BAT Vietnam - BAT Vietnam named People Champion at Vietnam Excellence 2025
BAT Vietnam’s bold leadership and inclusive approach, which foster a sense of belonging and growth, earned it the People Champion title at Vietnam Excellence 2025, setting a new standard for workplace culture.
In 2025, Vietnam’s business landscape is facing unprecedented challenges, as highlighted in Anphabe’s Vietnam Excellence Awards 2025 report.
Volatile markets, sweeping restructurings, and a rapidly shifting talent landscape are pushing companies to rethink and reshape their operations. Amid this turbulence, one powerful truth has emerged: sustainable success depends not only on strategy but on how organizations empower and value their people. Leading organizations are embracing digital transformation, hybrid work, and well-being while redefining leadership to fuel resilience and growth.
BAT Vietnam's representative receiving People Champion Award. Photo courtesy of BAT Vietnam
BAT Vietnam is not just navigating these changes - it is leading the charge with a purpose-driven, inclusive approach. Through courageous leadership and a commitment to fostering belonging, BAT Vietnam is creating a culture where every individual thrives.
BAT Vietnam’s transformation began with a single, courageous conversation. Led by Cluster General Manager Daniel Hsu, the Vietnam Leadership Team (VLT) has pledged to lead with authenticity, empathy, and collective purpose. This commitment, formalized as the People Leadership Commitment, redefined leadership as a shared mission to grow people, not just the business. People leadership became an integral part of BAT Vietnam’s operations, not just HR initiatives.
This mission is realized through the Line of Sight, a collaborative process that invites every employee into strategic planning. Annual company conferences unite the workforce to align on business priorities, while functional Line of Sight empower middle managers to co-create goals with their leaders. This inclusive approach fosters ownership and transparency, ensuring every voice shapes BAT Vietnam’s future.
At BAT Vietnam, inclusion is more than a policy, it is central to BAT Vietnam’s identity. In 2024, BAT Vietnam achieved 47% female representation in management roles. This were driven by robust workforce planning, talent enablement programs and inclusion training like Mastering Inclusion and Respect in the Workplace, which was completed by 100% of managers.
In 2024, the company achieved 47% female representation in management roles. Photo courtesy of BAT Vietnam
Growth Conversations, including Life Stage Interviews, a unique approach to personalize employee experiences and growth, which factor around individual’s professional and personal aspirations, and life stage transition (e.g., parenthood, career mobility) to best accommodate the growth journey. Over 150 such conversations led to tangible outcomes: flexible policies for young parents, localized opportunities for non-mobile managers, and international assignments tailored to personal readiness.
Performance is viewed holistically, blending business and people objectives. Middle managers, trained in growth conversations and transparent performance reviews, ensure every employee understands their value and growth potential. Learning is empowered via platforms like The Grid, an AI-powered learning ecosystem, and the Talent Marketplace enabling personalized development and global project connections. In 2024, BAT Vietnam achieved the highest regional activation rate on these tools, reflecting its workforce’s drive to rise when given the right opportunities.
The company’s focus on capability development is rigorous. Role-based capability assessments inform tailored individual development plans, leading to 10% promotions and 20% lateral moves in 2024. This commitment to upward, lateral, and cross-functional growth underscores BAT Vietnam’s belief that every career matters. BAT Vietnam is a global hub, nurturing Vietnamese leaders for international roles while welcoming diverse talent to local operations, making it a launchpad for global careers.
These efforts resulted in an 89% favorability rating in diversity & inclusion surveys, far surpassing industry benchmarks, and a workplace where every individual sees a clear path forward.
At BAT Vietnam, leadership is defined by presence, not titles. From team bonding activities with factory operators to coaching sessions on the shop floor, leaders at all levels embody authenticity. Initiatives like Happy Hours, Cultural Diversity Days, and Wellness Half-Days are not just perks—they are proof of the company's belief that performance thrives when people feel safe, seen, and supported.
BAT's view that performance flourishes when individuals feel comfortable, seen, and encouraged is demonstrated by initiatives like Happy Hours, Cultural Diversity Days, and Wellness Half-Days. Photo courtesy of BAT Vietnam
Under Daniel Hsu's leadership, recognized globally on the Empower Role Model Lists supported by YouTube, BAT Vietnam has become a beacon of inclusive excellence. Daniel’s advocacy for women’s economic empowerment and farmers’ sustainable livelihoods extends beyond the workplace, enriching communities and aligning with BAT’s vision of A Better Tomorrow.
As Vietnam’s businesses brace for ongoing change, BAT Vietnam stands out by asking the right questions: What do our people need? How can we help them grow? What does it mean to truly belong?
“By answering these with action, we have proven that culture is not a slogan, it’s a daily practice. Leadership is not a title, it’s a bold, collective choice,” said a BAT Vietnam representative.
“BAT Vietnam’s Truly Inclusive culture is more than a workplace, it’s a movement, transforming lives and inspiring Vietnam’s business community to lead with courage, care, and purpose.”