What does it take to step out of your comfort zone and build a career across borders? Dylan Tran, one of our MaivenPoint Work-Study Programme participants, shares his story — from his early days in Vietnam to navigating work and study in Singapore. This is his journey, in his own words.
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would one day be managing technology projects in Singapore, I probably would not have believed them.
Like many technology professionals, I started my career from the very beginning. After graduating from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) with a degree in Information Technology, I joined AvePoint Vietnam as a quality analyst intern. At the time, my goal was simple: learn as much as possible and become better every day.
Over the next three years, I grew from an intern to a senior quality analyst (QA), working on large-scale projects and gaining valuable experience in software quality and delivery.
However, I felt that my growth should not stop there.
While I enjoyed my role as a senior QA and had built a strong foundation in the field, I wanted to challenge myself beyond my area of expertise. I wanted to understand technology projects from different perspectives and develop skills that extended beyond testing.
Taking the Leap with the Work-Study Programme
Everything changed when I discovered the MaivenPoint Work-Study Programme.
What immediately caught my attention was the opportunity to study Cyber Security at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) while continuing to build my career at AvePoint Singapore. It offered the perfect combination of education, professional growth, and international exposure.
I knew I had to try.
Fortunately, my academic background and work experience helped me secure a place in the programme. I was excited, confident, and ready for the next chapter.
Facing the Reality of Change
Moving to Singapore was both exciting and challenging. Adapting to a new country, balancing work and study, and managing a demanding schedule required discipline and resilience. During the day, I focused on my professional responsibilities. In the evenings, I attended classes and worked on assignments. It was not always easy, but the experience pushed me to grow in ways I had never expected. Professionally, the move also became an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. Instead of continuing solely in QA, I took on the role of interface engineer, where I worked on system integrations, technical specifications, and stakeholder collaboration. |  |
Later, I expanded into a migration business analyst role, helping to bridge the gap between business requirements and technical implementation for customers. Each transition required me to learn new skills, adapt to unfamiliar challenges, and prove myself again.
Looking back, those career changes became some of the most valuable decisions I have made. They taught me that meaningful growth often comes from being willing to start over, learn continuously, and embrace uncertainty.
Learning to Think Differently
One of the most memorable experiences during my time at SUTD came from a design course that changed the way I approach problem-solving. Before that, I often focused on finding solutions as quickly as possible.
The course taught me that understanding the problem is often more important than immediately solving it. We learned how to identify user needs, uncover root causes, develop innovative ideas, and transform those ideas into practical solutions.
Applying Lessons to Real Work
That mindset influenced both my studies and my work. Rather than focusing only on execution, I began thinking more deeply about business objectives, customer impact, and long-term outcomes. It helped me contribute beyond my immediate responsibilities and prepared me for broader leadership roles.
Over time, those experiences accumulated and shaped my professional growth.
Today, I am fortunate to serve as a technology general manager at AvePoint Singapore, overseeing projects and leading teams to deliver meaningful technology solutions. Looking back, I can confidently say that the programme played a significant role in accelerating both my career and personal development.
Stepping Into Leadership Through MaivenPoint
Throughout this journey, there is one phrase that has guided me more than any other:
"Be humble, make things move."
To me, being humble means recognizing that there is always more to learn. Every colleague, mentor, customer, and challenge has something valuable to teach us.
Making things move means taking action. Ideas are important, but progress only happens when we turn those ideas into reality. Whether it is solving a problem, learning a new skill, or pursuing an unfamiliar opportunity, action is what creates growth.
If there is one lesson I would share with future participants, it is this:
Do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. The challenges that seem intimidating today may become the experiences that define your future.
The MaivenPoint Work & Study Programme gave me much more than an academic qualification. It gave me new perspectives, lifelong friendships, leadership skills, and the confidence to explore paths I might never have considered otherwise.
My journey is still ongoing, and I continue to learn every day. But if I have learned anything so far, it is that growth begins when we stay humble, keep moving forward, and never stop learning.
