Van Phan, Country Manager & Business Development Manager

Powerhouse Van Phan, who is adored by her team members at Sharesource, is celebrating two years anniversary. Her team members will tell you that Van is always friendly, never short of praise and is the first to provide advice or support. Her wonderful smile will be missed in Vietnam as she moves within Sharesource to her next great adventure.

I have been with Sharesource for two years and feel so lucky to have been a part of the organisation, working with smart people and global clients. When I started as the Vietnam Country Manager in August 2020, I knew from the beginning that I had chosen the right company to work with. I still feel this way two years later.

Since July, I have been given the role of BDM (Business Development Manager) for Canada. This is a new market for Sharesource which developed out of discussions I had with Brendon, Sharesource CEO, nearly a year ago.

Actually, that is something that I truly love about Sharesource. When I or others suggest something or give advice, people appreciate and listen and take in what is said. In the case of my discussion with Brendon, I had told him that I was wanting to move to Canada. I also told him that I wanted to go back to a business sales role and grow my experience and knowledge in this area. Brendon saw this as an opportunity to enter a new market with me as the BDM. To be honest, I was completely surprised and excited that this opportunity was available to me. I see this as a win-win for me, for my family, for Sharesource, and time for new Canadian partners. It also means that I will become a true global citizen.

What is really exciting for me, is that in my new role as BDM, I continue to work with amazing tech talent from Vietnam and the Philippines who I can introduce to our new clients in Canada.

This new role, however, takes nothing away from the work I have been doing as the Country Manager, a role that I have really enjoyed, that has developed my skills and that of a wonderful team that I have had the honour of supporting. There was only me in Vietnam when I began on 1 August 2020, and today, there are nearly 60 team members made up of some amazing tech talent. For me, it has been about knowing a team member's potential and watching them grow over time. Whether that be an experienced person who knows the direction they are going and just needs some guidance along the way. Or someone who is a new graduate or new to the tech industry and requires more support and additional training. When a person is smart and shows potential, it is wonderful to play a role in their growth. This is where Sharesource stands apart, providing training, support and a culture that encourages both professional and personal growth.

Of course, in my work at Sharesource, I have had challenges, such as the cultural and language barriers that come with being a global organisation. There is always something to learn from talking with others from a different country or background which I enjoy.

A new challenge for me is my move to Canada in a role that I will be helping to shape.

Although we have a model in place based on our work in Australia and the UK, this is new for Sharesource and of course for me. I am looking forward to introducing Vietnam and Philippine talent to Canadian business leaders and in doing so equalising employment opportunities. And, I’m very glad I have the wonderful team at Sharesource to support me along the way.

Already, I have done a lot of research identifying potential businesses in Canada that have similar values to Sharesource that we could approach. I have considered the negatives as well as the positives of using remote teams and thought about how we can address these. For example, there is an 11-hour time difference between Canada and Vietnam or the Philippines. Turning this negative around, we can provide a form of night shift team where urgent jobs can be turned around while the clients team in Canada are asleep. This could provide a major competitive advantage for businesses that are forward-thinking.

Oh, and yes, the other challenge is I will be living in a ‘fridge’, as it will be freezing in Canada compared to Vietnam. That might take some time to get used to 😊.