Meet Hien Le

Pictured: MBA Student, Hien Le

Not all careers follow a straight line - and Hien’s journey is proof of the value in forging your own path. Spanning law, sport and events, and now nursing, their career has been guided by purpose, curiosity and a long-standing commitment to community impact.

In this conversation, Hien shares insights on navigating change, the power of volunteering, and why lifelong learning and self‑belief are essential to building a meaningful career.

Your career has spanned law and environmental science, sport and events, and most recently nursing during COVID — how did that journey unfold, and what’s guided your transitions along the way?

How it all started was I did not know what I wanted to do and initially had guidance from my dad (an academic himself, with a Doctorate in Science and Technology at Griffith University) to discover my career. I ended up applying for Law at the big 3 universities, plus Engineering and Accounting as a fallback. I am very glad that I was accepted into the Dual Degree of Law and Environmental Science at Griffith University, continuing the family connection.

Whilst I did complete my dual degree and practiced Law for many years, it never felt like it was the career for me.  I kept myself busy in community and voluntary work – namely with Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia and Cancer Council Queensland (plus some time previously with the Stroke Foundation). I am someone who loves to help and give back to others, and the community and voluntary work reminded and guided me to what I should be doing in my life and subsequently the career that I am in now – as a Registered Nurse. There have been many bumps along the journey but I always ensured that I listened and looked after me first as I knew that  if I did not look after me first, I would not be able to help and give back to others.

You’re deeply committed to volunteering, including being the longest‑serving volunteer with the Starlight Children’s Foundation — what motivates that sustained involvement?

I am grateful and fortunate to still be involved in community and voluntary work – now 10 years with Cancer Council Queensland and 18 years with the Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia. It was a very nice surprise to be recently acknowledged including from the CEO of not only my many years of involvement and dedication to Starlight but also being the longest serving volunteer in Queensland.

Whilst it is very nice to be acknowledged and celebrated for this milestone, I would not be still involved with any voluntary and community work if I did not have the genuine passion and love for it. Everything that I do in my life now, I have a genuine and love for it all which makes it much easier to continue being involved and working for. As they say, you never will work a day in your life if you love what you do!

The performing arts and not‑for‑profit sector continue to be a big part of your life — what draws you to this space, and how do you hope to contribute in the years ahead?

Around the commencement of COVID-19, I felt the drive and motivation to expand my community work. Following self-reflection, I discovered that I also had a love of music and performing arts which I was fortunate to share with some amazing musicians and performers – with many of these artists now close friends of mine. Through further personal research and conversations with people in the performing arts and not-for-profit sector, I commenced my expansion into voluntary and community work as a Donor and Patron for Opera Queensland. I am still involved with Opera Queensland, namely as a Patron Member of our Artistic Director’s Circle and previously as a Committee Member.

I have not stopped here with my support and contribution to the performing arts – I am now also involved with Queensland Ballet, Circa Contemporary Circus and Camerata (Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra). All the music and productions that I have listened to and watched throughout my life, I am now not only hearing and watching it again but am able to also embrace the history and stories behind every single piece all due to my involvement with the performing arts and not-for-profit sectors here in Queensland. I plan to continue my support for these organisations for many years to come, including in areas of administration, executive and management so future people and families can love and embrace the performing arts and not-for-profit sectors as I have!

How has your diverse professional and study background shaped the way you approach leadership and decision‑making in healthcare?

I have always been interested in leadership and decision-making and take any opportunities to further my education and confidence in the same. My leadership and decision-making journey started all the way back in high school as Team Captain and the opportunities have continued throughout my life, through each career that I have had. With my main other passion in sports and events, I had the amazing opportunity to be in Venue and Events Management at Suncorp Stadium which increased my education, experiences and confidence in leadership and decision-making exponentially and quickly.

Now in my current career in healthcare, I not only continue to be open for further opportunities in leadership and decision-making but continue to draw upon my diverse professional and study background to carry out my healthcare work as informed as possible. My diverse professional and study background has truly given me many viewpoints, from many angles to approach and view leadership and decision-making.  I know that my multiple approach viewpoints and angles to leadership and decision-making will give me the advantage in multiple sectors and industries – not just in the sectors and industries that I have studied and worked in during my journey so far.

I believe that this diversity will offer others a truly unique and holistic approach which I intend to share with others in my future leadership and decision-making roles in healthcare, and beyond

Why was an MBA the right next step for you at this stage of your career?

Whilst I already have a very diverse professional and study background, I have always looked out for any opportunities to also fill any education and experience gaps to continue growing professionally and personally. Every time that I felt that I needed to grow including enforced times like COVID-19, I have returned to study to further my education and experiences in my next chosen career and life path.

To return to re-train as a Registered Nurse has been such a joy to me personally and professionally – contributing to literally doing everything in life now that I truly want to do and am passionate about. I continue to have a drive to further my leadership and decision-making now in healthcare and felt that additional relevant study was required.

To continue my study journey was always and only going to be with Griffith University, and the MBA was the best option for me with its diversity, sustainability focus, and holistic approach to leadership and decision-making. I know that the MBA will give me the necessary tools and education to be the best sustainable and holistic leader and decision-maker that I can be, in whatever areas that I decide to work in and be involved with long into the future.

As a self‑confessed lifelong learner, what advice would you give to others who love learning but feel pressure to follow a single, linear career path?

My advice would be at any time is to persist, persevere, and be patient. As you can see from my own journey, it wasn’t the most orthodox and single, linear career path. I ensured that whenever I had my own time that I not only had some me-time but I also continued to listen to me and did what I wanted to do, what I needed to do at the time and moving forward. If listening to me meant to get out of my comfort zone, then I ensured that I did indeed get out of my comfort zone as you’ll never know until you try.

It is great if you know exactly where you want to go and want you want to do with your life but if you don’t, don’t get discouraged. Complement the time you spend and reflect with yourself with many conversations with others, networking and meeting new people (you will never know who you will meet until you meet them!), and the personal research into further education and experiences in your own journey of leadership and decision-making.

There is truly always something new to learn so be open and welcoming and embrace the opportunities and journey that you are on!

To learn more about Hien Le or to connect please visit LinkedIn.