FROM LITHIUM-ION TO LEADERSHIP: PROF. RACHID YAZAMI ON SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL LEADERS
January 22, 2026
When a world-renowned scientist steps out of the laboratory and into the boardroom, a unique synergy occurs. This was the atmosphere at VinUni during the recent visit of Professor Rachid Yazami – the 2023 VinFuture Grand Prize Laureate. Beyond his revolutionary work in battery technology, Prof. Yazami is embarking on a new mission: joining the VinUni MBA faculty to bridge the gap between deep-tech innovation and strategic leadership.
The “1+1=3” Philosophy: Why Tech Needs Management
For Prof. Yazami, the transition from scientist to entrepreneur was a revelation. Despite a career built on fundamental research, he quickly realized that a great invention is only the beginning. “I devoted my life to science, but when I led my own companies, I saw the missing piece: strong management and operational skills,” he shared.
In the era of AI and the Green Transformation, Prof. Yazami believes the silos between technology and business must vanish. He describes this synergy as a simple yet powerful equation: “One plus one equals three.” By combining technological foresight with business acumen, leaders can create value that exceeds the sum of its parts. This is the core DNA of the VinUni MBA program, preparing leaders who don’t just understand the future but have the tools to build it.
Bridging the Language Gap: From the Lab to the Market
One of the most profound insights Prof. Yazami shared was the challenge of “translation.” Scientists and investors may both speak English, but they operate in different worlds.
To bring a scientific dream to the mass market, innovators must learn to speak the language of “money people”, investors, venture capitalists, and banks. Prof. Yazami emphasizes that learning to articulate economic value, business models, and ROI is a skill as critical as the research itself. His role in the MBA program will be to help students master this “translation,” ensuring that sustainable innovations don’t stay trapped in the lab but reach the society that needs them.
The Resilience of an Inventor: The ROI of Failure
Leadership, much like scientific discovery, is rarely a straight line. Prof. Yazami shared a powerful anecdote about his invention of the graphite anode: it took him six months of persistent failure to understand why everyone before him had stayed stuck.
“If you miss the train, you miss it,” he notes, emphasizing the need for an open mind and a willingness to take risks. For MBA students, his message is clear: Resilience is the ultimate competitive advantage. Failure is not the end; it is the data needed to find the eventual solution. In a fast-changing world, the courage to stand up after a setback is what separates a manager from a true leader.
Integrity in the Age of AI
While the world is fixated on the speed of AI, Prof. Yazami remains focused on the human being at the center. He views AI as a necessity, a tool that makes processes faster, but stresses that it can never replace human judgment, values, or integrity.
“Integrity is the foundation of trust,” he asserts. At 72, Prof. Yazami embodies the spirit of lifelong learning, proving that curiosity has no expiration date. He hopes to instill in VinUni MBA students not just technical knowledge, but a moral compass that remains steady amidst technological disruption.
Vietnam: A Vision for Sustainable Energy
Prof. Yazami’s interest in Vietnam was deepened by Vingroup’s humanitarian and long-term vision. He sees VinUni as a rare ecosystem where academic rigor and industrial power thrive under one umbrella. His vision for VinUni is ambitious: to transform the university into a central hub for sustainable energy research in Asia, connecting closely with global businesses to drive real-world impact.
The future belongs to those who can navigate the intersection of technology and humanity. Through the VinUni MBA program, you have the opportunity to learn directly from global visionaries like Professor Rachid Yazami.
Are you ready to turn your “1+1” into “3”?
Learn more about VinUni MBA program here: https://vinuni.edu.vn/graduate-admission/MBA/
