas. So it is highly likely that after this program, the first thing we do is to enter a new research journey and identify a new strategy for our company".
These feedbacks show that the value of Alibaba Study Tour does not stop at absorbing new knowledge. More importantly, the program has opened up a process of self-assessing the operating model, strategy and development orientation of each business.
The sharing of the CEOs accurately reflects the goal that VPBank SME aims for when building the program: creating a change in leadership thinking, so that after returning, each business can start its own transformation journey.
From Alibaba Study Tour to CEO Bootcamp: The companion journey continues
Alibaba Study Tour is just the starting point in a long learning journey built by VPBank SME and Newing.
Immediately after the program in Hangzhou, the two units will continue to deploy CEO Bootcamp taking place in six days on the weekends of August and September in Ho Chi Minh City. It is expected that about 120 slots will be available for CEOs who are customers of VPBank SME, trained in three in-depth modules combined with Q&A sessions after each module to accompany businesses in the actual implementation process.
Accompanying the CEOs are three leading international speakers: Professor Quy Huy - Professor of Strategy at INSEAD; Rajesh Achanta - former Vice President of APAC, India and MEA Regional Supply Chain of P&G and Joseph Ma - Partner, CEO Coach, former General Director of IBM China and Vice President of GE China Innovation Center. In addition, the program also has the participation of Mr. Vu Dong Hiep, Senior Director & Plant Manager at P&G. The training content focuses on strategy, operation, leadership and innovation - core competencies that help businesses grow sustainably in a context of many fluctuations.
Business leadership delegation participates in training course sponsored by VPBank SME
From SME Forum 2026, Alibaba Study Tour to CEO Bootcamp, VPBank SME is building a chain of linked activities, in which each stage plays a supporting role for the next stage. If SME Forum brings a perspective on trends, Alibaba Study Tour helps CEOs observe models that have been verified in practice, then CEO Bootcamp will be a companion to turn those lessons into action plans suitable for each business.
In the context that management capacity is increasingly becoming an important competitive advantage, VPBank SME's way of accompanying is also expanding beyond the role of a financial service provider. Through the journey "Joining together to create prosperity with knowledge", the bank chooses to invest in the capacity of the leader, because that is the foundation for businesses to build sustainable growth in the long term.
