Country
Short Biography
Businesswoman and activist – “changemaker” from Vietnam
The winner in Health & Education is Vietnamese businesswoman and pioneer in disability issues, Nguyen Thi Van.
Van is co-founder of the nonprofit organisation, “Nghi Luc Song” which
means “The will to live”; as well as Chairwoman of the successful
digital real estate company, Imagtor.
Van was born in the poor rural area of Nghe An in north-central
Vietnam, bordering Laos. Along with her brother Nguyen Cong Hung, who
sadly passed away in 2012, she has shattered expectations of what was
once deemed ‘possible’ from a disabled person in Vietnam.
Van and Hung created the organisation The Will to Live in 2003 with the
aim of creating opportunities for an equitable working environment. The
organisation provides free IT, English language and vocational training
to disadvantaged students in Vietnam. More than 1000 people with
disabilities have benefited from this crucial educational and career
support.
Van’s private company, Imagtor, employs 82 employees, more than 50% of
who have disabilities, working on digital real estate photography. The
Board of shareholders has committed to provide 40% of profits from
Imagtor to support people with disabilities in Vietnam, as well as
contributing to other social causes in the country.
In 2015, Van created the first ever fashion catwalk show for women with
disabilities in Vietnam. “I am beautiful. You too!” aims to promote a
perception of beauty stemming from diversity and difference.
In 2019, Forbes Vietnam honoured Van as one of the 50 most influential Vietnamese women.