The Foundation of Integrity<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nBorn into a family of teachers in central Vietnam, Cathy learned discipline and ethics early. \u201cMy parents were strict about how we thought and behaved. They taught us to live with dignity and finish what we started,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\r\n
That sense of responsibility carried through her early career. Starting work in her third year of university, she credits mentors for shaping her professional outlook: \u201cThey showed me what it meant to work with professionalism, empathy, and fairness\u2014even to a young graduate like me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
When she founded Brandidas in 2011, this ethos became her compass. \u201cMy guiding principle for every decision\u2014business or personal\u2014has been to live and work with integrity.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
![\"Pham](\"https:\/\/brandidasq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/IMG_7122-600-1.jpg\")
Pham Thi Uyen Chau (Cathy Pham), Managing Director of Brandidas Vietnam<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Building a Culture of Trust<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nBrandidas operates in the fast-moving world of communications, where deadlines are short, expectations are high, and mistakes are visible. Yet for Cathy, two values override all others: Trust and Integrity.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cIn my team, no one\u2014myself included\u2014is allowed to make promises we can\u2019t keep. If we\u2019re not certain, we\u2019d rather walk away from a contract than risk breaking trust,\u201d she says.<\/p>\r\n
That culture has resonated with her team. She describes the joy of seeing employees celebrate a client\u2019s simple \u201cthank you,\u201d and their determination to fix even the smallest complaint. \u201cThat\u2019s when I know integrity has truly taken root here.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.doanhnghiepvn.vn\/Images\/Uploaded\/Share\/2021\/03\/08\/Chi-Chau-3.jpg\")
The Brandidas team in a YEP event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFighting for the Brand<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
The agency’s slogan, \u201cBrand fighters on your side,\u201d reflects this philosophy. \u201cWe don\u2019t see a boundary between agency and client,\u201d Cathy explains. \u201cWe position ourselves as part of their team, facing challenges together. By putting ourselves in the client\u2019s shoes, we can better protect their interests and avoid negative surprises.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
This mindset, she adds, is often what wins over clients. \u201cMost don\u2019t decide based on price or presentations alone\u2014they decide when they feel trust.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A Lesson from Failure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nCathy recalls one defining moment years ago: a three-day corporate event where the opening night fell short due to miscommunication. \u201cThe client didn\u2019t say much, but their sighs and disappointed look cut deep. It shook the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Instead of dwelling on the setback, she pushed her staff to regroup and refocus for the following days. \u201cWe stayed up all night preparing. The next day everything ran flawlessly, and by the final evening, something extraordinary happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Instead of the usual thanks reserved for the client\u2019s internal organizers, the MC called Cathy and her team on stage to receive flowers and applause from 200 guests. \u201cIt was a moment I\u2019ll never forget. If we had let emotions take over, that recognition would never have happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.doanhnghiepvn.vn\/Images\/Uploaded\/Share\/2021\/03\/08\/chi-Chau-2.jpg\")
Brandidas team in a brand communication event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Weathering the Covid-19 Storm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe pandemic hit the events and communications sector hard, with clients canceling projects overnight. Many agencies resorted to layoffs, but Cathy chose a different path.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cI decided to preserve our team. We negotiated with suppliers to cut costs, trimmed non-essential expenses, and shifted to online services,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the year we had hoped for, but we survived with minimal losses\u2014and most importantly, without losing people.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
This resilience positioned the company to rebound quickly as the market recovered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Cathy](\"https:\/\/media.doanhnghiepvn.vn\/Images\/Uploaded\/Share\/2021\/03\/08\/chi-Chau-4.jpg\")
Cathy and Brandidas team in a special brand event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Advice for the Next Generation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Asked what she would say to young people entering the industry, Cathy is direct: \u201cWhatever field you\u2019re in, work with integrity. Knowledge and skills are critical, but attitude comes first. Skills can be taught\u2014character cannot.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
She also cautions aspiring entrepreneurs that expertise alone is not enough. \u201cRunning a company requires financial management, strategy, and leadership. Passion and technical skills will take you far in your career, but sustaining a business takes much more.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Brandidas itself has long embraced giving back. Over the past decade, the agency has supported social programs and charities, and in 2021 launched a CSR initiative to help students pursue careers in communications.<\/p>\r\n
The Takeaway<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Pham Thi Uyen Chau (Cathy Pham), Managing Director of Brandidas Vietnam<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Building a Culture of Trust<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nBrandidas operates in the fast-moving world of communications, where deadlines are short, expectations are high, and mistakes are visible. Yet for Cathy, two values override all others: Trust and Integrity.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cIn my team, no one\u2014myself included\u2014is allowed to make promises we can\u2019t keep. If we\u2019re not certain, we\u2019d rather walk away from a contract than risk breaking trust,\u201d she says.<\/p>\r\n
That culture has resonated with her team. She describes the joy of seeing employees celebrate a client\u2019s simple \u201cthank you,\u201d and their determination to fix even the smallest complaint. \u201cThat\u2019s when I know integrity has truly taken root here.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Brandidas team in a YEP event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFighting for the Brand<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
