An Nguyen - UX/Product Research & Training Manager
2025 © NGTHUYAN.COM
Thank you for exploring my graceful beauty ; )

MY DEAR STAYLAB

Building with love and determination


1. The Fool. The Moon

2. The Empress. Wheel of Fortune

3. The Hierophant. The Star

4. Strength. The World

5. My Source of Truth

6. Acknowledgements

STAYLAB at 6YO

It's chaotic, spacious, and also very magical

Posted on Feb 19, 2025.

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Love how business folks are all logical minds and KPIs until things get rough, then suddenly they're burning sage! Who knew ROI stood for Return On Incense? LOL~

CHAPTER ONE

the FOOL. the MOON

Anh Quoc, anh Phu Hoang, Sang, Phu Ho, Vuong, Linh, Hien, Thanh…

Gratitude remains.

LEARN: Solitude brings strength, navigate challenges independently

UNLEARN: Being alone doesn't mean isolation

RELEARN: Seeking help and building connections

SKILL GAINED: Paperwork omg!

At 27, I had grown solid in UX/Product as a Design Manager, and had some experience with Product Management. While job was going smoothly, something was missing: I wanted to push beyond the comfort, learn more about money, face my deep fears.


Among these aspirations was a simple need: flexible hours for animal rescue work. This wasn’t a side mission, but a core purpose that shaped my decisions.


And so Staylab began in January 2019, initially with a few friends. Then they departed one by one, until it was just me – investing savings, learning to navigate alone.

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No fireworks, no heroic calling, just quiet determination to build something of my own. It was a clear choice to forge my own path, guided by both ambition and purpose.

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CHAPTER TWO

the EMPRESS. wheel of FORTUNE

Dang, Truc, Tho Ngoc, Khanh, Gia Tu, Kieu, Phuong, Quang, Thao Doan, Tai. Thank you for being part of this chapter.

LEARN: Let yourself exceed the limits with positive strong attitude

UNLEARN: But I'm a lady, I'm allowed to be vulnerable!

RELEARN: However, not all vulnerability is worth sharing – only tell the story when all emotions have fully processed.

↳ When joy and hope are what remain, that's when the story deserves to be told.

SKILL GAINED: Emotional intelligence. This chapter Staylab has given me, has taught me deeply.

Weathered the same global storm: from building an office to enduring 2 COVID lockdowns, from fighting for the company’s survival to learning the art of letting people go. Pushing myself each day with “for Staylab, for Staylab” as my mantra, my karma.


Fortune smiled as we attracted powerful clients. My team streamlined our craft in startup funding packages: brand basics, pitch decks, prototypes/MVPs.


Our clients were high-net-worth low-key entrepreneurs testing various ventures in web3, bitcoin, and AI… We’re proud of Staylab during this phase – meeting a hidden world of private investors that only this boutique Staylab could serve as their safe haven.

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Working closely with these silent titans, who generously shared their wisdom, armed me with unshakeable confidence.

So when the UX/Product realm’s “nice guy syndrome” zombies tried to break me in 2024, I didn’t just survive – I emerged stronger, ready to slay them all.

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CHAPTER THREE

the HIEROPHANT. the STAR

While some journeys ended, others continued: transforming the setbacks into Staylab’s stronger chapter

LEARN: Focus on your company's strongest domain

UNLEARN: But putting all eggs in one basket can kill your business

RELEARN: "It depends" is the golden rule. Single focus or diversification – both can work. What matters is knowing your why and your next moves.

↳ Be happy, experiment, suffer… you need to learn and grow – your business will expand and generate more revenue naturally 🔱

SKILL GAINED: Rapid development of lean, flexible processes for any new challenge

After many reflections with mentors and investors brought clarity: outsourcing wasn't the sustainable path we wanted, as it no longer aligned with our long-term vision. Staylab needed to build a product-service portfolio that embodied our unique perspective on creating exceptional value.


That's when we ventured into education.


Throughout this transition, I found myself working with boundless energy: building training programs alongside a lean team, finding quality instructors, cultivating talented learners… I lived and breathed completely everyday.

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I woke up each morning eager to work, even when my personal life was completely shattered. Career happiness became my sanctuary, “I can do it with a broken heart” – you know ; )

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CHAPTER FOUR

STRENGTH. the WORLD

The next move? Oh, I know…

LEARN: Own your next move, with high-performance as proud as I am

UNLEARN: Sometimes we chase high-performance seeking social validation, compensating for childhood wounds of feeling unseen

RELEARN: Balance is key – nothing is inherently wrong. Let external validation amplify your inner worth, not define it.

↳ Transform self-knowledge into social value, then use that success to deepen your inner wisdom.

SKILL GAINED: judging.nonjudging.opening.judging.nonjudging.opening.exe (running forever…)

A new chapter begins. I know exactly where I’m headed, but true to my style – I’d rather show results than preview plans. I prefer to work quietly, confiding only in those who truly understand and support me.


Meanwhile, my mid-term steps? Job hunting in Kuala Lumpur, while my teammates take care of Staylab in Vietnam.

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I AM OPEN TO WORK →

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SPECIAL CHAPTER

source of TRUTH

Behind every great man is a woman, so they say.

Behind this lady's journey is the Source of Truth: my mentors and friends who've seen both my triumphs and failures, and chosen to stay, who always tell me the hard truths with their caring hearts.

I consider myself incredibly lucky – the kind of luck that makes even the toughest challenges seem conquerable. I often tell my source-of-truth people that just by being who they are, I’m already grateful for their presence throughout Staylab’s journey.


But what truly saved Staylab? They’ve consistently pushed me to face facts, offering critical feedback and pointing out my blind spots without hesitation. That’s been their most precious gift to me over these 6+ years. I cherish them, from the bottom of my heart.

Their honesty became my compass,

and their support became my certainty.

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I tell my parents they needn’t worry about me or my career. Why?

Because I’m surrounded by mentors and close friends whose integrity I trust to share my password if needed haha 😜

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Besides my SOT and teammates mentioned above, Staylab has been shaped by numerous supporters. I want to express my gratitude to those who have offered mindset, financial support and professional guidance throughout our 6-year milestone:


Anh An, anh Dong, anh Duy, anh Dzung, anh Khoa, anh Min, anh Quoc, anh Trung Huynh, An Vo, Ava Pham, chi Tam, Duc May, Duc Vinh, Hoa Nguyen, Hoang Lan, Hoang Phuong, Hoang Trieu, Khanh Nguyen, Kim Hoai, Linh Nguyen, Long Nguyen, Luan Phan, Minh Duong, Minh Le, Minh Pham, Molly, Ngoc Mai, Phat Le, Nhat Tien, Quang Hi, Quynh Nhu, Tai Pham, Thao Khanh, Tien Tom, Trung Do, Winnie…

and many others who've made this journey possible 🙏

🦁

AN, NGUYEN THUY

— Relocating to Kuala Lumpur —

ngthuyan14@gmail.com