Boi Ngoc, Founder, Lusic Co
In life, many of us stumble upon something we really love or a true calling that lights a fire within us. But in the crowd of dreamers and doers, only a rare few possess the extraordinary ability to seamlessly weave that passion with a sense of purpose, boundless energy, and innate talent to turn it into something truly remarkable. While many chase their dreams for personal success, these avid leaders prioritize impact over income, and people over profit. For them, it’s not about the financial gain; it’s about the positive change they bring to others’ lives. In a world often overshadowed by the pursuit of wealth, these passionate entrepreneurs serve as a poignant reminder: success is not solely measured in monetary terms, but rather in the lives they touch and the impact that resonates far beyond the bottom line.
This story is going to unfurl the inspiring journey of one such exemplary entrepreneur, Boi Ngoc, fondly known as Nancy, a girl from a humble background who against all odds, nurtured her passion for piano and went on to become a game-changer in the music world. Born into a modest family, Nancy didn’t let financial constraints stifle her passion for piano. Learning the instrument on her own, she swiftly transitioned from a self-taught pianist to a mentor, generously sharing her knowledge with others. At the age of 16, she started teaching kids to play the piano and has been involved in the industry for about 12 years.
A Fascinating Journey of Passion and Perseverance
Instead of pursuing a traditional academic path in music, Nancy opted for a degree in External Economics at the age of 18. Because, to her, music was more than a profession; it was a source of joy and entertainment. This unconventional approach to teaching for entertainment was not highly recommended and popular in Vietnam at that time. Back then, there was a stereotype in Vietnam that playing the piano was for the elite, and that it takes a long time to achieve the skills based on the traditional and classical methodology. But drawing from her three-year keyboard learning experience, coupled with her role as a church accompanist since the age of 15 and her self-taught mastery of modern piano techniques, Nancy challenged these norms. And, for those seeking to master the skill faster for fun, improvisation, and recreation, she came up with a faster, more enjoyable learning method, cutting the learning time by 3 to 5 times.
At 29, Nancy launched an online piano training model in Vietnam, helping over 4,000 adults learn the piano in just 6-8 weeks. Her YouTube channel, showcasing her teaching methods, gained over 13 million views. “My drive comes from my students’ results and struggles, and it motivated me to help them. When my new way of teaching worked, helping thousands learn the piano in just 6-8 weeks, I felt the urge to take it up a notch. I wanted to share this success with the world, and that’s when I decided to use technology instead of doing it all by myself,” asserts Nancy. Any piano teacher would stop at that and live a comfortable life teaching students, but not Nancy. For her, it wasn’t just about helping people solve problems but also creating a world where music becomes a universal language, breaking down barriers between classes, cultures, and regions.
Overcoming Tech Challenges and Funding Hurdles
Nancy’s climb to success had its fair share of bumps, testing her mettle at every turn. First up, she had to build a tech team from scratch, even though she wasn’t a tech whiz herself. But armed with her teaching method smarts and musical know-how, she overcame this challenge and assembled a team with front-end, back-end, product design, and a project manager by March 2023. Their collective hustle bore fruit, and within four months, they rolled out their first product, Lusic Lite, a game-changing tool that simplifies complex sheet music to lead sheets with an impressive 60% accuracy.
Securing funds to sustain ongoing product development proved to be another formidable obstacle for Nancy. Unlike her previous piano business, where she could use her skills to create courses and sell them, tech products for Lusic demanded a substantial time and financial investment. She had already poured $17,000 of her own savings into the startup but she knew this slow burn couldn’t last forever. As Nancy puts it, “My way to overcome this challenge is to endure and do marketing, and SEO first with my limited resources to build a database, potential leads and interests, or educate the market, then when the time is right and we get funded, we can continue the product development.”
Simplifying Music Learning for All
Over the years, Boi Ngoc has helped thousands of adults learn the piano faster and easier with her signature “Piano Solo Method.” Continuing her mission, the Piano Lady now aims to use the same approach to developing tech products and software to simplify and shorten the learning journey for customers. First, they create a product and tool that simplifies sheet music so that piano teachers and students can start using it. Next, they develop a tool for playing sample songs, showcasing various ways to combine hands using the Piano Solo Method. This allows people to spend less time deciphering notes and more time enjoying their favorite tunes. Once these tools are in place, they build the third product, a platform where musical teachers and students can collaborate, and interact on their teaching, and learning journey and make it even easier, and faster to master the skill.
Much like her approach to teaching music, Nancy leads with a sharp, visionary leadership style, setting examples for those under her guidance. Her leadership philosophy mirrors the step-by-step process she employs when teaching piano, directing individuals toward their goals while actively demonstrating what success looks and feels like. “Being a teacher means you hold responsibility and set examples for the students, serving and helping them, encouraging but also giving constructive feedback both negative and positive to improve. I often set low expectations for beginners to encourage and set high expectations for advanced people to grow. So, my way of leading is being firm with high standards but also being empathetic and accepting of mistakes and failures along the way,” affirms Nancy.
Fostering a Culture of Ambition and Results
As the driving force behind Lusic.co, Nancy fosters a can-do attitude within her team. When challenges arise, the team engages in open discussions, bringing different ideas to the table, and working together to find creative solutions. Creativity isn’t just encouraged; it’s woven into the fabric of Lusic.co. Every team member, regardless of their role, is encouraged to contribute ideas, fostering a culture where individual voices are not only heard but appreciated. Working with limited resources, the team embraces creative problem-solving to navigate hurdles and minimize complications.
Navigating Long-Term Success in Education and Music
According to Nancy, education as a field demands a comprehensive approach with a long-term plan, strategy, and process. “You can’t change the education system that existed for hundreds of years in 1-2 years. Therefore, entrepreneurs in this industry need a lot of patience and endurance to help change or create something new,” opines Nancy.
Beyond her professional achievements, Nancy also strives to attain a more balanced life acknowledging the toll that constant work-focused thinking can take on health and personal relationships. Simultaneously, she envisions raising $300,000 to further develop Lusic’s products and aims to launch them by 2025, reaching a milestone of 10,000 customers. While her vision for Lusic is vast, Nancy focuses on these tangible milestones, understanding the importance of taking small yet significant steps toward a grand goal.