Mornings in the mountainous region of Son La province always begin with familiar sounds: the crowing of roosters, the rustling of wind through the hills, and the gentle fragrance of forest flowers. In a small house nestled among the hills, Ms. Lo Thi Toan, a 40 year old Thai ethnic woman and owner of the Son Toan household business in Phuong Quynh hamlet, Yen Son commune, is busy with her daily routine: checking the vegetable beds, visiting the fruit orchards, and preparing boxes of honey for sale. Few people know that behind this simple routine is a long journey filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and the days when she felt left behind even while doing her own job.

A time of struggle and loneliness

More than a decade ago, Ms. Toan and her husband established the Son Toan household business with a simple dream—to improve their family’s life through hard work. They raised cattle and pigs and cultivated corn and sugarcane for animal feed. For Toan, who has a mobility disability, even these daily tasks were challenging. Yet instead of letting her physical limitation hold her back, she approached every task with patience, care, and precision. Despite hardships, she found happiness in her family’s support and companionship.

In 2023, when livestock prices dropped sharply, Toan and her husband re-evaluated their path. “If we keep raising animals, we’ll never get ahead. What if we switch to clean vegetable farming and beekeeping?” she suggested. After some thought, her husband agreed. With shared determination, they convinced their family to try this new direction. Their unity gave Toan the courage to take on organic farming—a challenging but promising venture.

However, the transition was not easy. The vegetables thrived, but finding stable markets proved difficult. Traders dictated the prices, and limited revenue prevented her from hiring enough workers. Toan shouldered most of the labor herself—working in the fields in the morning, harvesting at noon, selling in the market in the afternoon, and cleaning up in the evening.

The hardest part, though, was not the physical labor—it was the emotional strain. She realized she lacked management and delegation skills. Team members often misunderstood her instructions, leading to frustration and inefficiency. “There were times I was so frustrated but didn’t know how to speak so they would understand, and when everything lands on me, I can’t manage,” she recalled. Determined to change, she resolved to improve her leadership and management abilities to make her business more productive and sustainable.

A turning point through the Women’s Union

In October 2024, an unexpected opportunity arrived when the Provincial Women’s Union introduced her to the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership (WEL) Project, supported by the Australian Government’s GREAT Program. Implemented by the Provincial Women’s Union with technical support from organizations such as the iChange Center, GreenU, and T&C, the project aimed to equip women with business and leadership skills.

Initially hesitant, Toan doubted whether she was suited for such a big initiative. But when she learned that the project prioritized women with disabilities, she felt encouraged. Overcoming her hesitation, she decided to embark on this journey of learning, transformation, and self-discovery.

Gaining knowledge, changing mindsets

Through the project’s training sessions, Toan gained insights she had never encountered before, and the resulting benefits turned out to be far greater than expected.

From Ms. Tran Ngoc Diep, a leadership coach from the iChange Center, she learned about human behavior, leadership principles, and most importantly, the art of delegation.

Through the class, she learned how to observe individual strengths—those who are skilled with their hands can handle packaging, those who are quick are able to manage deliveries, and those with agricultural experience can handle technical aspects. Ms. Diep also guided her on active listening and communication skills. Instead of merely giving instructions, she learned how to ask questions and encourage employees to express their opinions. This small but powerful change made teamwork smoother and more efficient. The group became more organised, cohesive, and motivated, as members felt respected and trusted.

Meeting a special mentor

While Ms. Diep’s classes provided foundational knowledge in a large group, the project also connected her to a valuable one-on-one business mentor—Mr. Vu Hoa, a business development consultant from the Center for Research, Consulting, and Training for Local Development. With his guidance, Toan began applying what she learned in practical ways. She achieved a major revenue breakthrough by elevating product value through improved packaging and labeling to meet regulated standards.

She still remembers the trip to Hoa Binh, where she first met her mentor. One of his first lessons was about packaging honey products. Mr. Hoa advised her to replace simple plastic bottles with elegant glass jars and bottles that enhanced the product’s appeal. The honey was the same—but the presentation elevated its market value.

He also connected her to new crop varieties such as sweet cantaloupe and introduced her to potential buyers, including the 3M fruit distributor in Hanoi and the Xanh 26.3 Cooperative in Son La. These connections helped double her revenue and stabilise her vegetable sales.

Under Mr. Hoa’s mentorship, Toan restructured her business—transforming the household business into the Dai Ngan Yen Son Collective Group for more professional operation. She also learned financial management skills like recordkeeping, tracking income and expenses, and controlling costs. “Business is not just about producing goods; it’s about management,” she shared—a lesson that deeply resonated with her.

Inspiring change in those around her

The skills that Ms. Toan gained were about more than just gaining knowledge. With the new skills and success, she increased her confidence and reduced the burden of worry that comes with leading a business. She now speaks confidently with customers, partners, and peers, and eagerly shares what she has learned with her group members. “I no longer feel disadvantaged or looked down upon,” she proudly says. Crucially, her husband, parents-in-law, and members of the collective group recognised that a woman with a mobility disability could lead effectively when equipped with the right knowledge and determination.

Her family and team members have also become more proactive—joining her in analysing markets, understanding the compliance requirements for clean, organic sourcing, and diversifying products. For instance, they’ve moved from selling regular pears at 15,000 VND/kg to cultivating sweet pear varieties that fetch 30,000–35,000 VND/kg, alongside other high-value crops like aromatic pumpkins and ash gourds, sourcing seeds from Bắc Kạn—where Mr. Hoa helped connect with the seed supplier.

In addition to the financial benefits, her group members have become more united and collaborative, thanks to her improved leadership and communication.

Results of transformation

The impact of Toan’s transformation in mindset and working style soon became tangible. Previously, for every organic vegetable crop, she had to spend a significant amount on fertiliser and initial investment. By learning to make organic compost and manage costs, she reduced input expenses by 40–50% per crop. This saved money has become a valuable “capital” for her to rotate for subsequent seasons.

Previously limited to two or three growing cycles a year, she now intercropped efficiently to maximize land use and season, achieving four to five cycles annually and significantly increasing output and profits.

Revenue has increased significantly, and profit is also higher due to cost savings. With stable income, she expanded her team—hiring two full-time families (six people) to assist with production and management instead of just a few seasonal workers as before. From a woman burdened by self-doubt, she has become a confident leader who empowers other ethnic minority women in her community, proving that with knowledge, courage, and opportunity, anyone can rise above their limitations. From managing everything alone, she now has an entire accompanying team, creating more jobs for the local people and making the collective group more professional and sustainable.

For Ms. Toan, this success is not only economic—it represents a profound personal transformation. From a woman burdened by self-doubt, she has become a confident leader who creates jobs for other ethnic minority women in her community.