AAA Assurance Corp, set up in 2005, now has a capital of VND1,500 billion from its initial VND80 billion. It has more than 500 employees and 93 branches, offices and transaction offices nationwide. The rapid development of AAA Assurance is attributable to the excellent leadership of CEO Do Thi Kim Lien. Vietnam Business Forum talked with Ms Lien about her business.
What is behind the quick growth of AAA Assurance?
The success comes from our dynamic, united, enthusiastic and devoted staff, in addition to clear-sighted executive leadership and the reliability of our partners. Moreover, Vietnam’s entry to the WTO is momentum for us to make more effort in the Vietnamese insurance market. In international economic integration, Vietnamese enterprises must determine suitable development strategies for the market economy. Instead of operating separately, we should join hands together to increase strength. Recently, AAA Assurance and Vinamotor jointly set up Vinamotor - AAA Logistics Joint Stock Company to invest and develop automobile transport and technical services to meet the development requirement of the economic integration era. AAA – Vinamotor will build 38 high-grade wayside service stations providing new buses of 29 – 46 seats, supermarkets, warehouses, inland depots, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, filling stations, garages, registration stations, traffic rescue units, health emergency services, helicopter landing areas, banks, insurance, entertainment and other services capable of serving 20,000 - 25,000 people per day. Total investment capital is estimated to reach VND20,740 billion.
A successful company must have excellent leaders. Would you mind revealing your secrets in leading AAA Assurance to such success?
In fact, I have no secret at all. I think, to lead a company, the leader must put her trust in colleagues and put the right people in the right places to encourage devotion to the company. At present, AAA Assurance has an immeasurable asset in the senior and experienced insurance officials who are leading AAA Assurance from one success to another. We are surveying customer demand to introduce exclusive products and services for them. AAA Assurance will grow from this effort.
AAA Assurance and you have won many national and international awards. Could you introduce more about these awards?
Last year, AAA Assurance was presented many awards such as Quality and Integration Golden Cup (Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations), International Trade Fair Gold Medal, “For the Advancement of Women” Cup, and especially Quality Crown Award granted by the BID International Quality Crown in London. I myself won the Golden Rose Award for excellent businesswomen and Successful Businesswomen Award. In early 2008, AAA Assurance was awarded the diploma of merits from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for its outstanding achievements in the insurance business in 2007. I personally won the second Golden Rose Award and Outstanding Central Women Award 2007. Notably, I received a certificate of merits from the Prime Minister for my business leadership.
How did you feel about receiving the Prime Minister’s certificate of merits?
In fact, I have not thought of this. In business, I only desire to expand our business operations and to win the trust of customers and the community. I think this is a great honour, but also a heavy responsibility for me and the AAA family as we must try harder to deserve the merit from the Government. I am actually very moved about this valuable award, as I am one of only a few to have this honour. I would like to express great gratitude to the Government and other organs which created favourable conditions for AAA Assurance to obtain today’s achievements. Personally, I will continue working to make AAA Assurance more successful in the international integration period.
What do you think about Vietnam hosting the 18th Global Summit of Women? Would you mind sharing your experience in operating a company in the integration period?
The hosting of the 18th Global Summit of Women in Vietnam is an important political event. This shows that Vietnam has a position on the international market. Through this event, women in the world will know that Vietnam is friendly and hospitable and Vietnamese women are heroic and indomitable in national protection, and dynamic and creative in national construction. I am proud to be a Vietnamese woman and a Vietnamese businesswoman.
A business leader must always think of measures to develop her company and take care of employees. Every leader must have strategies, because they are decisive factors. We usually talk about opportunities for and challenges against enterprises in the integration period. A business leader must grasp the opportunities to develop her business and deal with challenges to ensure development. We are businesswomen in the integration period and we accept encountering difficulty. The road to success is not made only with roses. We have to learn from experience and apply advanced techniques of the world to reach greater successes.
Quang Dai
Vietnamese
