These days, a career that spans continents is the goal for many ambitious young professionals. It’s one that’s been achieved by Bobbi Brown’s Felix Nguyen, whose career stretched from a casual position at Myer Doncaster to education & artistry manager of Asia/Pacific. Nguyen recently spoke to BD about how to successfully take your career overseas:
Can you tell me a bit about your career history?
I’d been working as a hairstylist for a little over 10 years and had started playing with make-up for fun. It didn’t take me long to realise that I really enjoyed the creativity that came with make-up, so I changed careers, with my first role working as a casual for Bobbi Brown at Myer Doncaster.
When I made the decision to move back to Brisbane, there weren’t any jobs available with Bobbi so I started working as a freelance artist. When I got a call from the Education Manager asking if I’d be interested in rejoining the Bobbi team as a feature artist, I jumped at the chance and spent the next 12 months travelling Australia hosting in-store events. Next, I headed for London where I worked at the #1 Bobbi Brown Studio in Selfridges. This was an incredible experience – the buzz, fast pace and sheer volume of business was mind-blowing!
After London, I moved back to Australia as a Bobbi Brown Field Trainer and while I was in this role, the position for Education & Artistry Manager, Asia/Pacific was advertised internally. I applied, got the job and have been in the role exactly three years this week.
What was the appeal of working for Bobbi Brown internationally?
Working for the brand internationally was a great opportunity to see the world, explore new cultures and develop myself both personally and professionally. It still amazes me that what started as a part-time role in Doncaster has led to this amazing experience.
What has been your career highlight?
My first time working backstage at NYFW was on the Salute the Runway show in 2014. Bobbi was lead artist and I was literally working right next to her – it was both surreal and inspiring.
Have there been any tough moments?
Probably packing my bags and moving to Hong Kong. Having to start fresh in a new role, in a new country with a completely different culture was daunting. Since I travel so much in my role, it took a little longer to settle in and establish a good network of friends.
The jet lag can also be a killer. Some days I wake up and have to take a minute to remember where I am... And trying to maintain my healthy ‘Bobbi lifestyle’ when travelling can be hard.
How does the HK market compare to the Australian market?
Women in Hong Kong, and much of Asia, are very skincare-focused, while in Australia we find women think first about coverage and colour. Also, in Hong Kong, everyone's time-poor so when they visit our studio, it’s for about five minute – they want quick answers to their questions. In Australia, the customers want to learn the technique, so are happy to spend a little longer with the artist.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
It’s so hard to say – if you’d asked me five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have said living in Hong Kong as Education & Artistry manager, but now I love the role and I’ve settled into a great lifestyle – plus I’m still close enough to visit family and friends home in Australia. I imagine I’ll still be in HK, but you never know, the right role with our global team in New York may come calling one day. Regardless of where I am, it’s hard to imagine leaving Bobbi Brown!
