Why he returned to Vietnam after being in America for 5 years

Summary

In this engaging interview, Andre, a proud Vietnamese, shares his journey from a traditional upbringing in Hanoi to studying abroad in the US. He discusses his initial ambition to thrive in the corporate world, his struggles, and eventual realization that finance wasn't his passion. Andre's transition to a more creative career, launching his own show 'Syia,' highlights the importance of self-discovery and the courage to change paths. His story is a testament to the value of perseverance and the impact of past experiences on shaping one's future.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Andre moved from Vietnam to the US for high school and college, attending Hanoi Amsterdam High School before studying in New Mexico and Rhode Island.
• 🏫 He initially aspired to work in corporate settings, influenced by his peers in college who pursued careers in finance and consulting.
• 📉 After graduation, Andre returned to Vietnam and worked in finance for several years, feeling unfulfilled and unmotivated.
• 💡 During the COVID-19 pandemic, Andre decided to leave finance and pursue a more creative career, taking a career break to explore his interests.
• 🎬 Andre created 'Siya', a show with an interview format infused with his unique sense of humor, inspired by Western shows like 'Between Two Ferns'.
• 🎭 The show 'Siya' has been well-received, with audiences appreciating its humor and the opportunity it provides for artists to showcase their personalities.
• 🔄 Andre's experience in finance indirectly contributed to his creative career, as his knowledge and confidence in the field led to hosting a finance-related podcast.
• 🌱 He believes that the challenging years in finance were essential for his growth and the foundation of his current success.
• 📈 Andre plans to expand his content universe with more formats and videos, using his YouTube channel as a platform for diverse content creation.
• 💌 In reflection, Andre is grateful for his past self's perseverance through the difficult years in finance, which he sees as a stepping stone to his current path.

Q & A

What was Andre's initial ambition during high school?

Andre's initial ambition during high school was to study abroad, which was influenced by his peers and the reputation of his school, Hanoi Amsterdam High School, for sending students overseas.

How did Andre's experience in the US for high school differ from his expectations?

Andre did not find the transition to the US difficult and was prepared for the experience. He was surprised by the cold weather and the long winter in New England, but overall, he felt he fit in well.

What was Andre's initial career goal after college?

Andre initially wanted to become a successful corporate person, thriving in corporate settings, which was influenced by his friends who went into investment banking, finance, and consulting.

Why did Andre decide to return to Vietnam after graduation instead of staying in the US?

Andre never had the drive to stay in the US and make a living there. He felt that coming back to Vietnam was not a failure and did not see it as a waste of opportunity.

What was the reaction of Andre's family and friends when he decided to return to Vietnam after his studies?

Andre's family was supportive and respectful of his decisions, but his relatives and friends were surprised and thought it was a waste of opportunity to not stay in the US.

What was Andre's first corporate job in Vietnam?

Andre's first corporate job in Vietnam was at a bank, and he later moved to an investment fund after almost two years.

How did Andre feel about his career in finance after several years?

Andre felt unfulfilled and unmotivated in his finance career, even after moving between different finance jobs, and eventually decided it was not for him.

What led Andre to make a career change and pursue a more creative path?

Andre felt a disconnect between his corporate ambitions and his true desires. He decided to make a change during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking a more creative and fulfilling career.

How did Andre come up with the concept for his show 'Syia'?

The idea for 'Syia' came about when Andre was looking for an assistant and thought about turning the interview process into a format for having conversations with people, infused with his personality and humor.

How has the reception been for Andre's show 'Syia' after six months?

The show has been doing better than expected, with viewers appreciating the humor and style, and it has successfully created a space for artists to showcase their personalities.

What does Andre have planned for his future in content creation?

Andre plans to create more formats and videos, as he sees 'Syia' as just one part of a larger content universe he wants to develop.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Early Ambitions and Transition to America

Andre, the interviewee, discusses his early life in Hanoi and how his aspirations evolved during high school. He talks about his pride in being Vietnamese and his exposure to the idea of studying abroad at Hanoi Amsterdam high school. Andre received a scholarship to spend a year in the US for high school and later attended college in Rhode Island. He reflects on the transition from Vietnam to America at the age of 18, noting that he was open-minded and adventurous, which made the transition smoother. He also mentions the cultural differences he encountered, particularly the cold winters in New England.

