Empowering Future Leaders: HSU Students Gain Insights from EducationUSA Experts
When the market changes, information is incomplete, teams encounter challenges, and unexpected competitors emerge, how should future leaders respond? Hoa Sen University students explored these questions firsthand at the workshop “Four Leadership Skills Every Future Business Leader Needs”, organized by the Institute for International Education and Global Engagement and the Institute of English and International Integration, in collaboration with EducationUSA at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Through real-world business scenarios, students could put their leadership skills into practice and explore how effective leaders navigate uncertainty and change.
Leadership Learning Through Real-World Business Scenarios
On September 30, 2026, Hoa Sen University (HSU) students stepped into real-world leadership scenarios at the workshop “Four Leadership Skills Every Future Business Leader Needs”, organized by the HSU Institute of International Education and Global Engagement and the HSU Institute of English and International Integration, in collaboration with EducationUSA at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
Going beyond learning leadership concepts, HSU students and students from the DMU-HSU international program took on leadership roles themselves. Through business scenarios, they analyzed situations, assessed risks, made decisions, and responded to unexpected changes as they navigated the challenges of leading a business. Through role-playing, discussions, and English presentations with experts, students developed four core leadership competencies: Vision, Decision-Making, Communication, and Adaptability & Resilience.
Led by Mr. Bornunderstanding Allah, Associate Director of Admissions, College of Professional Studies, University of New Hampshire-Manchester, who has more than 15 years of experience in higher education and management in the United States, the workshop created opportunities for students to experience leadership in action.
Through experiential learning, students moved beyond theoretical discussions and into simulated business scenarios that reflected real-world challenges. As markets changed and unexpected factors came into play, students took on the role of decision-makers, collaborating to analyze situations, weigh risks, prioritize actions, and determine appropriate responses.
Through case studies featuring VinFast, MoMo, FPT, and “The Unexpected Change”, students gained opportunities to apply leadership skills to realistic business scenarios and experience the complexity of decision-making in practice.
Exploring Four Essential Leadership Skills
1. Vision
What does it take to turn an ambitious business direction into a shared vision?
Through a case study on VinFast, students examined the challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles and expanding into international markets. By stepping into the role of strategic thinkers, they explored long-term goals, growth opportunities, and the considerations involved in entering a new market. The experience reframed Vision as more than setting goals, highlighting the ability to anticipate what lies ahead, turn possibilities into direction, and inspire a team to move forward together.
2. Decision-Making
What would we do when the information is incomplete but a decision cannot wait?
Through the case study on MoMo, students stepped into a business scenario where cash remained widely used and explored how decisions take shape under uncertainty. By considering data, different perspectives, and potential risks, teams had to make their own choices and stand behind them. The activity helped students recognize that strong decision-making requires more than identifying the best option. It calls for critical evaluation, confidence in navigating uncertainty, and accountability for the choices made.
3. Communication
What happens when a team faces a challenge that cannot be solved by one person alone?
Through the FPT case study, students explored how effective communication can help teams understand different perspectives, overcome difficulties, and work toward a common goal. By taking part in discussions and role-playing, they practiced communicating in a multicultural work environment, responding to project challenges, and exploring different approaches to problem-solving. The experience highlighted how communication can turn different perspectives into stronger collaboration.
4. Adaptability & Resilience
What happens when everything changes just before we are ready to launch?
Through “The Unexpected Change” scenario, students faced a competitor introducing a similar product just before their planned launch and had to reconsider their strategy. By evaluating new information, reassessing priorities, and exploring alternative solutions, they experienced the need to stay flexible when circumstances change. The activity helped students strengthen Adaptability and Resilience while learning to respond thoughtfully to uncertainty.
HSU Students’ Confident English Communication
The workshop featured an engaging mix of group work, discussions, role-playing, and presentations. DMU-HSU and HSU students stepped into the roles of leaders and managers, analyzing challenges, weighing options, and making decisions in different scenarios.
They also had the opportunity to exchange ideas and present their perspectives in English directly with the speaker, putting their communication skills into practice in an interactive learning environment. Whether discussing ideas, presenting solutions, or responding to different perspectives, students had opportunities to use English actively throughout the workshop.
Beyond developing their language skills, these experiences encouraged them to express their ideas confidently, ask questions, and actively contribute to discussions.
Bridging Classroom Learning and Business Practice
At the “Four Leadership Skills Every Future Business Leader Needs” workshop, students moved beyond learning about leadership and had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. Dealing with realistic business situations, they analyzed information, discussed different perspectives, evaluated possible outcomes, and defended their choices as a team. This hands-on process brought Vision, Decision Making, Communication, Adaptability, and Resilience to life, helping students see how these competencies can shape their responses to real-world challenges.
Learning Experiences and International Connections for HSU Students
The collaboration with EducationUSA, a division of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, has brought international perspectives into the HSU learning experience through insights from experienced education and management experts from the U.S.
Through workshops, group discussions, and direct exchanges, students can explore different approaches to leadership, deepen their understanding of multicultural work environments, and discover the skills needed to thrive in a changing workplace.
From shaping a vision to making decisions, communicating ideas, and adapting to change, each workshop scenario challenges HSU students to put leadership into action, sharpen their problem-solving skills, and build confidence for their future academic and professional journeys.
Transltated: Tai Do
