From Vietnam to Europe: RMIT students take the mic for a global podcast

How two RMIT Vietnam students brought alumni stories to life across continents - hosting a high-production podcast while gaining unforgettable insights along the way.

When Do Nguyen Hong Ngoc and Tran Khanh Linh signed up to become student hosts for the new season of How My Journey Started podcast, they knew it would be an exciting opportunity, but they didn’t expect it would take them across cities like London, Paris, and Barcelona.

“Navigating in Paris and Barcelona, figuring out all alone in a four-day trip with all first-time experiences... I have learned so much from this project!”, Ngoc looked back.

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The How My Journey Started podcast invites RMIT Vietnam alumni to share their international career pathways with aspiring student hosts like Hong Ngoc and Khanh Linh.

Celebrating RMIT Vietnam’s 25th anniversary, the 2025 season of How My Journey Started is a podcast series that captures the global careers of alumni working in diverse industries around the world. While each episode features a different guest speaker, the voices guiding the conversations were three current RMIT students, Hong Ngoc, Khanh Linh, and Phuong Linh, who anchored the final episode in Ho Chi Minh City.

For Ngoc and Khanh Linh, the project became an unforgettable part of their exchange semesters in Europe – one that combined personal growth, cultural immersion, and professional storytelling.

An unexpected adventure from a leap of faith

Khanh Linh discovered the opportunity during a peak academic period while she was on her exchange in London. Despite the deadlines, she signed up. “I was genuinely inspired by the podcast's topic, which is about RMIT alumni who have made global career footsteps. I really admire their bravery to venture out and that can-do mindset they bring to their professional development. At that time, I was working on several international projects, and I thought this would be a perfect chance to learn from seniors while representing fellow RMIT students,” Linh recalled.

Khanh Linh, a ProfCom student, decided to take her application up a notch and submitted a light-hearted video with a recommendation letter from her former manager (Photo provided by Khanh Linh).

Being a Professional Communication student passionate about storytelling, Linh submitted a video sharing how her creativity has evolved from hosting TEDx events in high school to working at tech startups. A recommendation letter from her manager at Arrowster, an education tech company, added a special touch.

For Ngoc, an MBA student pursuing an exchange in Sweden, the invitation to host felt like a perfect match for her passions. “I’ve always been curious about global fashion and entrepreneurship,” she shared. “When this opportunity came, it felt like a way to connect those interests with real-life stories of RMIT alumni doing impactful work around the world.”

From exchange life to studio light

Linh’s podcast journey took her to a cozy studio in Finchley, London, where she interviewed Paul Huynh, Global People Chief Operating Officer at KPMG International. “London was freezing that day, and we were fumbling with both script changes and numb fingers!” she laughed. “But once we got going, everything just clicked.”

Their conversation covered leadership, global careers, and inclusive workplace culture. “Paul showed me that even small actions can create impact when you approach them with intention,” Linh said. She was particularly impressed with Paul’s legacy of establishing support programs for the LGBTQI+ community at KPMG. “He demonstrated how leadership can extend beyond the boardroom to create meaningful change in people's lives. That's the kind of leader I aspire to be someday,” Linh reflected.

For Ngoc, the adventure spanned two cities, Paris and Barcelona, each offering challenges and moments of growth. “Paris wowed me in different ways of architecture and rich cultures, yet overwhelmed me with such diverse nationalities. While Spain is a lively city, and somehow, I feel more at home there!”

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In Barcelona, Ngoc and her guest speaker, Lisa Rice Duek, a project manager from Barcelona Institute for Global Health, discussed the importance of community building and resilience in a global career pathway.

In Barcelona, Ngoc had the chance to sit down with a senior alum working in global health. Despite the different industries, Ngoc found the conversation about navigating changes with resilience relatable. “One of the interesting things about talking with more senior guests is that you see parts of yourself in them,” she reflects. “While a global career may include a lot of unknowns, I could see the importance in building a strong community who shared similar values, being authentic to your core values and staying resilient especially in days when everything is not always certain.”

Lessons and connections that go beyond the studio

While taking part in a professional production for the first time was thrilling, Ngoc and Linh agreed that it was the conversations and connections that left the biggest mark.

“I learned to walk the human talk - not treating the conversation as just following a script but as a genuine exchange,” Linh shared. “I realised you shouldn't be intimidated by talking with senior professionals. They're just people with their own stories and perspectives. Some of my favourite moments actually happened off-camera – during lunch or while navigating the tube system together. That's when the real connections formed.”

Ngoc echoes that shift. “I put a lot of stress towards the perfect scripts and performance,” she admitted. “But it turns out that a natural flow is the essential element for a successful podcast.”

Preparing for the journeys ahead

Both students left the experience with more than just podcasting skills. They built relationships - ones that continue to open doors. “Paul and Amy Lee-Hopkins, Associate Director, Communications at RMIT Vietnam, offered to connect me with people in the creative field,” Linh shares. “That kind of generosity is something I’ll never forget.”

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To Linh, this hosting experience was not only a professional development opportunity but also a chance to connect with the RMIT community and find “home away from home.”

For Ngoc, the podcast reminded her of the strength of the RMIT community. “Thanks to this experience, I feel more strength in speaking up my voice and well with senior conversation. My guest speakers became my valuable connections... I cherish this experience so much!

As the podcast prepares to launch, Ngoc and Linh both agreed that sometimes, the best learning happens outside the classroom, and often, outside your comfort zone.

“Every conversation, every challenge, and every unexpected moment helped shape how I see myself moving forward,” Ngoc shared.

Linh added, “Treat every opportunity as a door. You never know which one will lead to your next big step.”

The mic is on. The stories are ready. Are you ready to hear how their journeys started? Tune in for the How My Journey Started podcast – coming to you in April!

Check out How My Journey Started and other series

Story: Thao Pham

01 April 2025

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