05:02

🎓 College Experiences and Initial Career Choices

In this paragraph, Andre describes his college experiences and ambitions. Initially, he was extroverted and eager to explore all opportunities, including meeting new people and professors and visiting different cities. As he progressed through college, he found his group of friends and started to carve out a place for himself. Andre reveals that he initially wanted to become a successful corporate professional, influenced by his peers who went into investment banking, finance, and consulting. However, after graduation, he chose to return to Vietnam instead of staying in the US, which was a decision that surprised many, including his relatives and friends. He explains that he never had a strong desire to stay in the US and always felt that he would return to Vietnam.

10:03

💼 Corporate Life and the Shift to Creativity

Andre shares his experiences working in the finance industry after college, including his time at a bank and an investment fund. He admits that he didn't enjoy corporate life and felt unfulfilled, despite trying different finance jobs. After four years, he decided to leave the finance industry and explore a more creative path. He talks about the process of resigning from his job and reaching out to a college friend who founded a company, considering joining the firm. Andre also discusses taking a career break at the age of 30 to rest and observe his surroundings, which eventually led to the creation of his own content.

15:03

🎬 The Birth of 'Syia' and Future Aspirations

Andre explains the inspiration behind his show 'Syia,' which started as a concept for an assistant but evolved into an interview format with a comedic twist. He draws inspiration from Western shows like 'Between Two Ferns' and incorporates his own dry humor and awkwardness into the show. Despite initial concerns about whether the humor would translate to a local audience, the show has been well-received. Andre talks about his plans to create more content formats and expand his YouTube channel beyond 'Syia.' He reflects on the importance of his corporate experience, which provided the foundation for his creative career and gave him the confidence to start his own show.

Keywords

💡Show

In the context of the video script, 'show' refers to a form of media production, likely a talk show or interview series, hosted by Andre. It is a platform where he engages with guests, exploring their stories and experiences. The show is described as 'independent' and 'up-and-coming,' indicating it's a new venture that Andre is developing and growing.

💡Vietnamese

The term 'Vietnamese' is used to describe Andre's cultural identity. He expresses pride in being Vietnamese, which is a key part of his personal narrative. This identity shapes his perspective and likely influences the content and approach of his show, as he may draw from his cultural background in his interactions with guests.

💡Study Abroad

Studying abroad is a significant theme in the script, reflecting Andre's educational journey. It's a path that many students in his circle aspired to, and it eventually led Andre to spend a year in the US for high school and then college. This experience broadened his worldview and likely contributed to his decision to pursue a career in a different cultural context.

💡Transition

The 'transition' keyword is pivotal as it encapsulates Andre's move from Vietnam to the US at the age of 18. This transition was not only geographical but also cultural and psychological. Despite the challenges, Andre found the process less difficult than expected, showcasing his adaptability and open-mindedness.

💡Corporate

The term 'corporate' is used to describe a professional environment and career path that Andre initially aspired to. He mentions wanting to 'become like just a really good corporate person,' indicating a desire for success in a traditional business setting. This ambition influenced his early career choices, including his work in finance.

💡Finance

Finance is a recurring theme in the script, representing Andre's professional background. He worked in finance for four years, moving between different roles and companies. However, he eventually realized that finance was not fulfilling for him, leading to a career change. His experience in finance also provided the foundation for his first podcast with Viter.

💡Creative

The word 'creative' is used to describe a shift in Andre's career path. After feeling unfulfilled in finance, he sought a more creative outlet, which led to the creation of his show. This keyword signifies a personal transformation and a move towards self-expression and innovation in his work.

💡Podcast

A 'podcast' is a digital audio program that Andre mentions as part of his career transition. It represents a new form of media that he explored after leaving finance. His first podcast with Viter was about finance, leveraging his background to discuss personal finance topics.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration is a keyword that Andre associates with his decision to take a career break. He used this time to draw inspiration from daily life, leading to the creation of his show. This indicates that his work is driven by a desire to create content that resonates with his experiences and observations.

💡Humor

Humor is a key element of Andre's show, as he describes incorporating his personality, which is informed by 'dry humor,' 'comedy,' 'awkwardness,' and 'self-deprecation' into the interview format. This keyword highlights the unique style of his show, setting it apart from traditional interviews.

