Board Member Interview: Salme Tran
Board Member Interview: Salme Tran
Can you tell us about where you are from, what your childhood was like, and how it influenced your career path?
I am from Estonia, but my dad is from Vietnam. I have always been drawn to hospitality and tourism. I love to travel and explore different cultures, and I am passionate about creating high-quality exceptional experiences. It all started in my childhood when my grandma taught me to care for people and ensure they have a great time. Because of that, I have always taken pride in ensuring people enjoy themselves. She also showed me that investing in other people pays off. This made me the person I am today – someone who derives immense satisfaction from helping people learn and grow – be it my family, clients, or co-workers. The other side, the organizational and critical thinking, comes from my dad. He moved away when I was little, and I had limited time to spend with him yearly or even every other year during the summer holidays. I missed him, but it was hard to connect to someone whom you only rarely see or talk to. The way we bonded since I was a teenager was to visit hotels, audit them, and apply critical thinking to improve the business as if we were the owners.
How has your education and cultural background impacted your career choices and success?
It comes as no surprise that I chose International Hospitality Business Management as my bachelor's degree. Studying abroad in the UK allowed me to expand my international network, improve my cultural awareness, and gain a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The first-class honours degree I achieved is further proof of my learnings, capabilities, and passion for the industry.
Through my contacts during my education, I got my first managerial position in Vietnam and eventually became an area operations manager for Vietnam’s biggest luxury fitness chain.
Journey to Denmark
Please share your professional field of expertise, role, position, professional experience & career highlight prior to coming to Denmark.
Before moving to Denmark I was managing luxury gyms in Vietnam. I was taking care of 7 fitness centers and VIP services countrywide, managing big teams across several locations. I love to help people grow and learn, and make sure everyone around me has a great experience. Luckily, my role allowed me to influence not just my colleagues but also our members and guests helping them improve their lives. I am also passionate about improving operational effectiveness and have had the chance to lead many successful projects, new openings and rebrandings.
When and how did you come to Denmark? What are some of the challenges as a professional in Denmark, and how do you stay motivated to face them?
I came to Denmark in the summer of 2023 to be closer to my family and partner. Moving is always challenging but even more so to a more individualistic country. In Vietnam, I had a wide professional network and people know what I am capable of but here I had to start from scratch. It is important to keep going and continue planting seeds for the future. Make sure to be grateful for all that you have and keep doing activities that make you happy. For example, I still make sure that I work out every day and always bake when I get stressed or overwhelmed with the process of creating the new me here in Denmark.
Career & Upskilling
Can you share about your current & future career aspirations in Denmark (the field/area of work)?
I would love to work in operations or customer service management in Copenhagen. This could be in hotels, health and fitness or other hospitality businesses like restaurants, spas, museums or bars. This includes roles like operations manager, customer service manager, hotel manager or spa manager.
Please share some strategies/platforms/blogs you use for continuous learning and personal development to keep up with the rapidly changing industry trends for your career growth?
I love to join different courses and events to learn more (both online and offline). A great online platform to learn is Coursera—there are free courses, but the monthly fee is also very affordable. You can invest time whenever you can and go at your own pace. Reading material (articles, videos, blogs, etc) related to your field is also a great way, as is following thought leaders on LinkedIn.
Do you have any advice for seeking career growth and advancement in your career?
Be open and stay curious. Listen to others and show genuine care.
Show yourself as a person, and do not be afraid to share why you have chosen a career in hospitality.
Keep learning and developing and share your knowledge with others.
What are your 3 most valuable transferable skills, and why?
Teamwork and Collaboration: Strong teamwork skills enable me to work harmoniously with diverse groups, fostering a positive and productive environment.
Leadership: Leadership skills empower me to guide, motivate, and inspire others. It's crucial not only for managerial roles but also for influencing positive change within a team.
Resilience: Resilience helps me bounce back from setbacks, handle stress, and maintain a positive mindset during challenging times.
Cultural Differences
What are some similarities and differences between Danish culture and your home culture how have you adapted to the cultural differences, and what have you learned from them?
Estonian and Danish culture is very similar, but I have spent the last 10 years in Vietnam which is much more social and warmer as a society. It is nice to have personal space again, but sometimes I miss the brutal honesty of the Vietnamese. There is no good or bad culture – we must adapt and stay true to ourselves. It is a delicate balance between adapting and losing yourself.
How do you think you can navigate cross-cultural communication in the workplace here?
Be open, patient, and ready to listen and learn. Challenge your own beliefs and explain where you come from. Learn some Danish to show your commitment to integrating into the society here. Language can explain how people think and interact with the environment around them.
Social Life and Communication
How did you build your network and social life in Denmark?
My recommendations are to be brave and get yourself out there. Joining different clubs or activity groups is a great way. For example, I am part of a winter bathing club and also do saunagus ceremonies. I joined many networking events, both for social and professional networking (CareerClub DK is great for both). If you make a connection, be sure you invest in growing it. Having close friends here in Denmark will help you, as a newcomer, feel more at home and ensure you can get the support you need.
How has a platform like CareerClub DK helped you manage this transition to Denmark?
CareerClub DK is a great organization that helps you build your network safely. Everyone is always open to making new connections and super friendly. While networking can be a numbers game, remember that each connection can help you get a step closer to your dream opportunity. It is great to know that I am not alone and have such a great group of powerful women behind me.
How did you navigate the language and communication barriers in Denmark, and what advice do you have for other non-native speakers?
Here in Copenhagen, almost everyone speaks English, and it is easy for them to communicate with each other. However, I believe languages are a gateway to understanding culture on a deeper level and am also learning Danish. It is not an easy language but be brave and challenge yourself. It also shows our commitment to becoming part of the society here and creates trust between us and the local community. Coming from other cultures, it is also important to understand the local culture and what is acceptable and what is not. Do some research or ask around to know more and improve your cross-cultural emotional intelligence.
Final Thoughts
Any professional tips you would like to give women to always claim their stronghold in situations at the workplace?
Do not be afraid to say no. Prioritize your tasks and delegate what you can so you can complete all your commitments to a high standard and not burn out.
Do not be afraid to advocate for yourself or others. Start by advocating for yourself so you will be ready to protect others in the future. Our most important task as leaders is to support and protect our team so they can focus on their main tasks and growth.
Kindness and empathy are not weaknesses. Be considerate and use your emotional intelligence to make the right decisions. A supportive environment promotes growth and success.
Any final thoughts, life mantras or strategies you would like to share through our CareerClub platform?
Be kind to yourself and choose your words carefully when talking to yourself. For example, if you fail once, are you a failure, or did you try unsuccessfully? There is a huge difference. Keep going – you are great!
Most crucial thing is to keep investing in yourself - no one can take it away and your skills keep growing.
Perfection is the lowest standard of all because it is unattainable. Every journey starts with the first step. Even small progress is still progress. We are here to move towards greatness, step by step.
Interviewee
Salme Tran,
Operations and Customer Service Leader, Career Club DK Advisory Board Member
Connect with her on LinkedIn:
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