40 contestants from 18 universities compete in the semi-finals of Super CEO 2026: a test of young leadership skills.

From building team identity and connecting knowledge to analyzing situations and defending business strategies, the 40 contestants of SUPER CEO 2026 – THE NEXT LEADER underwent a series of challenges requiring strategic thinking, coordination skills, and decision-making abilities. The semi-final round, held on November 6th, 2026, was not only a competition of management knowledge but also an opportunity for young leaders to test their capabilities against practical business problems.

Applying management knowledge to practical challenges.

Committed to its application-oriented training approach, linking knowledge with practice and focusing on student competencies, Dai Nam University continuously expands experiential learning models, strengthens connections with businesses, and creates opportunities for students to develop professional skills right from the classroom. SUPER CEO is one of the activities that concretizes this orientation, bringing students closer to real-world management problems, honing strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration abilities, and decision-making skills.

SUPER CEO 2026 - THE NEXT LEADER is a competition organized by the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing, Dai Nam University (DNU), for university students nationwide. The competition aims to discover and nurture young talents with business acumen, management skills, and leadership potential.

Returning for its second season, SUPER CEO attracted over 300 applications from 26 universities. Through several selection rounds, 40 outstanding candidates were chosen to embark on a challenging journey to develop their skills.

Prior to the semi-finals, the contestants participated in a series of intensive training activities. At Training Camp 1, themed “CEO Mindset: Dare to Think Big, Know How to Do It,” contestants formed teams, met mentors, and defined common goals. Following that, Training Camp 2 – “Presentation and Debate Skills” – focused on improving their ability to present, defend their viewpoints, and persuade the audience.

On November 6th, 40 contestants from 18 universities entered the semi-final round with the theme "BREAK THE LIMIT." The challenges were designed around core areas of business management such as business, marketing, human resources, finance, and artificial intelligence (AI). Instead of simply testing knowledge, the competition required contestants to analyze problems, consider resources, choose solutions, and defend their decisions.

Sharing his vision for the competition, Associate Professor Dr. Truong Duc Thao, Head of the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing, said: “SUPER CEO is not just a competition, but also an environment for students to apply their knowledge to real-world business problems. Through each challenge, students hone their strategic thinking, teamwork skills, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making skills. More importantly, students have the opportunity to identify their own capabilities, learn from experts and businesses, and prepare themselves to become future managers and leaders.”

Three challenges - three perspectives on leadership capabilities

Team On Stage: Building Identity, Delivering the Message

To kick off the Semi-Finals, each team had 60 seconds to introduce their name, slogan, core values, leadership style related to the theme THE NEXT LEADER, and their own message.

From energetic performances to creative skits, each team chose a different way to make their mark. The competition demanded the ability to establish a collective identity, convey a concise message, and coordinate effectively – crucial elements in team building and leadership.

Mind Link: Connecting knowledge, collaborating to find solutions.

In the Mind Link challenge, each team draws an envelope containing three keywords from the fields of Business, Economics, and Leadership – Management. One member is tasked with explaining the keywords to their teammates so they can correctly identify them within the time limit.

More than just a knowledge memorization challenge, Mind Link requires contestants to connect information, express themselves concisely, and understand their teammates' thinking processes. Speed, teamwork, and problem-solving skills make this part of the competition engaging.

CEO Problem Solving: Solving business problems, defending decisions.

As the highest-scoring segment, CEO Problem Solving brings teams closer to the work of a manager. Each team receives a real-world business scenario, then analyzes the problem, develops a strategy, and proposes a solution.

The challenge doesn't stop at generating ideas. Teams must present the basis for their choice, assess resources, identify risks, and demonstrate the feasibility of their proposed solution. Following the presentation, contestants continue to debate with opposing teams, answer questions from the judging panel, and respond to unforeseen situations.

The face-to-face debates revealed the real pressure of the decision-making process: a solution needs to be convincingly argued, while also being flexible enough to adapt as the context changes. This was also a highlight of the semi-final round, where knowledge was tested through analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

These individuals will continue their journey to conquer the SUPER CEO 2026 title.

After the competition rounds, 11 contestants with outstanding results earned the right to advance to the SUPER CEO 2026 - THE NEXT LEADER Finals.

1. Tran The Hung – Greenwich University Vietnam.

2. Chu Thi Anh Tu – Dai Nam University.

3. Le Thi Trang – Dai Nam University.

4. Tran Tin Dung – Foreign Trade University (Ho Chi Minh City Branch).

5. Truong Thi My Hoa – Academy of Policy and Development.

6. Trinh Trong Thien – Phenikaa University.

7. Nguyen Hong Son – National Economics University.

8. Pham Tan Hoang Kim – Vietnam Aviation Academy.

9. Pham Van Ngoc – Dai Nam University.

10. Do Dieu Linh – Dai Nam University.

11. Nguyen Minh Hieu – Dai Nam University.

From idea to feasible business plan

Concluding the semi-final round, the contestants continue their journey of developing management thinking, honing leadership skills, and improving practical problem-solving abilities through the guidance of mentors and the support of businesses.

The SUPER CEO Season 2 - THE NEXT LEADER Grand Finale, scheduled for December 2nd, 2026, will be a stage for contestants to showcase their maturity, confidence, and capabilities as future leaders.

Through SUPER CEO, Dai Nam University continues to concretize its applied training orientation, making practical experience and business connections an integral part of students' competency development journey. Beyond equipping students with specialized knowledge, the university focuses on creating opportunities for them to cultivate strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, adaptability, and the courage to act in the face of real-world challenges. Because the journey to becoming a manager or leader doesn't begin with a job title after graduation, but is built upon the learning, experience, and growth of each student today.