💡Content Universe

The term 'content universe' refers to Andre's vision for expanding beyond his current show. He sees his YouTube channel as a platform for creating various formats and exploring different types of content. This keyword reflects his ambition to grow and diversify his creative output.

Highlights

Andre discusses his initial exposure to studying abroad during high school.

He shares his experience of studying in the US for a year during high school and then college.

Andre talks about the influence of his peers on his desire to study abroad.

He reflects on the transition from being Vietnamese to living in America and how he found it surprisingly easy.

Andre mentions the cultural differences he noticed, particularly the cold weather in New England.

He discusses how he initially wanted to fit into specific communities in college.

Andre shares his initial career aspirations to work in a corporate setting.

He explains why he chose to return to Vietnam after graduation despite opportunities in the US.

Andre talks about the reactions from his family and friends regarding his decision to return to Vietnam.

He discusses his first corporate job in Vietnam and his progression in the finance industry.

Andre explains why he felt unfulfilled in his finance career and his decision to leave.

He shares his experience of taking a career break and the inspiration for his creative pursuits.

Andre describes the concept and creation process behind his show 'Syia'.

He discusses the reception of 'Syia' and how it has exceeded his expectations.

Andre talks about his plans for future content creation beyond 'Syia'.

He reflects on his time in finance and how it contributed to his current creative career.

Andre shares a final message to his younger self during his challenging times in finance.

