“I have never regretted getting on that plane”

When Nhi Nguyen left Hanoi for Sweden in 2019, she was driven by curiosity.

“I’ve always been intrigued by different countries, cultures and people,” she says.

She hoped to study tourism abroad but struggled to find the right programme until she discovered a bachelor’s degree at Dalarna University.

The decision came naturally. Her family runs a hospitality business in Vietnam, and she wanted to explore the field from an international perspective. Still, the transition was dramatic.

“I had a big cultural shock coming from Hanoi to Dalarna,” she recalls. “But I have never regretted getting on the plane that day.”

She discovered marketing at work

After completing her bachelor’s degree, she moved to Stockholm, combining language studies in Swedish with various jobs, including a role at a biomedicine company. There, she first encountered marketing work, and something clicked.

“I became so interested in how they approached marketing. I wanted to understand more.”

This curiosity led her to apply for the Master’s Programme in Marketing and Communication at Stockholm University. An application she almost forgot she had submitted.

“Luckily, I remembered at the last second,” she laughs.

Finding direction at Stockholm University

Once at Stockholm University, Nhi quickly became involved in student life. She joined Föreningen Ekonomerna and later became head of events, coordinating activities including the annual career fair Ekonomernas Dagar.

“It was such a fun and rewarding experience. I didn’t expect to make close friends, but I left with two of my best.”

During her thesis semester, she sought something more hands on and secured an internship with Gant’s PR and communication team. It proved transformative.

“I felt like an employee from day one. I wasn’t just printing papers – I was working on live projects, sending samples for magazine shoots and supporting influencers and celebrities.”

Gant’s structured internship programme, with mentors and dedicated events, strengthened her confidence and confirmed her future direction.

From intern to global marketing coordinator

Shortly after completing her internship, Nhi stepped into a full time role as marketing coordinator at Gant’s global headquarters in Stockholm.

Today, she supports the global marketing, PR and influencer managers, making sure everything runs smoothly across the team. Her days shift between hands on event work and analytical tasks.

“Some days I’m running around making sure every detail is in place. On others, I’m analysing data, evaluating campaigns and coordinating deadlines. That’s the life of a coordinator.”

The international environment is one of her favourite aspects of the job.

“We have colleagues from all over the world. We try to take care of each other, whether someone is struggling with the weather or time differences.”

Fashion, she admits, began as a personal interest.

“I’ve always enjoyed clothes and rearranging my wardrobe. Now it’s part of my everyday work.”

The surprising value of theory

Like many students, Nhi once questioned the relevance of academic theories. That changed once she entered the workplace.

“Things I never thought I would use suddenly appeared everywhere: consumer behaviour, brand positioning, corporate communication. It really clicked that I had learnt something valuable.”

The skill she values most, however, is research.

“I do it every day, analysing fashion trends, studying other brands, understanding external events that affect production. I used to wonder who in real offices does research. Now I know: I do.”

Be open, be yourself and talk to people

Advice for future international students

Nhi is open about the challenges of building a career in Sweden without fluent Swedish, but she is equally clear about the opportunities.

“Sweden is an advanced country with so many possibilities. It’s about finding the right environment and actively building your network.”

Her top recommendations include learning the language, not being afraid to reach out on LinkedIn, and engaging in student associations.

“Be open, be yourself and talk to people. And do an internship! That’s such a big part of getting a job.”

Above all, she encourages students to be brave and take the chance when it comes.
“Just do it if you get the opportunity. I live by that every single day.”