CEO Le Hong Thuy Tien said that all decisions at IPPG are people-centered, with 48% of the leadership being female.

The General Director of the Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) mentioned the above idea to 130 delegates attending the workshop "Promoting inclusive business activities for a prosperous future", organized by the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VCCI) and UN Women, on December 20.

"Gender equality is not only a social value, but also a powerful lever to help businesses grow sustainably and enhance their competitive advantage," Ms. Thuy Tien explained.

Ms. Le Hong Thuy Tien speaks at an event in Ho Chi Minh City on December 20. Photo: NVCC

Previously, the board of directors repeatedly affirmed that pioneering the integration of gender equality into the ESG (environment, society, governance) strategy is the focus of IPPG - a multi-industry group with 37 member companies in the retail, non-aviation, non-tariff services and international airport terminal management investment sectors.

Ms. Thuy Tien emphasized: "Every decision at IPPG is people-centered, because diverse talent is the strongest driving force for innovation and creativity."

Accordingly, the unit implemented a series of practical initiatives, turning gender equality into concrete actions:

Fair recruitment and promotion : leadership positions at IPPG are 48% female, much higher than the average of 31% for companies in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a report from McKinsey 2023 .

Recruitment and promotion processes focus on competence, expanding opportunities for women in technical and technological fields - where the proportion of women is often low.

Women Leadership Development : The unit provides training and mentoring programs specifically for women, helping them prepare for management roles. This not only helps advance individual careers, but also strengthens the leadership capacity of the entire organization.

Flexible work policy : According to Harvard Business Review , companies that adopt flexible work policies report a 20% increase in employee satisfaction. IPPG supports this model, creating conditions for employees, especially women, to balance work and family.

CEO Thuy Tien (sixth from left) with IPPG staff and guests at the workshop. Photo: NVCC

Not stopping internally, the unit extends gender equality values ​​to the community by supporting women-owned businesses (WOBs).

Specifically, IPP Travel Retail - a member company of the group - brings WOBs' products into the airport retail system and international supply chain.

"Supporting female businesses not only opens up business opportunities, but also contributes to raising the level of Vietnamese products in the international market," said Ms. Thuy Tien.

As soon as the WOBs strategy was launched, IPPG planned and budgeted specifically each year to support female businesses, especially individuals in remote areas, to develop products, expand markets, and directly create thousands of jobs.

"Gender equality is the driving force behind a fairer economy and society. We call on the business community to join hands to build a prosperous and sustainable future," added Ms. Thuy Tien.

Previously in 2021, Ms. Le Hong Thuy Tien was honored with the national WEPs award by UN Women and the European Union, recognizing her efforts in promoting gender equality.