Halley Hoang
Major
Campus
Graduation Year
Initiative/Project/Organisation
Role at the organisation
Current location
Values
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In 2022, I became a shareholder of Bliss Ice Cream while living in Australia. With prior experience in hospitality management and retail, I was tasked with setting up Bliss’s first store in Aeon Mall Bình Tân. I returned to Vietnam in November and successfully launched the store by mid-December. I recruited and trained a full team, enhanced staffing processes, and introduced a more strategic approach to HR. I also hired a strong event coordinator who made valuable long-term contributions. The store operated smoothly, and eventually, Bliss was acquired by a major Vietnamese dairy company.
One of the main challenges I faced was the team’s belief that recruiting junior staff for events and store operations was extremely difficult. The previous person in charge of hiring did not meet the role’s requirements, and the rest of the team was overwhelmed with their own responsibilities. I helped shift this mindset by showing them how to tap into new talent pools and assess candidates based on subtle cues. For example, I asked a promising candidate from Bình Thạnh to meet me in District 7—not for convenience, but to observe her willingness to go the extra mile. Her attitude was simple: “As far as my goals take me.”
My proudest moment was successfully launching Bliss’s first store at Aeon Bình Tân nearly on schedule and within just one month. The project involved everything from recruitment and training to operations and scheduling, all completed under significant time pressure. However, the moment that stands out even more was when Bliss was later acquired by a major Vietnamese dairy company. That outcome was a testament to our shared commitment—diligence, strong teamwork, ethical business practices, and compassion for both staff and stakeholders. We didn’t just build a store; we built something worth acquiring.
One of the co-founders of Bliss was an RMIT alumnus, as were several members of the management team, including the general manager. More than ten years after graduation, we reunited through this venture—each of us having journeyed through different industries and life experiences. Our shared RMIT background provided not only a professional foundation but also a deep personal bond. In times of crisis, that trust and familiarity carried us through. Even after the company was acquired, we remained close—supporting one another in both work and life. To me, that lasting connection is the true value of the RMIT network.