The agency’s slogan, \u201cBrand fighters on your side,\u201d reflects this philosophy. \u201cWe don\u2019t see a boundary between agency and client,\u201d Cathy explains. \u201cWe position ourselves as part of their team, facing challenges together. By putting ourselves in the client\u2019s shoes, we can better protect their interests and avoid negative surprises.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
This mindset, she adds, is often what wins over clients. \u201cMost don\u2019t decide based on price or presentations alone\u2014they decide when they feel trust.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A Lesson from Failure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nCathy recalls one defining moment years ago: a three-day corporate event where the opening night fell short due to miscommunication. \u201cThe client didn\u2019t say much, but their sighs and disappointed look cut deep. It shook the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Instead of dwelling on the setback, she pushed her staff to regroup and refocus for the following days. \u201cWe stayed up all night preparing. The next day everything ran flawlessly, and by the final evening, something extraordinary happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Instead of the usual thanks reserved for the client\u2019s internal organizers, the MC called Cathy and her team on stage to receive flowers and applause from 200 guests. \u201cIt was a moment I\u2019ll never forget. If we had let emotions take over, that recognition would never have happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBrandidas team in a brand communication event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Weathering the Covid-19 Storm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe pandemic hit the events and communications sector hard, with clients canceling projects overnight. Many agencies resorted to layoffs, but Cathy chose a different path.<\/p>\r\n
\u201cI decided to preserve our team. We negotiated with suppliers to cut costs, trimmed non-essential expenses, and shifted to online services,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the year we had hoped for, but we survived with minimal losses\u2014and most importantly, without losing people.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
This resilience positioned the company to rebound quickly as the market recovered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCathy and Brandidas team in a special brand event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Advice for the Next Generation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Asked what she would say to young people entering the industry, Cathy is direct: \u201cWhatever field you\u2019re in, work with integrity. Knowledge and skills are critical, but attitude comes first. Skills can be taught\u2014character cannot.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
She also cautions aspiring entrepreneurs that expertise alone is not enough. \u201cRunning a company requires financial management, strategy, and leadership. Passion and technical skills will take you far in your career, but sustaining a business takes much more.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
Brandidas itself has long embraced giving back. Over the past decade, the agency has supported social programs and charities, and in 2021 launched a CSR initiative to help students pursue careers in communications.<\/p>\r\n
The Takeaway<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
The Brandidas team in a YEP event<\/p><\/div>\r\n This mindset, she adds, is often what wins over clients. \u201cMost don\u2019t decide based on price or presentations alone\u2014they decide when they feel trust.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cathy recalls one defining moment years ago: a three-day corporate event where the opening night fell short due to miscommunication. \u201cThe client didn\u2019t say much, but their sighs and disappointed look cut deep. It shook the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Instead of dwelling on the setback, she pushed her staff to regroup and refocus for the following days. \u201cWe stayed up all night preparing. The next day everything ran flawlessly, and by the final evening, something extraordinary happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Instead of the usual thanks reserved for the client\u2019s internal organizers, the MC called Cathy and her team on stage to receive flowers and applause from 200 guests. \u201cIt was a moment I\u2019ll never forget. If we had let emotions take over, that recognition would never have happened.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Brandidas team in a brand communication event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The pandemic hit the events and communications sector hard, with clients canceling projects overnight. Many agencies resorted to layoffs, but Cathy chose a different path.<\/p>\r\n \u201cI decided to preserve our team. We negotiated with suppliers to cut costs, trimmed non-essential expenses, and shifted to online services,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the year we had hoped for, but we survived with minimal losses\u2014and most importantly, without losing people.\u201d<\/p>\r\n This resilience positioned the company to rebound quickly as the market recovered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cathy and Brandidas team in a special brand event<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She also cautions aspiring entrepreneurs that expertise alone is not enough. \u201cRunning a company requires financial management, strategy, and leadership. Passion and technical skills will take you far in your career, but sustaining a business takes much more.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Brandidas itself has long embraced giving back. Over the past decade, the agency has supported social programs and charities, and in 2021 launched a CSR initiative to help students pursue careers in communications.<\/p>\r\nFighting for the Brand<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
The agency’s slogan, \u201cBrand fighters on your side,\u201d reflects this philosophy. \u201cWe don\u2019t see a boundary between agency and client,\u201d Cathy explains. \u201cWe position ourselves as part of their team, facing challenges together. By putting ourselves in the client\u2019s shoes, we can better protect their interests and avoid negative surprises.\u201d<\/p>\r\nA Lesson from Failure<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Weathering the Covid-19 Storm<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Advice for the Next Generation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Asked what she would say to young people entering the industry, Cathy is direct: \u201cWhatever field you\u2019re in, work with integrity. Knowledge and skills are critical, but attitude comes first. Skills can be taught\u2014character cannot.\u201d<\/p>\r\nThe Takeaway<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n