Meet the MBA Class of 2025: Thinh Lam, TCU Neeley

Thinh Lam

“A restorative professional who wants to make sustainable supply chain development more applicable in emerging countries”

Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have an elder sister who is also a first-year MBA student at another business school in the U.S. We both left Vietnam the same day to pursue a bigger dream.

Undergraduate School and Major: Foreign Trade University, Bachelor’s degree in International Business

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Unilever, Production Planning Assistant Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
My biggest accomplishment was becoming the youngest person to be promoted to Production Planning Assistant Manager at Unilever Vietnam Homecare Business. I played a role as a leader, supervising end-to-end supply planning for worldwide markets, and managing a budget of $2 million in 2023. I championed and delivered projects to improve planning efficiency and production agility, bringing Unilever Vietnam to a Top 5 World Class Manufacturing (WCM) ranking in 2023.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?
After nearly six years working at Unilever, my goal was to become a Supply Chain Manager to lead end-to-end supply chain management in a global company. Pursuing an MBA will enrich my understanding of supply chain concepts and enhance my leadership and communication skills for further career development. Also, the network I will get from the MBA will be valuable to get to know more people, not only from supply chain but also from other industries.

What word best describes the TCU MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far?
Diverse and inclusive. The TCU MBA cohort has been a second home for me, this being the first time living away from Vietnam. My classmates come from various backgrounds, industries, countries, and bring unique perspectives to class discussions. Everyone plays a very active role in community building. Furthermore, the Graduate Programs office is extremely caring and work tirelessly to enhance the reputation of the TCU MBA.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of TCU’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 
The MBA cohort is small, which provides extremely personalized and concentrated experiences for me and my classmates. I am really impressed by the Center for Supply Chain Innovation, which unites TCU students, professors and business experts to enhance global supply chains by developing professionals and fostering innovation. Every student is well-prepared and acknowledged by professors, administrators and alumni from leading companies in DFW Metroplex.

What is your favorite course as an MBA and/or favorite professor and why?
I am looking forward to participating in Dr. Swink’s Supply Chain Operations Management class. This experience will provide valuable benefits, such as enhancing my understanding of supply chain operations, improving problem-solving skills, and gaining practical knowledge in optimizing processes. Additionally, I’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with peers, learn from real-world case studies, and develop strategies to address complex supply chain challenges, which are essential skills in today’s competitive business landscape.

What club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at TCU?
I am looking forward to participating in Neeley & Associates Consultants and working on a real-world consulting project for a company. I’ve received valuable feedback from second-year MBA students about the benefits of Neeley & Associates Consultants, such as gaining project and client management skills, applied problem solving, and leadership and teamwork abilities. Neeley & Associates Consultants will help boost my résumé and position me for full-time employment upon graduation.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far?
When you embark on an experience like an MBA program you have your doubts. Will I fit in? Will I learn and survive the program? The TCU MBA environment has been nothing but welcoming. I feel more confident every day as I enhance my communication skills, broaden my knowledge, and participate in class discussions and networking activities. For example, during the START Workshop orientation program, I was part of a four-person team who participated in the Dell Technologies Case Competition in Austin, Texas. As I met new teammates, we assessed each other’s strengths and roles. I played an integral part as the analytical member, bringing insights to the team through data visualization and synthesis, from which the team could benefit to find a unique solution to Dell’s problem. The result was astounding. Our team was the runner-up for the case, which was a great start to the program.

What surprised you the most about business school?
The first semester of business school is really challenging. There are more things to do than just attend class, including participating in networking activities, joining group discussions, preparing for internship interviews, and engaging with others in case competitions. These are good time investments as they will bring memorable experiences and a high ROI over the next two years.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list post your MBA?
• Leadership: contributing in leadership roles in established companies.
• Sustainability business development: implementing eco-friendly practices, promoting corporate social responsibility, and ensuring a company’s operations align with sustainable development goals.

DON’T MISS MEET TCU NEELEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2025