"Professional communications is a rapidly growing industry in Vietnam," says Linda Nguyen, a 2011 graduate of a Master of Marketing Communication. Currently working as a Lecturer of Professional Communication at RMIT International University in Hanoi, her career is driven by her passion to teach the younger Vietnamese generation about public relations (PR) and how to use PR. "That would really change Vietnam in many aspects," she says.

Linda Nguyen has experience as both an academic and a practitioner, in the fields of professional communication, student welfare, sales, event management and pedagogy. After studying a Bachelor degree (Honours) in English Language Teaching, Linda completed her Master in Marketing Communication at University of Canberra, where she achieved a Dean's Excellence Award and was an International Student Ambassador and received the Canberra Award.

At UC, Linda taught Professional Communication units for Faculty of Arts and Design, supported student recruitment for Marketing & International and assisted students with disabilities for UC AccessAbility. Her versatility has been proven in different roles in other industries (consumer goods, fashion and hospitality) such as being the liaison officer for 13th ASEAN University Games and production assistant for Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival (Sydney).

During her years at UC, Linda was known for her bold and confident approach to tasks and her hard work. "Success doesn't come easy," she says. "Lots of young people may judge you by your age, or lack of experience (everyone has to start their career as a fresh graduate), but the effort and determination you put in is part of becoming successful. Hard work will pay off sooner or later."

Linda is thankful to her lecturers at UC. "My lecturers have influenced me a great deal, not just with their knowledge but also their work ethics, their passion for their job and the tremendous support they gave me during my studies at UC. That helped build my working style and attitude which definitely forms my career in communication and teaching."