One thing we have learned is that we need to be open-minded and think outside the box. If we don’t, we soon become a cranky old person who sees only the negative side of change.

We must be open not only to different ideas and opinions and things happening around us but also to the small things that happen in our daily life. We need to apply this idea whenever we deal with the daily tasks of our job.

We especially need to be ready to listen to our colleagues and feedback in order to improve ourselves. Instead of complaining, get your hands dirty and do it and change must start with us, don’t get left behind.

Education:

Sophea always works very hard, and he is eager to learn. In 2006, he graduated from Build Bright University and obtained a Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Based on his strong exam results, the School Director decided to select him as a lecturer at the Tourism Faculty - Build Bright University (Siem Reap Campus), right after his graduation. Sophea’s ambition, however never stopped and he pursed studies obtain a MBA in General Management and completed this course in 2009.

Recently Sophea was given the opportunity to attend the program of Management for Senoir Managers by Thien Minh Group, in co-operation with CFVG/European Excellence in Management Education. This ini MBA is a one-year program and took place from 2013 – 2014.

Career and his Success:

He started his career in the hotel industry in 2000 as a coconut vendor, and Poolside Bar waiter at Raffles Grand Hotel d ‘Angkor. He then moved to another restaurant called FCC and to the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa as Restaurant Supervisor and promoted to be an Assistant Restaurant Manager.

Sophea was the Food and Beverage Manager at Victoria Hotel Angkor Resort & Spa from 2007 to 2012, In 2012 he worked as Room Division Manager at Victoria Hoi An in Central Vietnam for 3months and in 2013 he worked as Executive Assistant Manager at Victoria Chau Doc in Vietnam for one year where he took care of two properties: The Victoria Chau Doc Hotel (92 rooms) and the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge (44 rooms opened in October 2013).

In 2014 he moved back to Siem Reap as Executive Assistant Manager at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa.

Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa is part of the Victoria Hotels and Resorts group which consists of 8 hotels in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR under the management of Victoria Vietnam Group, a former French company recently taken over by Thien Minh Hospitality, a Vietnamese Travel & Hospitality Group with global ambitions.

Sophea has also developed a strong passion for Cambodian Chefs. He is one of the Co-founders of Cambodia Chefs’ Association. Which he had brought many Cambodian chefs to competed outside the country and achieved many medal for the back for the country. (www.cam chefassociation.com).

A side of these achievements overseas, Sophea and his team created the largest sticky rice cake for Khmer New Year and setting a National record in 2014. This year’s goal is to create another giant sticky rice cake weighing about 5000kg in order to win an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records 2015.

A- Part from work and private business, Sophea also involving and help to supported to the government and local community as well as he had selected by H.E Sok Sangva Chief of Apsara Authority in charge of Tourism Management Planning, as consultant on (TMP).

In 2013, while working and studying in Vietnam Sophea channeled his passion for hospitality with other senior hoteliers in Cambodia found the first management and consultant company in Cambodia called Asia Initiative Cooperation (www.asiainitiativecorp.com). He is the Co-founder and Vice President of Quality Control Management & Food and Beverage Development.
Aside from his work, Sophea enjoys having fun with his friends, read news worldwide leading books. He is also a sportsperson and regularly plays football, cycles or runs.