Welcome to Inside the Shift
How capital, power, and leadership are really moving in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
I’ve spent the last decade inside rooms that rarely go public.
Strategy meetings with founders who built category leaders from scratch — not from pitch decks.
Capital discussions with Western investors trying to understand what actually moves in Vietnam.
Cross-border deals where what’s said out loud is only half the story.
And I’ve come to realize:
Most of the analysis out there doesn’t reflect how this region really works.
It’s either too surface-level, too celebratory, or too filtered through frameworks that don’t apply here.
So I’m writing this series — Inside the Shift — to tell the truth beneath the narrative.
This Isn’t a Trend Report. It’s a Translation Layer.
Vietnam and Southeast Asia are shifting — structurally, not just symbolically.
Power is being transferred between generations
Capital is flooding in, but rarely landing where it should
Founders are building empires while still navigating family loyalty, political context, and generational pressure
These aren’t just economic stories. They’re deeply human, deeply strategic, and often misunderstood by the people with the most money at the table.
I’m not here to summarize what’s happening.
I’m here to explain how — and why.
Who This Is For
Investors who are serious about entering or scaling in Southeast Asia — and want the real map, not the deck
Founders navigating growth in a region full of contradictions
Operators, advisors, and second-generation leaders trying to bridge old systems with new ambition
If that’s you — you’ll recognize these stories. If it’s not — you’ll learn what you’ve been missing.
What to Expect
Each edition will focus on a core idea — something structural, quiet, and consequential.
The first three:
Governance Isn’t Power — At Least Not Here
Why Foreign Capital Gets Trapped in Southeast Asia
Most Founders in SEA Aren’t Looking for a VC — They’re Looking for a Translator
Later, we’ll cover:
How capital flows are really decided here
Why Vietnam’s mid-market is the real growth engine
And what leadership means when hierarchy, ambition, and obligation collide
Final Note
If you’re looking for hype or high fives, this series probably isn’t for you.
But if you want to understand Southeast Asia through the eyes of someone who’s been operating inside it for years — then I’ll meet you inside the shift.
