Quyen Nguyen

1. What is it that you do overall and on a day-to-day basis?

I’m currently heading up business development at Validio. Validio is a data quality and observability platform founded in 2019 by Patrik Liu Tran (also an SSE alum) to solve the everlasting challenge of “sh*t in, disaster out” when it comes to making use of data. We tackle it through an AI-based platform that validates millions of data points in seconds, built and shipped to current customers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. 

I was among the first commercial hires to drive and scale our Go-to-Market engine. It’s one of the most exciting phases in a startup life - figuring out what works and finding a way to 10x that. Naturally my work involves the strategic and project management components such as strategy and target setting, project planning, analyzing, and iterating – all around optimizing growth of our business. But what is most rewarding is the customer-facing component in the day-to-day execution: talking to customers and potential users, understanding their pains, and delivering value to them. 

Although we have one office in Stockholm and every team member is based in Sweden, we serve multiple markets. Travelling is hence a big part of the job. In some parts of the month, I work later during the evenings to have meetings with US potential customers. In some other parts, I get up early to talk to data leaders in New Zealand or Singapore. 

Prior to joining Validio, I worked at a global venture capital firm and covered the Nordic markets. At the time, I noticed that most of the companies being built here have global ambition from day 1, and many achieved global success. That was fascinating then to know and is super exciting now to be a part of such a journey. 

2. What interested you about the field/company/role you are currently in? 

I am a fan of deliberate learning. I like experimenting new ways of getting things done, learning from mistakes, and deliberately working on getting better. This role gives me the freedom to do just that for myself and the team. There is no boundary to test new ideas, always room for mistakes, but there is also a common mindset of not repeating mediocrity – instead, refining performance and cultivating excellence. 

When it comes to data and AI, the field has experienced tremendous development in just over the past years. The benefits of data-driven and AI-enabled applications are not only proven in companies’ bottom lines but also can be seen in everyday life. New medicines are made faster with higher accuracy to cure diseases thanks to vast amounts of data and AI. New buildings are constructed with less energy and materials waste with AI simulations. Many of our world’s biggest problems can be addressed more efficiently with this new wave of tech. 

That said, I am a strong believer that no good AI models or analytics can be built or work on bad data. Therefore, having validated data feeding into important applications is a fundamental step in gaining true value from AI. And this makes me both excited and proud to be in the driver’s seat – at a company that is shaping this critical foundation – at the forefront of the AI era. 

3. Why did you choose to study your subject area at SSE? 

I came to SSE with 4 years of experience in strategy consulting and commercial development. What I was looking for was to get myself embedded in a deeper understanding of technology-driven business formation, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These were the subjects in the Master program in Business & Management. 

And above the knowledge, I wanted to connect with like-minded people and be in a well-connected business network. This was exactly what SSE offered. 

4. How did your time/education at SSE help guide you to the career journey you have embarked on? 

During my first semester at SSE, I joined two other students at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in a Hackathon. We were fortunate to win and were awarded a trip to Silicon Valley. Upon returning to Stockholm, my spring semester kicked off with the Innovation Management course. I felt that it both provided a concrete framework on innovation and solidified my understanding of the experimental and iterative mindset that I gained thus far. It also confirmed my interest to have a role in the innovation landscape and contribute to it in different capacities. 

Fun fact: before landing my full-time job at a VC after my graduation, I tested out the SSE’s innovation knowledge in internships and in running a food stand in Stockholm. Everything from understanding needs, testing feasibility, experimenting the menu options, and iterating approaches to increase profits. It was fun and rewarding. 

5. Following the time at SSE, do you have any words of wisdom or advice you would like to share with our current students? 

The world is changing so fast and it feels scary at times. Are we on the right track? Will our knowledge and skills be enough? How can we keep learning and growing? Will unpredictability get into our planned directions, if we happen to have one? My words of advice to current students: stay true to yourself and learn deliberately. There are so many choices and noises. What makes your heart beat? 

The only way to find out is to do your own experiments. The earlier you do, the lower the cost. Do them deliberately, and don’t be afraid to make bold decisions. 

6. What are three words that sum up your time at SSE? 

I used to say “Challenging yet rewarding". Now I would say “Mindset. Experiment. Growth”.