Nguyen Hieu Thuan, known to friends as Kyle, is a final-year Economics student at Fulbright University Vietnam, currently working as a Category Management Analyst at Shopee. In this role, he is responsible for analyzing category performance, proposing growth strategies, and coordinating with various departments to improve operational efficiency.
When entering university, Thuan was unsure of which field to pursue—especially since he had never felt confident in subjects related to mathematics. The quantitative-heavy introductory Economics courses at Fulbright initially made him hesitant.
However, the teaching style at Fulbright—interweaving theory, mathematical exercises, and real-world case studies delivered by experienced faculty—gradually helped Thuan overcome his fear. He learned to think logically through a mathematical lens. As he began to see the use of quantitative tools to address social issues as not only challenging but also deeply engaging, Thuan realized that Economics was the path he wanted to follow.
One of his most memorable and proudest achievements at Fulbright was his Capstone project: Securing Rural Futures: Microfinance and Household Consumption in Vietnam. This project helped him graduate with honors.
Throughout the Capstone project, Thuan worked closely with Dr. Xavier Bautista, who not only inspired him but also supported his deep dive into the socio-economic factors influencing household consumption behaviors in rural areas.
Beyond the classroom, Thuan has always taken the initiative to broaden his experiences in various settings. He interned at the President Office, where he was entrusted with the autonomy to help implement a social entrepreneurship incubator program.
He later applied knowledge from the course Sustainable Development: Science and Industry during his internship at Schneider Electric—a Fortune Global 500 company and a global leader in energy management and automation. Then, drawing from his classes in Product Development and Digital Marketing, he worked at Arches, where he supported organizations in making data-driven and research-backed decisions.
These diverse experiences helped Thuan identify his key strengths: analytical thinking and cross-functional collaboration. These are critical skills for effective operations in a corporate environment and served as the stepping stone to his current position at Shopee.
With clear direction and a growth mindset, Thuan is now seeking further opportunities to deepen his expertise in analysis and development—both in practical work environments and academic research. His long-term goal is to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics, where he can continue exploring topics like microfinance and consumer behavior in developing economies.
Fulbright University Vietnam was the starting point of that journey—a place that empowered him to try, fail, and grow with confidence.
