Meet Jimmy Nguyen

Operations Executive. Entrepreneur. Advisor.

I wouldn't be where I am today without the people who took a chance on me.

As the child of an immigrant family and a gay Asian man, there were many moments throughout my life and career where I felt like I was figuring things out on my own. Fortunately, that wasn't entirely true.

Along the way, mentors and leaders invested in me. They shared their experiences, challenged my thinking, opened doors, and helped me see opportunities that I couldn't yet see for myself.

Those relationships changed the trajectory of my life.

Today, one of the most meaningful parts of my work is having the opportunity to do the same for others.

My Journey

Over the last 15+ years, I've built a career helping organizations execute, grow, and navigate change.

I've served as a COO, led teams of more than 50 team members, managed large-scale initiatives, and helped businesses solve complex operational challenges.

At the same time, I've also experienced entrepreneurship firsthand. I founded a men's swimwear brand that grew into a nationally distributed business carried by retailers across major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Palm Springs, Seattle, and San Diego.

Building my own business taught me what founders experience every day: making difficult decisions, balancing competing priorities, managing uncertainty, and figuring out how to grow without losing momentum.

What I Believe

Building a business is about much more than revenue.

It's about leadership.

It's about learning how to make decisions when there isn't a clear answer.

It's about building confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate uncertainty.

Most businesses don't struggle because they lack ideas.

They struggle because execution becomes harder as they grow.

Teams become misaligned. Priorities compete for attention. Accountability breaks down. Growth creates complexity.

I enjoy helping founders solve those challenges by bringing structure, clarity, and accountability to the business.

Supporting Entrepreneurs

Helping entrepreneurs has been a consistent theme throughout my career.

I've served on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, where I created an entrepreneurship program designed to help young LGBTQ+ founders start and grow their businesses.

I've also served on the programming board of StartOut, supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, and partnered with the City of Los Angeles and the LA LGBT Center to mentor emerging professionals through career development programs.

Not because I had to.

Because I genuinely enjoy helping people build something meaningful.

Why “Next Best Step”

Every business reaches moments where “what got them here won't get them there.”

The next hire.

The next system.

The next leadership decision.

The next stage of growth.

My role is to help founders navigate those moments with greater clarity, stronger execution, and practical operational leadership. In essence, helping them with the “Next Best Step.”