Huong Luu Ngan: Exploring New Opportunities to Learn and Share

From London to Vietnam, Huong’s spirit of exploration has guided her not only in her travels but also in her career journey. Huong’s contribution to the team as a Global Talent Acquisition Specialist has earned her recognition as one of ASW Global’s Culture Champs in 2021. She shares what she learns: a true mark of what a team player should be in the ASW family.

1. Hi Huong, could you tell us a bit about yourself? Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

I would choose the word “explorer” to describe myself. I was born and grew up in a coastal city in the North of Vietnam, Hai Phong. Leaving for the university was my first time away from home. I spent almost five years in Hanoi, the capital city, to complete a bachelor’s degree in Financial Analysis and Investments. After that, I moved to London and stayed there for three years to pursue my MBA and work in Finance. After London, I moved back home and I have been living in Ho Chi Minh City for the past three years.

As an explorer, I crave exciting experiences. I love to visit new cities or see family and friends. I want to learn about new places and cultures and listen to people’s stories during my time off from work. Besides travelling and socialising, I also spend time reading, cooking and organising other personal plans.

2. Can you tell us more about your role here at ASW Global? How many years have you been with ASW?

I am a rookie Talent Acquisition Specialist at ASW. I will be celebrating my first work anniversary at ASW this July. I am responsible for recruiting all non-IT roles across functions including Finance, Accounting, HR, Administration, and Sales & Marketing. In my line of work, 80% of my time is spent on the recruitment pipeline and 20% of my tasks is focussed on EVP initiatives and training. Besides my main market of Vietnam, I am also exploring the global market step-by-step.

3. Can you tell us what your career was like before joining ASW?

I started my career as a Stock Controller Assistant at Fexco, a Financial Institution in London. After 1 1/2 years, an opportunity to work as a Recruitment Consultant at Robert Walters came along at the right time, so I grabbed it. I recruited Sales & Marketing professionals from mid to C-level at Robert Walters for two years before joining ASW.

From Finance to recruitment, what an unexpected path for me but it makes perfect sense now. I can utilise both base knowledge in Finance & Accounting and recruitment skills to seek the best talents in Finance, Accounting, and Sales & Marketing for ASW.

4. What do you like most about working for ASW?

Can I pick 2 favourites? First things first, working at ASW, I feel valued and involved. No matter how long or how short I have been with the company, my opinions are heard and my contributions are recognised. My manager has allowed me to take full ownership of my job and included me in several exciting projects. I can proactively anticipate problems and develop ideas or resolutions while knowing that my manager is always there to support, give me constructive feedback, and communicate my career goals.

Equally important, I love working with my team. They are kind, fun, helpful, and extraordinarily driven people. We thrive as a team by not only sharing experiences openly but also creating fun moments together.

5. You were one of ASW’s Culture Champ 2021 Awardees. Congratulations! How did you feel when you first heard the news?

Thank you! I had been with ASW for only five months at that time, so I was amazed to hear that the honourable award was mine. I am extremely thankful to those who voted for me. I feel proud that my support was recognised.

6. You were noted for the core value of Teamwork: “We are committed to providing support for one another, working cooperatively and respecting each other’s viewpoints to make our environment fun and enjoyable.” How would you describe the team that you are working with? How do you inspire teamwork?

As mentioned above, my team is one of my favourite things at ASW. They are incredible, inside and outside of work.

Honestly, I don’t have any secrets about teamwork. If I notice that someone in my team has too much on their plate, I just ask whether I can assist them with anything. When it comes to working on projects, I believe that everyone has something unique to offer. I share my views willingly and listen to my colleagues’ ideas attentively. From there, we consolidate the best ideas together.

7. How do you overcome challenges at work?

I tend to act quickly when challenges come up. However, my manager has taught me that “sleeping on a problem” sometimes helps me make the right call. I have learned to take a step back to reflect on the root causes of an issue and think of the best possible solution, as well as a backup plan. Asking for help from my manager or colleagues who have more experience or have dealt with a similar situation is always a good idea, too.

8. What project or task have you done at ASW that you are most proud of?

In a global meeting a few months ago, I had a chance to share my learning journey about candidate engagement to increase the number of successful offers. At the end of the session, three colleagues told me that I had shared some techniques that they hadn’t known before, and they would apply those in the coming offers. I am happy and proud that my experience has become helpful to someone.

9. What important lessons have you learned from working at ASW?

This past year, onboarding and working remotely at ASW taught me so much. Self-motivation, continuous learning, staying connected, setting work-life boundaries, etc. You name it!

10. Thanks for your time! Is there any special message or advice you’d like to share with your fellow ASW colleagues?

I just want to say thanks to my extraordinary managers and colleagues. I hope to meet you all one day soon! And of course, to wrap up: “Appreciate what you have then you’ll have more to appreciate.”