NAB’s journey to create a positive impact on Vietnam Tech community

The journey of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam began in 2019 when NAB decided to establish an innovation centre in Vietnam with the aim of connecting technology talent resources here and providing a superior digital experience to its over ten million customers.

After four years since its establishment, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam has achieved significant successes, continuously expanding its scale with three offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and doubling its workforce in the past 18 months. Furthermore, the company has been striving to create an excellent working environment for its employees to enable their optimal development.

The two awards, “Great Place to Work” and “Fast Enterprise” are considered well-deserved recognition for the enduring efforts of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam over the past four years.

Fostering excellence in the IT Community

Sharing with VnExpress after receiving two awards, Paul Roney, Executive of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, said it is an honor to receive these two prestigious international awards.

“The awards mark four years of NAB’s presence in Vietnam and we’re proud of how far we’ve come in that time,” Paul said.

Paul Roney, Executive of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam. Photo courtesy of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam

Looking back to 2019, Paul Roney mentioned that NAB’s decision to open an innovation centre in Vietnam was driven by NAB’s belief that Vietnam is a suitable place for expanding the workforce, particularly in the IT sector. In fact, Vietnam is identified as a growth market due to its high number of tech graduates, with more than 50,000 per year, ranked in the top 10 worldwide. Besides, the culture here also quite fits with Australia.

Reality has proven that NAB’s assessment and perspective were entirely accurate. Over the years, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam has shown impressive growth in its workforce, especially doubling in the last 18 months.

In order to ensure a high-quality workforce for the company and contribute to the development of the technology community in Vietnam, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam places a strong focus on nurturing IT talents.

Tuan Nguyen, Head of People and Culture, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, said that NAB has invested heavily in its people, upskilling over 7,000 people in the cloud. “We also established a tech academy in Vietnam and collaborated with AWS and Microsoft to uplift universities’ programs in the necessary skills. This creates opportunities for young technologists in Vietnam, contributing to the growth of technology.”

Tuan Nguyen, Head of People and Culture, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam. Photo courtesy of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam

Furthermore, the company has partnered with various universities and Passerelles numériques Vietnam, offering 120 recent graduates the opportunity to pursue their tech career path. Practical experiences, real-world exposure to industry advancements, and hands-on engagement with modern technology are at the core of this initiative.

NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam also recently collaborated with AWS, FPT University, and VietnamWorks inTECH to organize a security system management competition called “Security Jam.”

The purpose was to encourage young individuals to enhance and develop their technology skills. These specific efforts by NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam in this regard have already been making a positive impact on the technology community in Vietnam, providing tangible opportunities for IT talents as they take gradual steps in building their careers.

A Great Place to Work

In addition to investing in seeking high-quality personnel, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam also places significant emphasis on ensuring a positive working atmosphere for its members. The company believes that this is a key factor that will drive individuals to work efficiently, thus contributing to the overall development of the organization.

Paul Roney said that they try to put a lot of investment into the development of their colleagues. So they have various learning platforms here that the colleagues can use.

At the same time, he also offered advice that every individual should continuously engage in learning because it is a decisive factor for success and career development.

At NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, all personnel receive training and skill enhancement through learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, O’Reilly, AWS, Microsoft, Coursera, and Udemy.

The company also offers a pre-qualified banking course program, through which over 100 colleagues have achieved Career Qualified in Banking (CQiB) certification, granted by FINSIA. For managers specifically, they undergo training through a special program that meets international standards, known as the Distinctive Leadership Program (DLP).

NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam recognized as the ‘Great Place to Work’. Photo courtesy of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam

Besides, Paul emphasized the importance of respecting the culture of the place where you work, which is also crucial for any organization to have. He pointed out some aspects that NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam always strives to respect, such as the characteristics of Vietnamese culture and work habits, along with the features of a technology company.

“Respecting meeting times and time zone differences is also important, as it reflects the unique way people interact and collaborate in the company. For example, lunch time here is very important, and we respect that,” Paul added.

Furthermore, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam is committed to enhancing diversity and gender balance within the technology industry. Tuan Nguyen mentioned that there is currently a diverse team of female colleagues at NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, and the company is still trying to attract even more female employees.

Specifically, the company has implemented various programs, including initiatives for female undergraduates, aimed at increasing interest in technology and encouraging individuals to explore opportunities beyond traditional career boundaries. Despite Vietnam’s predominantly male population, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam is steadfast in its belief that both male and female employees can excel.

At NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, regardless of differences in age, position, and gender, everyone is respected and has equal opportunities to work and grow. The company has been making continuous efforts to create the best working environment for its employees.

According to Paul Roney, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam will be relocating to the new office in District 2 in the coming months with the aim of providing their colleagues with a more comfortable and convenient workspace.

Set goals for the future

In summary, the two awards, “Great Place to Work” and “Fast Enterprise” serve as a positive reflection of the development of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam over the past four years. Looking towards the future vision, NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam aspires to build upon the successes achieved, continuing to contribute effectively to the development of Vietnam’s technology landscape.

To accomplish this, Tuan Nguyen emphasizes the critical importance of strengthening the workforce.

“NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam has evolved from a few hundred members to a large team of skilled colleagues. Advanced skills and product design have evolved, and the focus is now on making the team more comprehensive and sustainable,” Tuan said.

Paul Roney is highly optimistic about the company’s workforce, which includes a team of young and dynamic colleagues that thrive on interesting technology challenges. He also affirms that colleagues are the most valuable assets of any organization in order to achieve the set goals.

Therefore, in NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam’s future plans, investing in people is considered crucial. NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam aspires to become an employer of choice with a commitment to providing long-term career opportunities for hundreds of technologists in Vietnam and offering colleagues the best working environment.