At a recent conference in Ho Chi Minh City, three female entrepreneurs, one local and two Vietnamese-American, all spoke on the need for growth among women in the business world.

Women can be even more successful than men in business, as men are not as detail-oriented when dealing with life and business, said Thu Nhi, founder and CEO of Nanakids Vietnam, while speaking at Female entrepreneurs 2013, the first conference of its kind organized in Vietnam.

When asked by moderator Minh Anh Do if it’s possible for women to be successful entrepreneurs, Vietnamese-American Linh Thai, founder and CEO The One Couture, said she doesn’t think “gender really matters” in determining a successful entrepreneur.

Determination plays a more important role than gender, as someone managing a startup will have to “face a lot of ups and downs, and sometimes, more downs than ups.” 

“If you really want to do it, you will have the motivation to move on,” she added.

When asked if men should offer women more chances to grow in the business environment, all three women agreed that they definitely should.

“Women have to face certain difficulties, the biggest of which is that they give birth to babies and raise children,” said Linh Thai.

“A woman should be offered more leeway at work, such as more time for her to pick up her kids, and get more support from her male colleagues,” said Esther Nguyen, CEO of POPS Vietnam.

Moreover, all people should be treated equally at work and evaluated due to their performance alone.

At the end of the day, the main issue is how you perform, regardless of your gender, the three speakers agreed.

“The important thing is that you do your job well and prove yourself in the work place,” said Esther Nguyen.

Willingness to move

Female entrepreneurs have similar experiences in Vietnam and the US, with only a few offered opportunities to grow in their professions. In the fields of science, business, and management, it is more likely they will be promoted, but opportunities for women are still rare.

Currently, in the US, only 2-5 percent of women working in those fields are offered the chance to climb the career ladder, said moderator Thanh Thuy Truong, who had just arrived from the US.

Taking care of children and family is still a big obstacle, so the main thing is to convince women that they can balance the two, said Linh Thai.

But of course, a woman cannot do so without the help of her husband, who should share the housework with her, she said.

“[Who you marry] is your choice, so you must choose wisely,” she added.

Thu Nhi considers herself a traditional Vietnamese woman, as she has a full time job while raising her children. The two Vietnamese-Americans expressed admiration for her ability to “do it all.”

Thu Nhi emphasized that in order for women to progress in the business world, everyone’s mindset must change.

“The fundamental thing for anyone, either man or woman, is that they should believe that they can achieve their goals, regardless of any challenges they may face.”