We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sovanpheaktra “pek” Ly a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sovanpheaktra “Pek”, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic is strongly shaped by my parents, who were just young kids when they came to this country as refugees from Cambodia, seeking a better and safer life. They worked tirelessly in an unfamiliar country to complete their education and, against all odds, built a successful business that has thrived for over 20 years. From humble beginnings, they created a life that seemed almost impossible. My parents raised four kids while overcoming numerous challenges, including supporting me in becoming the first person in my family to graduate from a university. Their dedication and success inspire me and influence the way I approach my career and personal goals!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
After earning my BBA in Marketing from Sam Houston State University in 2022, I initially face challenges entering the marketing field due to my limited experience. During my job search, I worked with small businesses, including my parents’, to assist with their marketing and social media. This allowed me to stay current on my skills and industry trends while also transitioning from my college town to Houston.
Several months later, I was given the opportunity to join a Houston-based credit union as a Financial Representative, marking the start of my career in the financial industry. Almost a year after that, I transitioned into a marketing role at another Houston-based credit union.
I am currently a Marketing Specialist, where I particularly enjoy organizing community events for the neighborhoods we serve. Connecting with members and seeing the positive impact on their financial well-being is incredibly rewarding. Through marketing initiatives like social media, flyers, emails, and branch banners, we strive to be a trusted community partner to help our members accomplish their financial dreams!
I am currently focused on expanding my skillset and deepening my knowledge of marketing. With how fast things change in this industry, I’m always learning and challenging myself to grow!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would definitely say that my drive, my student mentality, and support from those around me have had the biggest impact on my journey. These things kept me going especially when things felt tough.
If I could give any advice, it would be to never give up. I know it sounds cliché, but it really is true. There were so many moments when I just wanted to quit and go back home. Even during school, it felt like success was out of reach. The pandemic was a particularly tough time for me, and I really struggled with my mental health and self-doubt. But despite everything, I never lost sight of my goals. My drive kept me focused, and I pushed myself to improve every day. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes, but always remember the younger version of yourself looking up to you and feeling proud of how far you’ve come. Never doubt yourself—if you do, use that as motivation to better yourself and speak positively about who you are and what you’re capable of.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Over the last 12 months, I believe I’ve grown a lot in creating and implementing campaigns, from writing social media captions and blogs to crafting emails to align with campaign goals. I’ve gotten better at understanding our target audience and using data to adjust strategies for better results. It’s exciting to see how everything works together to support these goals.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sovanpheaktra/
Image Credits
Many of these photos are from work and community events.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
