Ellen Dieu-Lien To is a passionate changemaker whose journey has always been guided by the belief that “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Ellen is a graduate of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in International Law and a recipient of the Best Thesis Award for her Masters of Science in Public Affairs & Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston. With over 16 years of experience in leading nonprofits, social enterprises, and innovative technology projects, she has continuously turned challenges into opportunities for sustainable, humanitarian development. Her impressive track record includes co-founding and running three nonprofit organizations, such as The Association of Vietnamese Professionals & Students in the U.S., as well as pioneering MARU, the social enterprise with a patented sustainable housing model designed for populations living with severe floods and coping with climate change. MARU has won national and international awards, including the 1st Prize at the National Award for Women-Led Innovative Green Startups, organized by the World Bank, UKAid, AusAid, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam in 2019.
Over her career, she has designed and/or run more than 30 humanitarian and developmental projects leveraging the quality of lives of most disadvantaged populations – poorest communities in remote areas, people with disabilities, people living in natural disaster zones… especially through the means of technology. Her work embodies an unwavering commitment to creating positive social impacts and advancing sustainable development.
Today, she channels that spirit of innovation and resilience in co-founding AI for Vietnam Foundation. With a deep-rooted commitment to empowering Vietnam’s future, Ellen is excited to be part of this bold initiative – one that leverages global expertise and local talent to accelerate AI innovation, education, and research. Ellen’s vision for AI is refreshingly candid: “AI is new. AI is scary. Instead of making it your enemy or victimizing yourself, make it work for you. People were so scared when the first computers or the internet were initially introduced – but look how far we’ve come. If we keep learning, developing, and using technology right, we’ll grow our own wings.”
Through her leadership, AIV is not just shaping technology – it’s shaping Vietnam’s AI future, lighting the way for Vietnam to fly into a future where AI serves as a powerful force for good.