“The hidden artist” in FPT Korea’s IT village
From studying Fashion Design in Seoul to becoming a Project Management Assistant at FPT Korea, Nguyễn Đan Phương – Mia (FKR.SI) has taken quite an interesting journey. For members of FKR, tackling challenges at work feels like stepping onto a battlefield. In that, Mia sees herself as a “warrior”, fighting IT “battles,” exploring new territories, and nurturing her passions for art and languages.
Currently, Mia is accompanying FPT Korea as a Project Management Assistant, a “gatekeeper” for project quality, responsible for keeping the team in sync, ensuring plans stay on track, and driving the output straight into the client’s heart. To Mia, work is not just about deadlines, but also about connection, learning, and enjoyment. Let’s listen to Mia’s story!
Cucumber: Coming from a fashion background, what brought you to FPT and FPT Korea?
Mia: Moving from fashion to IT is like a tailor holding a needle and typing on a keyboard. When government policies in Korea weren’t very favorable to the fashion industry, IT began to thrive. I believe living with passion doesn’t mean being stubborn , blending technology and art in everyday life is another way to adapt. Joining FSOFT with an open mindset, I transitioned from Sales to Delivery, even though my background seemed “non-IT.”
Cucumber: Besides your professional skills, you also own an impressive collection of certifications and are fluent in English, Korean, and Chinese. What motivates you to keep learning and developing yourself?
Mia: All beginnings are tough , my left hand grabbed a colleague, and my right hand held on to my boss. Thanks to my team’s support, I earned several basic project management certificates (PSM I, PSM II…). Before IT, languages were my first “battlefield.”
My first year studying in China was both funny and frustrating , I didn’t know a single local phrase, and there were no Vietnamese materials available. Chinese became my only learning tool, which helped me achieve HSK 6 (the highest level in the Chinese Proficiency Test – Editor’s note), and later, TOPIK 6 in Korean.
As for English, I improved through novels and chatting with locals during my travels. The more I learn languages, the more I understand local cultures and people , that’s my biggest motivation to keep growing.
Cucumber: Can you tell us more about your YouTube channel? And as someone who loves traveling, how do you balance long trips with your work?
Mia: I created my YouTube channel mainly to store huge amounts of travel footage and share the stories I experienced along the way. During any random dinner, you can try searching Minheestory , maybe your food will taste better! Haha.
Once I decide to travel, I spend half a day planning everything carefully. To make sure long trips go smoothly, I usually take advantage of Korea’s long holidays and add a few leave days , just like FKR colleagues returning to Vietnam for the holidays. Before leaving, I always try to wrap up all my work properly. I’m lucky to have understanding leaders and supportive teammates, as long as it’s reasonable, it’s fine. Work hard, rest well, go far, and come back full.
Cucumber: Looking back at your journey with FPT Korea and FSOFT, what major changes do you see in yourself? And what are your plans for the future?
Mia: I’ve learned how to face failure, push my limits, and try tasks I’ve never done before. Working in a different field isn’t easy , it requires learning from many sources, and my biggest resource is my colleagues. Whenever I meet someone skilled, I stick close to learn from them ^^. Another valuable source is FPT’s generous access to Coursera and LinkedIn courses, why not take advantage of that for my future at FKR, right?
Cucumber: Thank you, Mia, for joining this interview and sharing such inspiring stories. We wish you great health, love, and success in life!
