About Us
Our Story
Beyond Brochure began with a simple realization: the most valuable lessons in leadership rarely come from textbooks.
Many of us grew up thinking leadership was something you picked up later in life – in classrooms with case studies, in boardrooms with big decisions, in books filled with neat diagrams and frameworks.
But when real life came, we realized that leadership isn’t a chapter you turn to one day; it shows up in the middle of ordinary moments – and often when you feel least prepared. The biggest lessons didn’t come from textbooks. They come in late-night conversations where someone finally lets down their guard and says, “Me too.” They come in moments of doubt, in moments of failure, and in the surprising moments of kindness that remind you why you chose this path at all.
Leadership, we learned, doesn’t live in theories or job titles. It lives in stories – in the messy, vulnerable, unpolished parts of life that remind us we are all still figuring it out.
We built Beyond Brochure to hold onto moments like that. At first, it was just a newsletter – a way to pass along stories that felt raw and honest. The kind that remind you you’re not the only one stumbling, doubting, or trying to figure it out. To our surprise, people didn’t just read; they reached back. They wanted to talk, to share, to connect. That’s when we knew: this wasn’t just about stories. It was about community.
Today, Beyond Brochure is still rooted in the same belief: leadership is lived, not taught. We gather voices from around the world who are willing to share the parts that usually get left out – the failures, the fears, the hard choices, the slow wins. And we welcome young professionals who are searching not for perfect advice, but for honesty, companionship, and a sense of direction they can make their own.
We don’t have a formula for leadership. What we have are people. People who’ve been through it, people still figuring it out, people who care enough to share. That’s what makes this space real.
Because going “beyond brochure” isn’t just our name. It’s our way of saying: life, leadership, and growth will never fit neatly into a pamphlet. But if we share our journeys openly, we can make the road a little clearer – and a lot less lonely – for each other.
Because at the heart of it all, we believe leadership isn’t taught. And every story shared brings us closer to the leaders we’re all becoming.
Meet Our Team
We are a team with diverse academic and professional backgrounds, from biology, to finance and investment. Each of us has taken a different path, but we share the same commitment: helping future global leaders navigate their leadership journey.
Founder & Chief Interviewer
Thanh is the founder and driving force behind Beyond Brochure. As a female building a career in the male-dominated world of finance and investment, she often wished for real conversations, not just glossy brochures or polished success stories. Today, as the platform’s Chief Interviewer, she leads thoughtful conversations with global leaders, drawing out honest stories of resilience, failure, and growth to share with the next generation.
Beyond Brochure reflects the same conviction that guides her career in impact investing, where she not only works with women-led enterprises and entrepreneurs but also takes her seat in boardrooms to help shape investment strategies. Whether through finance or storytelling, Thanh’s leadership is rooted in one mission: making access – to capital, mentorship, and shared experience – easier for the next generation of global leaders.
Community Builder & Outreach
An Nguyen, an incoming biology student at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, is passionate about healthcare and the people who lead change within it. Trilingual in English, German, and Vietnamese, she values the way different perspectives enrich how we learn from one another. Her interest in leadership grew from seeing how open conversations – not just academic study – can spark clarity and direction for students like herself.
At Beyond Brochure, An contributes as a community builder, helping to grow the platform’s reach and ensure its content reflects diverse, relatable voices. She focuses on engaging students and leaders from different backgrounds, creating opportunities for genuine exchange. For her, this role is about making the platform not only a source of stories, but also a supportive space where young people feel less alone in their journeys.
Partnership Outreach
Phuoc studies finance and investment and recently completed his PSO MBA, but what excites him most is not just numbers or models, but rather people. He believes the best opportunities come from meaningful relationships, where both sides share knowledge, trust, and a common purpose. That belief has shaped how he approaches his studies and career: with curiosity about people as much as about markets.
At Beyond Brochure, Phuoc leads partnership outreach, building connections with professionals, institutions, and networks that share the platform’s mission. He sees every new collaboration as a chance to bring fresh stories and opportunities to students who are navigating their own journeys.
At Beyond Brochure, we believe leadership stories are most powerful when they are honest, unfiltered, and human. To create a space where people can share openly, we follow these principles:
1. Respect for Anonymity
We will not publish the names, contact details, or any identifying information of contributors. To preserve anonymity, we may also use alternative or fictional names. The focus is always on the story and the lessons it carries, not on the individual’s title or résumé.
2. Stories with Permission
Every story is shared with the knowledge and consent of the contributor. We will never publish private conversations or insights without agreement.
3. Authenticity First
While names may be withheld or changed for privacy, the stories themselves are real. We do not fabricate experiences; what you read comes directly from lived leadership journeys.
4. Context Over Credit
We care more about the meaning and impact of a story than about attribution. When appropriate, we may refer to a contributor’s background in general terms to preserve context while protecting identity.
5. Safe and Respectful Storytelling
Our editorial approach is to highlight learning, not sensationalism. Stories will be presented respectfully, avoiding unnecessary details that could compromise confidentiality.