Transcripts

how do you start your show you don't

just they just walk in they just walk

in today we're here with

Andre don't know he runs a Big Show Now

by show independent the upand cominging

top Rising what's it called s like who

did you identify as when you were like

living in Hanoi were you pretty certain

that you were going to live in Vietnam

and then you were you like proud to be

Vietnamese oh very proud to be

Vietnamese um I guess from 0 to 18

like

I I just grew up as a normal kid in

Hanoi um went through the public school

system I think it was when I got into

high school which was um Hanoi Amsterdam

high school that I really became exposed

to the idea of like studying abroad um

because that's a school that a lot of

students um get into and you know have

start having that ambition um so the the

school is known for just sending kids

abroad um yeah so when I got into high

school and saw that a lot of the friends

or a lot of the the the the people

around me were you know applying for

study abroad opportunities and and going

overseas that's when I started thinking

about um where I want to go for for

college and luckily I got a scholarship

in high school and was able to spend one

year in in the US uh for high school and

then College after yeah so I want to

touch upon like is it cuz I'm not like

I'm not born than viam right so is it a

common thing when you're in high school

be like I want to like you help right I

want to go live abroad is it like a

split like a 50/50 or like most people

like I want to go study abroad I think

my worldview back then was a little bit

more biased towards going abroad because

that that's the kind

of people the kind of group that I was

around um so definitely in my circle

there was this tendency to um go to

college overseas um After High School

but outside of that Circle I feel like

it was predominantly like people that

were still um going to take the college

entrance exam and go to local

universities yeah but yeah I think it it

all it all boils down to personal

preference and and um the the family's

financial situation and and and what you

want to get out of your college

education yeah so you went one year

abroad first and from high school from

high school and then where did you end

up uh studying in the states High School

one year of high school in New Mexico

and then

College I was in Rhode Island the

smallest state in uh the US how was that

like transition from being 18 years old

completely Vietnamese to just jumping

into America it was wow I haven't really

like sat down and reflected upon that

experience honestly looking back like I

didn't feel like the transition was that

difficult yeah I I've always been this

kind of like open-minded and adventurous

type of kid yeah it wasn't that much of

a shock was there anything where you're

like okay this is what not I wasn't

expecting this yeah I expected

everything sounds like you're very

prepared it's more it's more like the

the daytoday stuff that was like okay

this is a little bit different but like

overall it wasn't like winter the cold

it get cold Ino though yeah but you know

not you all have snow there in the in

Hanoi no East Co East Coast I mean we

were deep in snow but um but you know

winter is long in New England and um

that was just like that that that that

seasonal shift was very very obvious and

it was just like months of winter and

cold and and that kind of vibe in what

idland is it Four Seasons or is it um

there uh Four Seasons yeah but mostly

winter mostly Winters what do you mean

by

that cuz we cuz the school year um

starts in September and ends in May and

I feel like between the moment you get

to to school it's like 2 weeks of fall

which is nice and then the rest until

like April is like just cold and and

brutal probably you fit in I fit in but

obviously in very specific communities

or spe A specific group of people um I

think first year going into college I

was

very I guess extroverted um I had a lot

of energy that I wanted to um been

outside I wanted to meet new people and

just like really get to know everyone

and take all the classes meet all the

professors and explore all the cities

and whatever but I think like slowly as

I went through college um I found my

group of people and I guess built like

or carved out like a place for myself um

just to be comfortable and just to be um

to like plan out what who I want to

become in the future who did you want to

be come my that time I wanted to believe

it or not I wanted to become like just a

really good like corporate like person

like someone who thrives in corporate

settings because I think again I was

very much influenced by the people

around me and a lot of the friends that

I made in college ended up going into

Investment Banking Finance Consulting

just very corporate jobs how long did

you work in the states for though I

didn't work in the states at all oh yeah

I came back right after graduation right

after yeah and then was how was your

family's reaction strangely they didn't

really have a

reaction I think

they um I was very fortunate in that

they my parents were very respectful and

they they were just very respectful of

my decisions cuz I think they after a

while they figured out that you know

this it's his life he knows what's best

for him um right off the bat from

beginning

like I think three years into college

that's when they like um they came to

that

realization um but everyone around me

like my relatives and like a lot of the

friends that I had back then they were

all like what like you're not trying to

stay in the US cuz I think that's what a

lot of people everyone's like my God

like it's such a waste like why are you

wasting his opportunity um but I when I

went to the US I never really had that

drive to be like okay I need to stay

here and I need to like like make a

living in the US um coming back is going

to be a failure no I didn't have that

that kind of thought so but did you get

the the com like the I don't know from

people just ha hang or like uh hang like

neighbors or relatives that be like you

know how much people would give up to

have that opportunity and you're like

giving it away like that yeah yeah when

I first came back that's the initial

reaction that a lot of them had um yeah

but I mean it's my own life like I I

guess like my way of arguing with them

or not arguing but my way of proving is

just to you know just um do my best here

and show through the process and the

results yeah so then uh what was the

first corporate

job in

Vietnam I was at a bank um so I I joined

the finance industry uh I started at a

bank and then

and after almost 2 years I um moved to

an investment fund and uh yeah for the

longest time I let's make this let's

make this clear I I really value my time

in in finance but it was just not for me

and for 4 years I thought the solution

to it was to move to a different

investment fund or move to a different

Finance job and then maybe I'll enjoy

this side of Finance maybe I'll enjoy

like this investment fund more but after

four to five of those moves I was like

yeah maybe this just not maybe I should

just stop trying cuz it's been four

years and I still haven't really felt

like myself um I don't feel motivated

waking up in the morning I don't feel

like

I'm I don't feel fulfilled um so yeah

after four to five of those moves I

