From LOVING THERAPY to LOVING KINDNESS - Mar 2026
Agenda:
- New Year blessings and the release of the Vietnamese version of the book "The Universal Within"
- Dialogue with characters from "The Universal Within":
- Entrepreneur & Philanthropist Nguyen Phuong Lam
- Director Pham Hoang Nam
- Conversation with Mr. Johnny Burke - director of the film “Tashi and The Monk” - winner of numerous major awards including the 2016 Emmy Award for “Outstanding Short Documentary,” the International Documentary Association (IDA) Award, the Pare Lorentz Award, along with key nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and the Grierson Award for “Best Newcomer.”
- Screening of the film "Loving Karma" - the sequel to the film “Tashi and the Monk” - a work that won an Emmy for “Outstanding Short Documentary” and over 25 other prestigious international awards.
Philanthropist NGUYEN PHUONG LAM
Nguyen Phuong Lam (born 1953) is an influential Vietnamese-born entrepreneur, investor, and leader in the banking and finance sector. He earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business (USA), becoming the first Vietnamese student to attend this prestigious institution. In a career spanning over 30 years, he has held several key leadership positions at world-leading financial enterprises. In 1987, after 11 years with the firm, he served as Co-Head of European Equities in London for JP Morgan & Co.
A year later, he co-founded the M&A consulting firm Ermgassen & Co. Ltd. in the UK, later leading a historic transaction that allowed a commercial bank from outside the UK to acquire a company listed on the London Stock Exchange for the first time. Since 1992, he has been a co-founder and Co-Head of Global Private Equity at Capital Group – one of the oldest and most prestigious investment management firms globally, where he helped grow the enterprise into the world’s largest Private Equity firm focused on emerging markets.
He also served as the Managing Director of Capital International's Singapore branch. Believing that “an investor's value lies not in short-term profits, but in the ability to create trust and contribute to shared prosperity,” he actively contributes to numerous social enterprise investment funds and international charities such as Acumen, Ashoka, Endeavor, SEE Learning, and Teach For All. Furthermore, he founded the Nguyen Phuong Family Foundation, which focuses on Inner Transformation to drive external change, particularly in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, aiming to build a more humane and better world.
Director PHAM HOANG NAM
Director Pham Hoang Nam (born 1966) is a name with profound influence in contemporary Vietnamese cinema, television, and musical theater. Professionals call him the “stage wizard” or “lighting wizard” as an affectionate tribute to a director with a masterly visual mindset, who has created many works of outstanding artistic value and a world-class professional style.
With over three decades of dedication, he is trusted by national and international organizations and top performers to participate in major projects, including large-scale music programs, cultural events, and fashion shows. Notably, he is the creative mind behind the grand performances of global stars appearing in Vietnam, such as Jackie Chan, Kelly Clarkson, My Chemical Romance, Il Divo, Scorpions, Bond, and Secret Garden, contributing to making Vietnam a destination on the world’s artistic map.
Pham Hoang Nam possesses an impressive profile of works with personal imprints, including iconic cultural series such as the Monsoon Music Festival, ELLE Fashion Show, Ionah, the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, and programs dedicated to authors like Trinh Cong Son, Van Cao, and Pham Duy – where he demonstrates his unique vision, talent, and passion.
For his contributions to culture and art, he has been honored with many prestigious awards in Cinema and Performing Arts, such as the Golden Lotus Award, the Golden Apricot Award, the Devotion Award, and the VTV Impression Award. Beyond creating world-class art programs, he also devotes much effort to passing on the craft and mentoring the younger generation, contributing to building a professional workforce from directors to dynamic, creative organizers who both preserve Vietnamese identity and approach international standards.
Film Director JOHNNY BURKE
Director Johnny Burke is the filmmaker behind deeply moving and humane documentary films.
His works have not only captivated global audiences but have also received recognition from the most prestigious film organizations, notably awards such as: the 2016 Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Short Documentary,” the International Documentary Association (IDA) Award, the Pare Lorentz Award, along with key nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and the Grierson Award for “Best Newcomer.”
Journalist & Author TRUNG NGHIA
Author Trung Nghia has published many works such as "Secrets in Cannes," "The Road to the World Cup Cathedral," "Saigon Umbala," "From Panmunjom to Chernobyl," and "Reading Books is Like Loving." He served as the Reading Culture Ambassador of Ho Chi Minh City (2023-2024) and is a visiting lecturer in the Faculty of Journalism and Communication at various universities and colleges in Ho Chi Minh City.
Founder CHI LAI
Ms. Lai Thuy Chi is the founder and director of Chi Communications (Chicom), an independent agency with nearly 20 years of operation in Vietnam. She helps build communication programs that are humane, sustainable, and create real impact for businesses and society.
GG Corporation
An organization with a team of many years of experience in the field of “Premium Wellbeing,” focusing on four pillar goals in life:
- - Providing high-end products at reasonable prices
- - Utilizing longevity medicine for healthy life and longevity
- - Creating refined, aesthetic living spaces close to nature
- - Creating space for the mind, intellect, and positive energy
This is the foundation for a successful, fulfilled, and prosperous life.
