Just like a single chopstick cannot pick up food, organizations cannot achieve their goals with strategy or execution alone. True mastery comes when the two work together — balanced, aligned, and precise.
The Chopsticks Way is a guiding philosophy that bridges the gap between vision and action, turning complexity into clarity and clarity into results.
Why Simplicity Wins in Vietnam
Global tools succeed in advanced economies because of strong legal frameworks, corporate governance, and mature organizational cultures.
However, in Vietnam, organisations are still learning to build these foundations. Our research with nearly 100 enterprises shows that mechanical application without customization fails—especially when organizations struggle to set clear priorities and align people.
When goals conflict—like chasing revenue growth while protecting brand image—costs rise, focus blurs, and investors see “expenses” instead of long-term investments.
The Power of Chopsticks Thinking
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A Vietnamese family meal needs only chopsticks—low cost, multifunctional, easy to manage, and deeply tied to tradition.
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Western meals, in contrast, often depend on multiple utensils, requiring coordination that can feel complicated and inefficient.
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Just as chopsticks simplify the dining table, Vietnamese leaders must recreate or customise better business management & governance toolsets —a way to solve complex organizational challenges with clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness.
Three Chopstick Modules
Exclusively designed for game changers, team aligners, organisational leaders & community builders
Be a lean chopstick – self‑reflect and simplify
4/11-5/12
$600
Be a lean pair – align and execute
4/11-5/12
$600
Be a bamboo bundle – unite and build resilience.
4/11-5/12
$600
Module 1:
The Lean Chopstick – An Invitation to Lean Mindsets
The Lean Chopstick is more than a symbol; it is a call to action. It invites individuals to adopt lean mindsets that either:
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Promote execution‑driven strategy – where real‑world actions, feedback, and frontline insights shape the strategic plan.
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Promote strategy‑based execution – where a clear, inspiring vision guides every step of implementation with discipline and focus.
At its highest aim, the Lean Chopstick seeks to fill the gap between strategy and execution. Too often, strategies remain lofty documents while execution gets lost in complexity. The Lean Chopstick challenges this by asking each person to simplify, align, and act with clarity.
How to use the Lean Chopstick mindset:
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Begin with self‑reflection: Identify redundant processes, heavy bureaucracy, or “nice‑to‑have” tasks that don’t add value.
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Choose your role: Are you driving execution that informs strategy, or shaping strategy that empowers execution?
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Commit to closing the loop: Ensure that every plan is actionable, and every action connects back to the plan.
👉 The Lean Chopstick is the first step toward a culture where strategy and execution move as one, creating momentum that is both inspiring and achievable.
Case study BWP Sonasea: By aligning 15 departments under one shared model, Sonasea replaced fragmented operations with a unified direction, built OKRs across all levels, and sustained performance through Covid by acting with clarity, coherence, and full-team commitment.
Module 2:
The Lean Pair of Chopsticks – Aligning Strategy & Execution
The Lean Pair of Chopsticks is more than a metaphor; it is a discipline of alignment. It invites teams and organizations to adopt lean mindsets that either:
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Turn execution into strategy – where frontline actions, weekly rhythms, & team insights continuously refine the plan.
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Turn strategy into execution – where a clear, inspiring vision flows seamlessly into daily practice, guiding every move with precision.
At its highest aim, the Lean Pair of Chopsticks seeks to close the gap between strategy and execution by moving together. Just as two chopsticks must align to grasp food, teams must align to grasp goals. When leadership and workforce, vision and practice move in harmony, waste is reduced, accountability is shared, and progress becomes sustainable.
How to use the Lean Pair mindset:
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Establish alignment rituals: weekly planning sessions, cross‑functional reviews, and rhythmical check‑ins.
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Engage key players early: ensure at least 60% of core contributors are actively involved from the start.
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Apply lean tools: short sprints, clear KPIs, and feedback loops that keep plans and actions connected.
👉 Case study AFG: With nearly 30 years in F&B, AFG launched a brand‑new restaurant. By defining core values and holding weekly planning sessions with over 60% of key players, the team became lean thinkers/doers, aligners, and game changers. The new brand quickly transformed into a revenue engine and a powerful symbol within the group.
Module 3:
The Bamboo Bundle – Building Collective Resilience
The Bamboo Bundle of Chopsticks is more than a metaphor; it is a call to community. It invites organizations, leaders, and contributors to adopt lean collective mindsets that:
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Turn individual strength into shared resilience – where each chopstick, though fragile alone, becomes unbreakable when bound together.
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Turn shared learning into collective innovation – where workshops, podcasts, and seminars transform into platforms for co‑creation and responsible progress.
At its highest aim, the Bamboo Bundle seeks to close the gap between fragmented efforts and united impact. Just as a bundle of chopsticks cannot be broken when tied, communities cannot be weakened when they align around shared values, governance, and purpose.
How to use the Bamboo Bundle mindset:
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Join THE CHOPSTICK FRIENDS Workshops: Step into a space where global frameworks like Red Helicopter meet the cultural grounding of The Chopstick Way. These workshops are designed to spark new thinking while rooting strategies in Vietnam’s unique context.
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Engage with THE CHOPSTICK FRIENDS Podcasts: Tune in to conversations on responsible AI, governance, and leadership, featuring thought leaders and VILM2030‑sponsored speakers. Each episode offers practical insights and bold perspectives for shaping the future of work.
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Contribute to THE CHOPSTICK Publications: Share your voice in landmark editions such as the Special White Paper – Vietnam at Work: Beyond the Buzzwords. This publication breaks myths, builds purpose, and designs a culturally rooted future of work. By offering case studies, insights, and principles, you help build collective knowledge and define a distinctly Vietnamese management identity.
👉 Case Study: The Chopstick Friends – The Bamboo Bundle
The Chopstick Friends community embodies the strength of a bundle of chopsticks: resilient, unbreakable when united, and rooted in both global learning and Vietnamese identity. Through workshops, podcasts, and seminars, they have built a learning ecosystem that blends frameworks like Red Helicopter with the grounding of The Chopstick Way. Their focus extends to responsible AI and governance, striking a balance between 70% human capacity and 30% technology.
👉 Explore their initiatives:
1. THE CHOPSTICK FRIEND EVENTS
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Dialogue with James Rhee – an evening of thoughtful exchange with the acclaimed author and educator.
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VILM2030 Chopstick Friends initiative in Hanoi – connecting leadership, innovation, and community.
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Seminar with Global experts on Responsible AI– exploring ethical technology and governance.
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S2M – Filling the school–market gaps in Vietnam – bridging education and industry.
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Lean ESG in Business Models – integrating sustainability into organizational design.
2. THE CHOPSTICK FRIEND PUBLICATION
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Special Edition White Paper – Vietnam at Work: Beyond the Buzzwords Read here. This landmark publication shatters myths, fosters purpose, and crafts a culturally rooted future of work, providing case studies and principles to shape a distinct Vietnamese management identity.
3. THE CHOPSTICK FRIEND PODCAST
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Listen here – conversations with leading technocrats and thinkers on governance, innovation, and the future of work.
✨ The Chopstick Friends show how bundled resilience can transform fragmented efforts into collective impact. By uniting events, publications, and podcasts, they are shaping a Vietnamese way of management that is lean, responsible, and globally relevant.
