LQT BizTalk – The power of failure

On May 30, 2025, the LQT Talk – Insights from Industry Leaders event brought together leaders from Western Sydney University, entrepreneurs, and students of Western Sydney Vietnam.

LQT BizTalk gathered many senior leaders

The event had the honor of welcoming high-level delegates from Western Sydney University:

• Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice Chancellor and President

• Dr Nicolene Murdoch, Pro Vice Chancellor Global

• Professor Hind Benbya, Dean of School of Business

From Vietnam, there was the presence of:

• Dr Douglas Foster, Provost Vietnam

• Dr Tim Hall, Deputy Provost Vietnam

• Dr Ly Qui Trung, Founder of the WSU–LQT BBUS program

Also attending and sharing were two speakers from the business world:

• Ms Ton Nu Xuan Quyen, Founder of Blusaigon

• Mr Duong Van Linh, Co-founder of Career Pass Institute

If you have never failed, you might not have tried hard enough

Opening his speech, Distinguished Professor George Williams, Vice Chancellor and President, expressed: “The LQT Bachelor of Business program is dynamic. You are pioneers, and I am full of hope and pride when I think about what you will achieve in the future.”

Speaking about the current situation, he stated: “The world you are about to enter will change rapidly and it will not be easy. Many people cannot adapt to change because they lack the skills and mindset necessary to do so.”

To be well-prepared for the journey ahead, the Vice Chancellor emphasized: “First of all, be brave and dare to take risks. Courage in business and boldness in entrepreneurship should be encouraged and valued.”

“If there are no risks, there will be no rewards. You are here because you have been selected with great potential to take risks and enter fields where others may hesitate.”

“You will fail, all of us have failed at some point in our careers and lives. Embrace it, learn from it and move on. I myself have gone through many failures, but those very failures were the foundation for the achievements I gained later on.”

“If you have never failed, you might not have tried hard enough,” he noted.

Every great journey starts with small steps and failures

With a spirit of sincere sharing, Mr Duong Van Linh, Co-founder of Career Pass Institute, summarized three messages for students who are dreaming of starting a business: “First, truly understand yourself, know your strengths, what you love, and the value you can bring to society.”

He suggested four resources to help students better understand their strengths and prepare for their career paths, including:

• Career Explorer Test
• The book Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath
• The book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz
• The Information Interview Guidelines compiled by Career Pass Institute

Second, Mr Linh emphasized: “You do not need to start with something grand. Begin with small things, things that make you excited and happy every day. One small step can help you create a lasting legacy in the future. In fact, starting with small steps helped me pursue my passion for business during a difficult time in my career journey.”

The Co-founder of Career Pass Institute shared: “Finally, spread your values and contribute to the community.”

Be flexible to adapt, be steadfast to stay on course

From the perspective of an entrepreneur who has gone through many challenges, Ms Ton Nu Xuan Quyen, Founder of Blusaigon, delivered deep insights: “You need to be flexible enough to adapt, but also consistent enough to stay true to your goals. It is important to be brave to change, to try, and to keep learning.”

She added: “Raising capital is not just about seeking money, but a process that trains your perseverance and ability to overcome fear. The most important investment is the investment in yourself. Your life and work experience, when used correctly, will create lasting value.”

Startup tips with minimal capital from Mr Duong Van Linh

During the discussion, Dr Ly Qui Trung asked: “You started Career Pass Institute with very limited capital, can you share tips for students who want to start a business with limited resources?”

In response, Mr Duong Van Linh shared that starting a business does not necessarily require a lot of capital. What matters is that the entrepreneur understands their own strengths, identifies real market needs, and begins with a small model that creates immediate value.

“You do not have to start with a complex tech idea. If you do not yet have a breakthrough idea, start with something you do better than others and can deliver value with right away.”

He used the example of Career Pass Institute, which he started by spending time advising students on careers, almost without any operating costs. From there, Mr Linh shared three key tips for starting a business with minimal capital:

1. Start with services and listen to market needs

“You can start with your own skills and experiences to provide services. Services may not be easy to scale quickly, but they can generate cash flow very early.” He shared: “Customers are your first investors. So go learn about the market, talk to customers and understand clearly what they need.”

2. Focus on customers instead of perfect products

Mr Linh advised new entrepreneurs to avoid getting stuck trying to build a perfect product from the start: “Quickly create the first version of your product or service, bring it to the market, get feedback and keep improving. Do not wait for everything to be perfect.”

3. Build your team with trust and kindness

When you do not have enough capital to pay high salaries, what retains people is how you treat and invest in them.
Mr Linh said: “I genuinely care about my team and they feel it. That is why they are willing to walk with me.”“Last month, despite high costs, I still invested in AI training for the whole team because I believe if I take good care of my team, they will take care of our customers and the business in return.”

Conclusion

From these heartfelt stories, LQT BizTalk planted seeds of innovation, resilience and aspiration in each student, helping them feel more confident on their personal development journey and ready to face future challenges.