Participation At ITL – An Identity Transformation Journey Of ITL’s Gen Z

On August 21^st, in Ho Chi Minh City, ITL Corporation organized a special workshop titled “PARTICIPATION”, bringing together ITL’s internal talents, including MTP, Top 20, FTM, and IPDP for an inspiring sharing session with Mr. Simon Thuc, Deputy General Director & VP – Human Resources, and Dr. Trần Sĩ Chương, an economist.

1. TRAN SI CHUONG’S PERSPECTIVE: PARTICIPATION BEGINS WITH KNOWING YOURSELF

Bringing profound economic insights and a thoughtful philosophy of life, Dr. Tran Si Chuong shared thought-provoking perspectives with ITL’s talents. He defined “Participation” as: “The determination to pursue what you believe is valuable, while accepting the price that comes with that choice.”

In particular, he emphasized that Participation begins, first and foremost, with engaging & committing to yourself. Each person is the subject of their own life, their role, values, and responsibilities in society including their responsibilities toward their parents and family. To serve others, we must first create value within ourselves.

And to truly embrace Participation, the prerequisite is to know who you are. He emphasized that self-awareness is not a milestone that can be reached once and for all, but a continuous process of self-reflection, observing the world around us, and experiencing different environments. Through this process, we gradually discover what truly suits us, which values we cherish, where our strengths lie, and what gaps we need to fill.

Dr. Tran Si Chuong also noted that Logistics is the lifeblood of the economy. While infrastructure and ecosystem connectivity have remained limited for decades, the growing pressure for economic development will inevitably drive the industry to transform. And within that transformation, countless new needs, gaps, and opportunities will emerge.

He encouraged the young generation not to focus solely on the work they are doing today, but to understand how the entire Logistics ecosystem operates, where its challenges lie, what customers truly need, and how technology will reshape the industry. By doing so, they can identify and carve out their own unique “value niche.”

PARTICIPATION – THE IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY OF ITL’S GEN Z

Speaking to ITL’s internal talents, Mr. Simon Thuc shared: Five years ago, we read the book God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. At that time, the focus was on preparing ourselves. Today, the conversation has moved one step further. He posed a direct question: If tomorrow ITL opens new warehouses or hubs, expands into new regions, or creates new management positions, will you be the person ready to step up and take on the challenge, or will you still be standing on the sidelines?

Mr. Simon Thuc also candidly shared: Most opportunities do not come in the form of promotions or appointments. They come as a challenging assignment, a new location, an unfamiliar role, or a problem that no one else wants to take on. In today’s rapidly changing environment, opportunities are becoming increasingly unpredictable and less stable than in the past, requiring each of us to think flexibly, adapt quickly, and be ready to change direction when needed.

Three Stages of Preparation – Readiness – Participation

The workshop highlighted three fundamentally different stages of development:

Stage 1 – Preparation: Learning, being recognized as having potential, building a strong foundation, having the desire to grow, and understanding the requirements of the role. This is the foundation, but it is not yet action.

Stage 2 – Readiness: Taking the initiative to step up, embracing uncertainty, being willing to sacrifice some comfort, taking responsibility, learning quickly through real-world experience, being accountable, and creating value early on.

Stage 3 – Participation: Getting involved in projects, taking on assignments, engaging with stakeholders, solving problems, delivering results, and reflecting on the experience to grow and mature through it.

5 Key Elements of “Readiness” for Gen Z

Readiness is not an abstract concept. Mr. Simon Thuc broke it down into five concrete dimensions that each individual should reflect on:

1. Psychological Readiness: Am I willing to accept that I may not know, may not be good enough yet, may make mistakes, receive feedback, or even fail?
2. Emotional Readiness: Can I handle loneliness, pressure, homesickness, limited support and changes to my daily routines and lifestyle?
3. Capability Readiness: Do I have 70% of what I need to get started? I may not yet know the location, people or local context well, but is it okay not to be 100% ready?
4. Social Readiness: Does my family agree? Have I considered my spouse or partner, children, parents and the relationships and responsibilities around me?
5. Purpose Readiness: Why am I doing this? Which new version of myself do I want to become? When the purpose is strong enough, people can withstand greater pressure.

A key highlight of the session was the shift from the familiar “SEE – DO – GET” model to a more profound framework: “SEE – BE – DO – GET.”

Rather than simply envisioning a goal and taking action to achieve the desired results, the new model emphasizes the importance of defining BE – the person you want to become before taking action. This encompasses internal ignition, inner maturity, invisible discipline, ownership, purpose, and an oxfly mindset – marked by persistence, discipline, and the determination never to give up.

The Identity Transformation Journey Of ITL’S Gen Z

For the young generation of ITL, Mr. Simon Thuc outlined a clear and actionable development journey: Prepare → Ready → Participate → Get Experience → Create Value → Growth

This is not merely a slogan, but a practical development journey built around five key qualities:

1. Courage – Dare to step in: Opportunities often arrive before we feel 100% ready. Dare to take on difficult projects, relocate, participate in rotations, or take responsibility for a business facing challenges.
2. Commitment – Truly participate: It is not simply about participating, but about truly “putting something at stake”, investing your effort and time, embracing pressure, and taking responsibility for your choices.
3. Discipline – Stay the course: This is “invisible discipline.” Participation creates the beginning, but discipline is what enables us to go the distance.
4. Resilience – Withstanding the Setbacks: A career is never a straight path. There will be failed projects, challenging managers, difficult relationships with colleagues, slow career progression, and wrong decisions. This is precisely where the “Never Give Up” mindset comes into play.
5. Creating Value: Participation means little if it does not lead to tangible results. Ultimately, the organization will ask: “What difference have you made?”

However, to fully embrace the journey of Participation, each person needs more than readiness. It takes the courage to step forward, the commitment to stay true to one’s choices, and the resilience to persevere through challenges. Ultimately, creating value answers the most important question: Why Participation?

The journey from Preparation to Participation is, ultimately, a journey of Identity Transformation within each of us.