5 corporate culture trends in 2025

Last month, Blue C, my portfolio company officially released the "2024 Corporate Culture Maturity Report and 2025 Trends." The report was based on a survey of 206 Vietnamese enterprises across 13 industries.

According to the survey, in 2024, the majority of surveyed enterprises (46.12%) reached Level 3 - the Design phase. At this stage, businesses have established core foundations (Vision, Mission, Core Values) and started creating action plans to translate principles, beliefs, and values into tangible actions.

However, a significant gap remains between planning and concrete actions to integrate corporate culture into organizational processes and transform awareness into practical behaviors.

The highlight of corporate culture execution in 2024 was the increasing maturity of enterprises. Businesses are paying more attention to organizational culture, evident in leadership awareness of its importance and efforts to shape a cultural foundation.

For the second consecutive year, the finance, banking, and insurance sectors ranked highest among 11 industries in cultural maturity. These sectors achieved an average score of 51.65, equivalent to Level 4 - the Management phase.

As digital transformation becomes essential for maintaining competitive advantages, digital culture has gained more attention. However, in 2024, its characteristics were still at a moderate to moderately high level, indicating challenges in creating an environment that strongly supports digital transformation.

By industry group, finance, banking, and insurance, along with service, tourism, and hospitality, stood out for their digital culture traits, particularly "Customer-Centric" and "Data-Driven Orientation."

5 Prominent Corporate Culture Trends for 2025

Mr. Lê Quang V?, CEO of Blue C, stated: "In 2025, corporate culture will undergo a more pronounced shift, evolving from merely establishing foundations to becoming a strong driver for sustainable development and adaptation to the ever-changing world."

Based on research and surveys of 206 enterprises, Blue C has identified and analyzed five major trends in corporate culture for 2025:

1. Supporting employees in adapting to changes during transitions A June 2024 PwC survey in the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam, showed that 68% of employees experienced significant workplace disruptions, 48% had to learn new technologies, and many faced increased workloads. Supporting employees in adapting to change will be a top priority for Vietnamese businesses in 2025, contributing to performance and sustainability.
2. Culture as a key enabler of digital transformation According to Blue C's survey, 1 in 3 enterprises will prioritize digital culture in 2025. Key traits like Customer-Centricity, Data-Driven Orientation, Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainability are set to become critical focus areas in corporate culture development.
3. Enhanced training for AI integration in the workplace AI remains a dominant trend in 2025, presenting challenges in skills and employee adaptability. Despite significant investment, Gallup's research revealed that nearly 70% of employees still do not use AI, and comfort with this technology decreased by 6% from 2023 to 2024. Businesses must provide specific training plans and address employment shifts caused by automation to optimize AI adoption.
4. Rebuilding culture and maintaining motivation post-downsizing Government workforce streamlining policies will significantly impact the labor market in 2025, creating opportunities for private enterprises to attract high-caliber talent. However, these organizations must focus on cultural integration for new hires. Public institutions, after restructuring, need to rebuild culture, foster internal trust, and invest in training to maintain effectiveness.
5. Prioritizing care in the workplace In today's volatile work environment, organizational care for employees is crucial for retention. The challenge for 2025 is bridging the gap between employee benefits and actual needs. Placing care at the center of cultural strategy can enhance employee development by 378% and reduce negative outcomes by 80%. Supported employees experience 12 times higher engagement, 7 times better performance, and less burnout, yielding significant benefits for businesses.