Tam Nguyen
2021
This week’s Featured BossMama is: Tam Nguyen, Founder, and CEO, of Vietcan Books.
Learning more about Tam…
Tam is a Chartered Professional Accountant who had lived in Calgary for almost three decades, having moved to Canada when she was 12. Tam's parents established a Vietnamese Language School for children, where she volunteered for four years, indicating her passion for education and community involvement.
As an entrepreneur who runs a business from home, Tam finds it challenging to balance work and personal life, especially after becoming a mother in 2019. Despite the difficulties, Tam prioritizes spending quality time with her daughter by scheduling specific chunks of uninterrupted time before preschool drop-off, during bedtime routines, or on weekends. Tam understands the importance of unplugging and limiting distractions during this time to recharge and refocus on her business.
Tam's dedication to preserving the Vietnamese language and culture is truly admirable. VietCan Books provides not only valuable resources for families who want to learn Vietnamese but also supports independent momtrepreneurs and Asian authors and illustrators who highlight cultural diversity and inclusion in their books.
Launching Vietcan Books
Tam faced challenges in finding quality Vietnamese resources to support her bilingual journey with her daughter. Through connecting with other parents online and hearing about similar struggles, she recognized the need for a central hub in North America for diverse language resources. In response, Tam launched VietCan Books in December 2021, an online bookstore offering Vietnamese/bilingual books and learning resources for families of varying levels of Vietnamese to learn the language.
VietCan Books offers a wide range of books and resources for all ages and levels of Vietnamese learners. From Vietnamese alphabet books for beginners to bilingual storybooks for more advanced learners, there's something for everyone. On social media, Tam also invites you to her personal journey of bilingual parenting with her young daughter. This includes testing out store products and sharing tips and insights into navigating Vietnamese culture and language as part of the diaspora.
Tam's initiative in launching VietCan Books is impressive and inspiring. By promoting the Vietnamese language and culture, she's not only preserving her own heritage but also fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. Her support of other independent momtrepreneurs and Asian authors and illustrators is also commendable, as it highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in literature.
Learn more about them at VietCan Books or you can find them on Facebook, and Instagram.
Tam’s goal for the next 3-6 months
Tam aims to expand the reach of her business, VietCan Books, by increasing its online presence through more frequent social media postings. She also plans to look for collaborators who can help her reach a wider audience. Additionally, Tam plans to produce more videos related to bilingual content to provide more value to her customers. To reduce costs and pass on savings to her customers, Tam intends to scale up her business.
Advice to fellow BossMamas
