Businesses worldwide are confronting “three major tsunami-like waves” that are powerfully impacting their daily production and business operations.
Mr. Tran Kim Chung, Chairman of CT Group, believes we are at a pivotal moment in history – not just at the crossroads of the 4.0 revolution, but also a special time for Vietnam as it enters an entirely new era.
Chairman of CT Group, speaking at the recent opening ceremony of the CEO 4.0 training program, organized by VCCI-HCM. Photo: Dinh Dai.
According to Mr. Chung, the 4.0 revolution vastly differs from previous revolutions. While earlier revolutions primarily focused on societal productivity to usher in new civilizations, the 4.0 revolution brings profound changes, impacting not only productivity, productive forces, and production relations, but even humanity itself, as science and technology deeply permeate daily life.
“There will be new genetic codes for humans, new genetic codes for plants and animals. Amidst such immense change, the role of CEOs in this era will be vastly different from CEOs of previous periods,” Mr. Chung shared.
Given these significant shifts, Mr. Chung stated that businesses are facing “three major tsunami-like waves” globally, strongly impacting their daily production and business activities.
First, there is the powerful rise of AI. AI is pervasive in daily life, from rural areas to offices, appearing everywhere. AI powers TikTok and Facebook, influencing all human activities.
Second, we face new pressures regarding sustainable development and global trends. Simultaneously, we must undertake the dual task of green transformation while maintaining growth. This is a very difficult mission; few nations have the dual responsibility of both green transformation and high growth.
Third, we confront major geopolitical and development changes. What President Trump is doing today consistently presents us with major surprises. Unexpected situations will always arise, and we must manage it.
“In such a context, the profile of a CEO 4.0 has emerged. They are not merely traditional operators; they must be creators, highly adaptable to entirely new things. They don’t stand on power but on data, and they don’t influence others but understand and empathize with everyone,” Mr. Tran Kim Chung explained.
CT Group Chairman Tran Kim Chung also drew a comparison between the CEO 3.0 and CEO 4.0 generations. For the CEO 3.0 generation, Mr. Chung noted that they typically focused on optimizing processes, managing efficiency, and achieving specific financial objectives. They were masters of traditional management, adept at streamlining supply chains and expanding market reach.
Regarding technology, they viewed it as a supportive tool to automate tasks and improve productivity, but rarely as a core development driver. They primarily used data for reporting and analyzing past performance rather than for future insights.
As for innovation, activities often occurred cyclically and typically concentrated on product improvements or market share expansion.
In contrast, for the CEO 4.0 generation, Mr. Chung stated that their mindset transcends traditional frameworks, focusing on creating new ecosystems, reshaping markets, and developing unique doctrines for their enterprises. They are “thinkers” and dare to change.
When it comes to technology, CEO 4.0s consistently view it-especially core technologies like AI, IoT, Blockchain, and semiconductors-as strategic weapons and the foundation for autonomy and breakthrough competitiveness. They don’t just buy but must own and develop new technologies
For data, AI and all real-time data operation and analysis systems are utilized to make decisions for both the present and the future. Regarding innovation, CEO 4.0s don’t just see it as a necessary activity; they consider creative innovation to be the very driving force of the business, propelling its daily development.
“If CEO 3.0s were excellent managers in a relatively stable world, CEO 4.0s are the leaders of change and breakthroughs in a decisive era where technology and data are at the center of all operations,” Chairman Tran Kim Chung emphasized.
