Creative Force now has over 100 employees and we thought it was the perfect time to introduce you to some of them from around the world!
Our first Creative Force Employee Spotlight is Nga Nguyen! You can find this incredible market analyst working out of our Hanoi office in Vietnam.
CF: First off, Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! (Happy New Year in Vietnamese)
Nga: "Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!"
For those reading this from outside Hanoi, this interview was done right before Tết, the Vietnamese new year. Nga, can you tell us a little bit about the celebration?
"The Vietnamese calendar was developed based on the moon phases. Tet, or the Lunar New Year, is the biggest celebration in Vietnam as it marks the beginning of spring. Typically, it takes place between late January and mid-February, and this year, it falls on January 22, 2023. Each year is represented sequentially by one of the twelve animals of the Vietnamese zodiac. This is the year of the Cat.
The occasion is meant for family reunions to enjoy traditional foods and exchange good wishes. During Tet, several practices are carried out, including house visits, ancestral worship, sending New Year's wishes, and giving lucky money in red envelopes to children and the elderly to wish them good health.
That sounds incredible! We wish you the best new year! Will you be bringing in your new hobby into 2023? K-Pop dancing? Tell us everything!
Yes! I've picked up an interest in dancing to K-pop songs recently. BTS, BlackPink, New Jeans, ITZY...., yes, you can tell that I'm becoming a K-pop fan. Dancing also really helps improve my mental and physical health.
You danced your way into Creative Force about 5 months ago, how did that happen? How did you find us?
Creative Force's culture is undoubtedly a draw. You might think it's a lie because, how I could have known it before I joined? But I knew an employee of CF and she truly appreciated the way CF values its employees. I put my trust in her and it turned out CF's culture is not only about people-centricity, it's also about creativity, multinational, and work-life balance. Isn't it great that my trust in the organization has remained the same both before and after joining CF?
No doubt about it! We're glad to hear we're meeting your standards! Outside of that, is there anything else you really like about working here?
I can speak up. I love being treated well by the company, regardless of my position, and being able to speak up to any employees, regardless of their seniority. I can learn every day. My favorite part of my job is that I get to work in an area that I really love with a bunch of smart people. Moreover, it's not just about work, I enjoy learning about culture, diversity, and even religion. Being a member of a multicultural team is fantastic. I can work from anywhere. The flexibility that comes with my work at CF is also one of my favorite things. I am appreciated. I feel valued and it's one of the best feelings.
That's great to hear. We definitely value you! Tell us about being able to work from anywhere. Do you find it challenging at all with teammates all over the world?
I feel grateful to work with a lot of smart, humorous, and creative people coming from different parts of the world. But, to be honest, yes, sometimes I find it challenging to work in an international team due to cultural diversity, different time zones, and working styles, which might lead to communication gaps or lack of contact. However, a strong work ethic, willingness to listen, and support for one another in achieving the shared goals from all the team members have all contributed to blurring those boundaries. I gain from understanding other people's cultures and traditions, and it fosters my creativity and introduces me to a world of knowledge and experiences.
Simply put, I enjoy going to work (almost) every day.
What's your outlook for 2023?
It might be a tough year for the world economy, but I believe with the energy and performance of the entire company, we will hit remarkable achievements.
Agreed. Marketing is going to be a big part of that. Speaking of, what's the marketing team like?
I'd describe the marketing team as supportive, collaborative, and creative. Although I live in a different time zone, have a different culture, and speak English as a second language, all the team members are always there to help me get the best out of my job. As a newcomer to the industry, I have improved quite a lot by learning from them.
We're sure it goes both ways. What about personally, do you have any side hustles or anything you want to tell the world about?
I used to have a side hustle, although I stopped last October to focus on my future plans. I still want to mention it here: Thơm - a juice and smoothie store that I operated for almost three years before handing it over to my best buddy. If you look for healthy juices and smoothies in Hanoi, I will undoubtedly recommend it. No sugar added, fresh fruits every day, and "you drink what you see." Check it out here.
Remind us to grab one the next time we head over to Hanoi! Thank you so much for the chat and we're excited to see what you do in 2023!
Thank you! I'm excited too!
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Keep an eye out for February's Employee Spotlight when we talk to another incredible Creative Force employee!
