If you ask Linda Huỳnh why she chose education, she won’t speak of grand ideals or life-changing missions. Instead, you’ll hear a very personal story: a girl who grew up in the flood-prone province of Quang Ngai, who made it through national academic competitions to earn early admission to university—and from there, began a relentless learning journey: from Foreign Trade University in Vietnam, to IKEA in Sweden, to Harvard, and later, the Boston Consulting Group.
These milestones may sound “global,” but they were all rooted in one simple yet burning belief held by students from central Vietnam: learning is the fastest way to change your destiny.
Today, as the founder of a hybrid learning platform built for a new generation of Vietnamese learners, Linda doesn’t define education through theory but through experience:
“You don’t learn to be perfect right away. You learn to understand where you are—and where you can go.”
Education: The Bridge Between “I Don’t Know” And “I Can”
In Linda’s story, education was never a luxury. It was always present—whether in a poor village in central Vietnam or inside the lecture halls of Harvard. Every milestone in her journey was tied to a learning opportunity: an AmCham scholarship that brought her to IKEA, and later, a role as the youngest person to lead supply chain operations in Southeast Asia.
But instead of settling into a comfortable career, Linda applied to Harvard—not to enhance her résumé, but to learn more about the world, and about herself.
“What I learned most didn’t come from professors, but from my peers,” she reflects. “They came from different backgrounds, with different worldviews—and through them, I gained perspectives I never had before.”
That philosophy now shapes Youni, the hybrid learning model she and her team have built—where students don’t just listen, but engage, ask questions, and receive one-on-one mentorship from seasoned professionals.
It’s a space with both teachers and community, where learning doesn’t feel isolating—but instead becomes something fully alive.
Youni: Where Technology Meets Vietnamese Learning Culture
Youni isn’t just another online course provider. It’s a learning ecosystem built by and for Vietnamese learners, one that blends cutting-edge tech with deeply human interaction.
What sets Youni apart?
- Real mentors with real experience
Youni’s instructors aren’t professional teachers—they’re working experts in Silicon Valley, unicorn startups, and VC firms. This makes their knowledge refreshingly practical, grounded in the realities of today’s industries. - Personal learning companions
Every student is paired with a learning advisor who can explain concepts and provide 1-on-1 guidance when things get tough.
“Vietnamese learners prefer face-to-face interaction,” Linda notes. “When they’re stuck, they don’t want automation—they need someone to show them the way.” Especially for technical topics like coding, this kind of support is vital. - You learn with others—not alone
Unlike traditional e-learning, Youni creates interactive classes where students study together, share progress, and collaborate on projects. These courses simulate a real classroom experience—where peers exchange ideas, support each other, and sustain motivation.
Importantly, Youni doesn’t create courses and leave them static. All content is regularly updated based on learner feedback and real market shifts.
“No course should stay the same when the market is changing,” Linda says. “At Youni, we don’t fall into the trap of building things people don’t need and then forcing them to buy it.”
Vietnam’s EdTech Landscape: Harder Than Uber, With Even Greater Potential
Linda doesn’t shy away from bold comparisons: “Uber turned cars into taxis. Edtech platforms like Youni turn professionals into educators. At their core, both are billion-dollar markets.”
Youni grew out of CoderSchool, a coding bootcamp that helped thousands of Vietnamese learners land jobs at top tech companies—even in Silicon Valley. But over time, Linda and her team realized something crucial: Being great at coding doesn’t always mean being ready for the workplace.
So Youni evolved beyond coding and into broader fields like product management, marketing, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and even the essential life skills no one teaches but everyone needs: time management, problem-solving, and career navigation.
Youni also leverages AI, not to replace teachers, but to help experts become better ones.
“Some people know a lot but don’t know how to teach it. AI helps them structure their knowledge, identify market needs, and design effective courses—ten times faster.”
Education Is the Most Powerful Equalizer
What Linda is building isn’t just a school. Youni is a place where Vietnamese learners can ask their own questions, discover their strengths, and choose their path—without having to walk it alone.
At Youni, students learn at their own pace, receive personalized support, and connect with a community of others who are also on a journey of self-discovery.
“We want every Vietnamese—whether they’re in Quang Ngai, Yen Bai, or Kien Giang—to have the right to learn like they would in Silicon Valley,” Linda shares.
When asked why she chose education, Linda’s answer is simple:
“Knowledge changed my life. Now I want it to change the lives of other Vietnamese, too.”
Youni is Linda’s way of giving back to the country that shaped her and the opportunities that lifted her. But it’s also a bold step forward for Vietnam’s edtech scene—one that imagines a future where education is not a privilege, but a platform for everyone.
Vietnamese learners are smart, adaptive, and full of potential. What they need isn’t praise but a launchpad. And Linda Huỳnh is building one—practical, empowering, and truly limitless.