Welcome to SOLV Energy's Cultural Corner! As a way to illuminate our DEI path, we have introduced a new series highlighting diverse perspectives on career and life featuring members of our SOLV Energy team. Cultural Corner will build awareness and encourage appreciation for our variant cultural backgrounds!
Tell me about yourself. Who are you? Where did you grow up? How do you identify? I’m Haylee Vuong. I grew up in Northern Vietnam. My desire for U.S. college education brought me to Los Angeles when I was 24 years old. I became a U.S. citizen in 2006 and lived in Arizona after college. San Diego has been my hometown since 2016.
What do you value most? Living a healthy, productive lifestyle is what I value the most. Activities that promote self-improvement and acquiring new skills are flat out fun and enjoyable to me.
What were you told as a child that you still believe today? My parents often told me and my sisters that we should not drink last drops of water. It is a belief that I still have until today; that precautions should be taken in anything we do in life, especially for what we eat and drink as the water in the bottom of a glass may have sediments.
How does your cultural heritage influence who you are? I’ve lived in the United States for a long time. Vietnamese cultural heritage generally does not have a great influence on my daily life. I’m more adapted to conform with American characteristics and culture.
What family traditions or superstitions do you have? Dressing up in the traditional Vietnamese dress for special occasions. In my opinion, the Vietnamese traditional dress designed for women is the most beautiful dress in the world!
What cultural similarities and differences do you have with your closest co-workers? Similarity: We tend to enjoy a workplace that is more laid back and with Good Energy! Difference: The nature of my work at SOLV involves compliance with state and local tax law which is not something my co-workers can easily relate to.
Please share something that you’d like everyone at SOLV to know about your cultural heritage. While Vietnam is an emerging country, the culture heritage of children’s responsibility in taking care of elderly parents does not seem to change. Vietnamese elderly parents live with their oldest child’s family until they pass.
Who is the woman that has had the greatest influence on your career and why? There was no one specifically, but my past experiences working with female co-workers in accounting and finance where they struggled to find time and determination in advancing their career was the motivation for me to make a difference by setting aside time for studying and passing the CPA exam and eventually got certified. The path that I took had no shortcuts and I encountered lots of obstacles to overcome which helps with shaping who I am. I’m grateful for the experiences and what I have today.
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