and it this happened during Co um I was

like yeah I I can't do this anymore I'm

going to try to do something a little

bit more creative which I think I've

always had in me I just haven't

really um I haven't I just haven't been

brave enough to to bring it out life

hasn't given you enough pain to force

you what you really want to do mhm cuz

like there must have been like a

disconnect where like when you're like

18 I want to be corporate and then

you're like oh I I did what I want but

it's not lining up yeah exactly so how

was that like how painful did it need to

be for you be like I'm going to do

something completely left right wing

type of thing um so surprisingly when I

made that switch to um just being more

creative and to a more creative job it

didn't feel like it felt right it didn't

feel like I am going out of my way and

like I'm like uprooting my I mean I was

uprooting my entire life but it didn't

feel like that because I because it was

like a decision that I have kept in me

for so long um yeah but the four years

that I spent in

finance was it looking back it doesn't

feel like a dark time but I guess going

through it at the moment at that time

going through it was just painful I've

been thinking about it but that day I

woke up and I was just like yeah I can't

take this anymore so I opened my laptop

and um basically typed out like a

resignation letter uh to my manager

then

and right after that I also called up

my um longtime friend um he went to

college with me and he founded V I

called him up and I was like cuz we did

talk about you know the possibility of

me joining um the company a few years

back but at that point I was you know I

wanted to be very successful in

corporates and just like built that

career in finance working at vited for

how many years and what were you doing

what was your main role uh I was a vitet

for 2 years I think exactly two years um

I started out as like a business manager

I mean the the title was was a little

bit uh questionable mostly because I

didn't feel like I was like a business

manager but I knew that I wanted to do

something on my own um but when I left V

I didn't really have like a clear idea

of what that was yet so I mostly wanted

just to take a career break cuz

I basically I haven't had any in the

last like 6 years um and as I turned 30

I was like yeah maybe it's a good time

for me to take a break and just rest and

use this time to

I guess observe what is going on around

me and um draw inspiration from like

just dayto day uh materials and and

interactions and

observations

so yeah I took I took that leap of faith

thinking

that I was going to come up with

something during that time and I

eventually did but it took longer than

expected

um so how did syia come about oh it's so

goofy it's so silly um so I genuinely I

was like thinking

about um looking for an assistant just

to help me out with um with my um I

guess like my job now um so when I

throughout that process I was

like yo

like I'm playing the role of like um

recruiter and I which I never had to in

the past and I am interviewing people

and like I'm asking these really like

yes these are like very typical in drop

interview questions but it can reveal so

much about the other person it can be

very

intimate so I thought to myself I was

like why don't I just turn this into

like an interview format um and and use

a setting to um I guess um have

conversations with people and um but

then you know that format wasn't going

to be I guess special enough and um so I

I thought like maybe one more layer is

that I something that I haven't showcase

a lot about myself is that I actually my

personality is very much like informed

by dry humor and and comedy and and just

awkwardness and and like that kind

of you know like basically like you a

lot of self-deprecation kind of uh

humor um so I thought to myself okay how

do I Infuse that personality into like

an interview format and um yeah I mean I

I reference a lot of um American and

Western shows like um chicken shop date

uh Between Two

Ferns um a lot of people will think of

the office when they watch my show but

to be completely honest with you guys I

haven't seen a single episode of The

Office I know what I know what the show

is um but it just happens that I want to

do like an like a drop interview style

kind of format so I I um I guess the

resemblance is is there how long have

you been doing it now Sy it's only been

6 months I started in March and how is

it

going it's going

no it's it's doing way better than I

expected um mostly thanks to the people

that I've um been fortunate enough to

have on the show these are all very

bright and talented upand cominging

artists um or um

profiles and originally I thought that

this kind of humor and style was going

to be difficult to translate to the

local audience but surprisingly everyone

like not I don't know I don't know about

everyone but the people that watch the

show like the people who get it get it

and uh it seems like a lot of people get

it so I'm I'm happy that that um a lot

of people are tuning in but I through

this format I want to um I want to I

guess create a uh space for artists to

come on and um show their personality

more um instead of just talking about

music and their creative process and and

whatnot um yeah so I I think in a way um

the show has been able to achieve that

in a way yeah what's next for you now

what's next for

me definitely more formats more um more

videos um because now that I have my own

YouTube channel I have to invest um in

it as well and ceden V is just one tiny

part of the kind of content universe

that I want to to uh to bring out um so

yeah I'm I'm in the process of coming up

with new formats and um tweaking the

current formats here and there and just

trying out different things final

statement um what would

you want to say to that dark time that

you went

through you back then you didn't say but

now you're reflecting back you're like

oh that was kind of rough right mhm so

like what would you tell to that younger

you thank

you like thank you for I guess thank you

for persevering through those four

years um to be honest with you guys I

wouldn't be where I am now without those

four years and as cliche as it sounds it

literally like like those four years

were

the basis

of

basically my creative career if you

think about it

because I worked in finance um and the

first podcast that

I did with

vitera was about

Finance because ironically they think

that okay okay like he probably knows a

lot about Finance especially personal

finance and money um I mean I dabbled in

it when I was in finance just because it

was like my worldview but I know where

I'm an expert in it and know where I'm

comfortable um talking about it in that

kind of um or like delivering the

content in the most like helpful way to

the viewers as possible I was just not

comfortable with it but they were like

yeah but you're probably the best fit

because you know you you know the lingos

you know the the the people

um

so yeah the the the finance career

basically gave me that position as the

host for that podcast and it gave it

gave me the confidence and um and the

experience to

really think about starting something on

my own yeah so thank you

to my uh Finance um corporate self

yeah thank you thank you cheers that's

the rep is that it yeah it was it bro