“Think like an entrepreneur and act like a CEO.” Phú Kim Quy
It All Started with Physics Problems and Lab Experiments
Most people would never guess that before becoming an education entrepreneur, Phú Kim Quy was just a kid grinding through tough physics problems and science experiments.
Back in high school, he was already racking up provincial academic awards in both Math and Physics. His crowning achievement? A Bronze Medal at the April 30th Physics Olympiad in Huế – a competition that draws the sharpest young minds from across southern Vietnam. But more than the medal itself, what stuck with him was something harder to measure:
“That was the first time I truly understood what it meant to perform under pressure – and how to push through it.”
1,000+ Specialized English Certifications and a Lifelong Commitment to Learning
Phú Kim Quy graduated from Foreign Trade University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics. Along the way, he also completed a second-degree program in Banking and Finance, along with the Applied English in Foreign Trade curriculum, both with honors.
But he didn’t stop there. He went on to earn a TESOL certification, completed a Professional Executive (CEO) program, and accumulated over 1,000 specialized English certificates spanning finance, business management, marketing, AI, and leadership.
That four-digit number isn’t a flex – it’s a statement of values:
“Every single day, I ask myself: what’s one more thing I can learn today?”
15 Years in the Trenches: From Chalk and Blackboards to the CEO’s Chair
Humble Beginnings (2013–2015)
He didn’t start at the top. Phú Kim Quy started in the classroom – teaching conversational English, TOEIC, IELTS, and English for children and teens. His track record? A 100% student pass rate. At the same time, he interned at Sacombank to get hands-on exposure to cash flow and credit operations.
First Steps into Management (2015–2017)
At AUS English Center, he stepped into his first management role – overseeing a team of 50 Vietnamese teachers and 8 foreign instructors. Not an easy task for a first-timer. Yet he delivered: an 80% student re-enrollment rate, a number most language centers only dream about.
The Hardest Lesson He Ever Learned (2016–2019)
During his time as Center Director at ALS, Phú Kim Quy nearly lost contracts with multiple public schools due to operational missteps. He doesn’t sugarcoat it:
“There were nights I couldn’t sleep, wondering if I was headed in the completely wrong direction.”
But he and his team turned things around and turned them around hard. The result: 96% of partner schools renewed their contracts. What surprised investors even more was his ability to get a small-scale English center to break even in just six months – a financial formula he built and validated himself.
At Language World, part of the Technical World Group, he served as Center Director with full ownership of student recruitment, HR management, quality assurance, and business expansion – laying the groundwork for even bigger moves ahead.
Peak Performance Before Going Independent (2019–2020)
As Regional Manager at Viet My Education Group, he oversaw multiple branches, drove profitability, and standardized operations across an entire region.
By the time he was ready to go out on his own, the numbers behind him spoke for themselves:
- Managed 10 branches with 100+ staff – including both Vietnamese and international teachers
- Directly and indirectly trained over 10,000 students
- In 2020 alone, the 3 branches under his direct management generated over 12 billion VND in revenue
“Those numbers weren’t about showing off. They were a reality check – proof that I was actually ready to stand on my own two feet.”
This chapter became the launching pad for the biggest decision of his life.
A Bigger Mission: Founding Speak Now English
After nearly 15 years of building experience from classroom teacher to regional executive, Phú Kim Quy identified a massive gap in Vietnam’s English education market: millions of people studied English for years and still couldn’t open their mouths to speak it.
That frustration became his fuel.
In late 2020, he walked away from his Regional Manager role and founded Speak Now English – a distinctly different education model, laser-focused on listening and speaking through a proprietary methodology:
- ACLIS (Active Listening) – Engaged, active listening – not passive absorption
- Train Your Voice – Accent refinement and natural intonation development
- Rapid Response Training – Thinking and speaking in English without mental translation
- Gamification & Project-Based Learning – Real-world application through games and hands-on projects
And the mission he set for Speak Now – and for himself – is nothing short of ambitious:
Help 1,000,000 Vietnamese people speak English fluently, respond naturally, sound authentic, and apply the language confidently in both academics and their careers.
The Philosophy of an Education Entrepreneur
Phú Kim Quy applies Kaizen – the Japanese principle of continuous, incremental improvement – to both his business operations and his personal development. He is a firm believer in win-win relationships: with students, staff, and partners alike.
“No success is truly lasting if it doesn’t come from genuinely serving others.”
What makes him rare is the combination he carries: the analytical mind of a finance professional, the heart of a dedicated teacher, and the relentless drive of a born entrepreneur.
The Journey Isn’t Over
From a medal-winning student to a sleep-deprived young manager, from a seasoned regional executive to a CEO inspiring tens of thousands of learners – Phú Kim Quy was never a “born hero.”
He is living proof of three things:
- Real education never has a finish line
- Real-world experience is what ultimately separates the good from the great
- Big visions only become reality when you show up and do the work – every single day
Phú Kim Quy is writing the next chapter of a new kind of education entrepreneur: one who doesn’t just build revenue, but builds a better future for the Vietnamese people.
