By the time you read this, Dialectica has quietly crossed a milestone few startups dare to dream of: a decade of transformation from a four-person office in Athens to a 1,400-strong global information services powerhouse. Today, as the company celebrates its 10-year milestone, its Asia-Pacific ambitions are being steered from an unexpected yet strategic location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At the forefront of this regional drive are Vasilis Arkomanis, Vice President and APAC Client Service Lead, and Khang Tran, Senior Manager and Head of Office Operations for Dialectica Vietnam.
From a modest beginning, Dialectica has become an indispensable partner for consulting firms, investment funds, and corporate clients seeking market intelligence and expert insights worldwide. Whether it’s understanding FMCG trends in Southeast Asia, navigating complex regulations in Vietnam, or even exploring shrimp farming opportunities in Peru, Dialectica has built a reputation for unlocking the kind of expertise that no other player or any algorithm can replicate.
Vietnam: A Surprising APAC Hub
While many global firms choose Singapore, Tokyo, or Shanghai for their Asian headquarters, Dialectica has taken a bold, unconventional step by anchoring its APAC hub in Ho Chi Minh City. For Khang Tran, a Vietnamese professional with nearly a decade of experience in the expert network industry, the reasoning is straightforward: “Our business thrives on talent. We need great people, onboard them, and train them to be the best in the industry. We see Vietnam as a hub of really great talent that we can definitely explore.”
The Vietnam office now hosts a diverse workforce where 60–70% of employees are Vietnamese, and the rest are international hires. Teams specialize in different regions, from Australia to Japan, Korea, and India. This dynamic setup allows Dialectica to serve clients globally while maintaining a strong regional understanding of cultural nuances and language-specific needs, something that can make or break market entry strategies in Asia.
The Human Advantage in a Tech-Driven Era
In a world buzzing about AI and automation, Dialectica’s leadership is clear-eyed about the limits of technology in their domain. AI can process public data quickly, “but what is locked in the human mind is still there and that requires companies like us to uncover it,” says Khang Tran. Vasilis Arkomanis echoes this sentiment, adding that while AI tools will support productivity, Dialectica’s core advantage will always lie in its people.
This belief translates into tangible actions. Instead of replacing human capital, Dialectica is doubling down on hiring, training, and nurturing talent. The company operates on a “try, fail fast, recover, and improve” ethos, encouraging employees to experiment and learn rapidly. Upcoming initiatives include integrating AI into workflows not to replace experts, but to make insight delivery faster and more precise for clients.
Culture and Values: The Secret Ingredient to Scaling
Scaling from a 40-person startup to a 1,500-strong organization didn’t happen by accident. According to Arkomanis, Dialectica’s success is rooted in four core values: ownership, respect, growth mindset, and teamwork. These values shape hiring decisions, day-to-day collaboration, and leadership development across offices.
In Vietnam, these principles resonate deeply with a young, ambitious workforce hungry for growth. The leadership team places particular emphasis on attitude over skills when recruiting. “The team right now is young, definitely driven, ambitious and curious. And that is what we usually look for when we onboard new talent,” says Khang. “Development is a journey and also the top priority for us.”
Both Arkomanis and Tran personally interview nearly every candidate to ensure this cultural fit. It’s a hands-on approach that fosters transparency and trust, allowing new hires to see how their work connects to global impact from day one.
Building Bridges Across Asia-Pacific
Dialectica’s purpose is to “Accelerate the shift to a prosperous society by empowering better decision-making.” This is particularly vital in Asia, where fragmented markets, diverse languages, and varying regulatory environments often hinder business expansion.
From Vietnam, Arkomanis and Tran are building bridges by connecting Western investment firms to Southeast Asian market realities, linking Japanese corporations to European benchmarks, and helping Korean companies navigate regional opportunities. The setup in Ho Chi Minh allows Dialectica to operate like a true regional hub, adapting its products to local contexts while maintaining global standards.
This bridge-building approach has not only won clients but also amplified Dialectica’s influence in APAC. Projects now range from niche industry research to large-scale surveys, serving over 60 new initiatives weekly. Word-of-mouth referrals, which is a cornerstone of the expert network business, continue to fuel growth as satisfied clients recommend Dialectica to peers.
Vision for the Next Decade
As Dialectica looks beyond its 10-year mark, the focus is on becoming a leader not just in expert networks but in the broader insights market, estimated at over $150 billion globally. From its base in Vietnam, the company is expanding its portfolio of products and services, aiming to set new standards for how knowledge is accessed and utilized in strategic decision-making.
Arkomanis sees no signs of slowing down: “Every six months brings new challenges like bigger offices, more complex collaboration across regions. But the common thread is our people. They are the magic ingredient behind everything we’ve built.”
Khang Tran adds, “Our aspiration is to be recognized as one of the top employers in Vietnam, but also across Southeast Asia.”
As Dialectica approaches its next decade, the focus remains clear: building bridges—between experts and decision-makers, between technology and human insight, and between Asia and the rest of the world.
From Ho Chi Minh City, Arkomanis and Tran are proving that leadership isn’t about following the usual paths. It’s about seeing potential where others don’t, nurturing people over processes, and unlocking knowledge that technology alone can’t reach.