A Journey of Growth: From Harpswell Alumna to Business Leader

Written by Moul Samneang, Harpswell’s Country Director for Cambodia

In early 2026, I was invited to attend several weddings of Harpswell alumnae across various provinces in Cambodia. While traveling to Sihanoukville for Yanuth ’20 ’s wedding last February 2026, I was fortunate enough to hitch a ride with a former colleague, who is also a Harpswell alumna. Who is she, what is she doing today, and how has her life's journey unfolded?

Din Vutha was born and raised in Kampong Cham province, where she lived until completing high school. In 2006, she moved to Phnom Penh after being admitted to the Harpswell Women’s Leadership Center to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Law, followed by a Master’s in Private Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics.Before moving to serve as a Dorm Manager from 2017 to 2020, Vutha worked as a contract officer in one of the big shopping malls in Phnom Penh, where she was responsible for legal compliance.

As we sat in the car, gazing at the roadside scenery and chatting about this and that, we hardly noticed the time passing or wondered when we would reach our destination because we were so engrossed in conversation. Our dialogue this time was quite different from that we had seven years ago.

I listened to Vutha describe the nature of her business, from managing supply chains to supervising employees, meeting with clients, assuring the quality of her company’s products, to naming various types of wood and materials used for home decor, such as Plywood, MDF, and Wood Veneer.  The latter, Vutha explained, was a layer of natural wood peeled into very thin sheets, usually thinner than 3mm, that are glued onto other types of wood, such as MDF or Plywood, to give them the appearance of solid, luxury wood with beautiful grain patterns. At times, I was fascinated to hear about the technical aspects of installing furniture that blends natural wood with other components like rattan strips, leather, and various materials I had barely heard of before. Her explanations of these items and technologies surprised and impressed me greatly. 

I asked her if she studied these techniques in from different countries.

Vutha laughed. "Actually, it was my husband who went on the study tours, visiting factories and learning these systems and technologies firsthand. When he came home, he shared everything with me through a kind of 'show and tell.' Combined with watching videos of their production processes, I've learned a great deal from him."

She smiled. "So when people see me traveling with oversized luggage, I'm not heading to the airport — I'm driving to visit clients. That big bag is packed with material samples, because nothing explains the delicacy and detail of our interior design work quite like letting people see and touch it for themselves."

I couldn't stop praising Vutha's intelligence. I remember that seven years ago, after two years of serving as Dorm Manager at Harpswell, fulfilling her promise to "give back", she bid us farewell.

She told us she was going to start an interior design business, which had been a long-term plan for her and her engineer husband.

Seven years later, Vutha and her husband have gradually expanded their business to the point of employing a hundred staff members/workers with diverse skills, such as interior designers, carpenters and veneer installers, wallcovering specialists, ceiling and lighting technicians, glass and aluminum technicians, and quality surveyors, etc.

Vutha shared:

“We have faced many obstacles and had to learn many new things during our business journey over the past seven years. I am happy that I have a team that works with a great heart. Many of them have been working with us from the very beginning until now. Our work isn't always profitable; sometimes we take small losses, but we keep persevering and moving forward.  In addition to decoration services, we produce various types of furniture with the intention of showing customers physical samples of furniture and decor, making it easier for them to decide on different styles. Beyond that, we also sell the furniture of our own designs and custom-made to meet our customers’ needs.  We’ve just opened our Showroom in February 2026.

Both of us have a long-term vision, but we are expanding our potential step-by-step. Our long-term dream is to open a furniture factory that produces luxury masterpieces created by Cambodians. We want to show our customers the quality and elegance of products that are the handiwork of our 'Trakal' (ត្រកាល) craftsmanship.”

What makes Vutha happiest is that their craft provides jobs for people living in the areas surrounding their workshop in Phnom Penh's outskirts. Workers come from different provinces, including Takeo, Kandal, and Prey Veng. The craftsmanship and quality of their work have gained recognition from clients, leading them to handle home decoration projects for several well-known figures in the country.

As a Harpswell alumna who was educated about humanitarianism and community support, Vutha and her husband have also donated furniture to schools near their workshop to contribute to the promotion of education.  Beyond that, they have recently offered Harpswell to decorate a new study room, converted from a kitchen to a brand-new look, providing comfort for our students’ learning environment.

"My four years at Harpswell were truly transformative, providing me with the tools to reshape my perspective and approach to life. The Leadership and Critical Thinking classes were particularly instrumental; they taught me how to analyze complex situations, question assumptions, and lead with purpose. These classes fundamentally shifted my paradigm, moving me from a passive observer to a proactive problem-solver who approaches challenges with a strategic and analytical mindset. 

Furthermore, living in a community with female students from such diverse family backgrounds and lifestyles was a lesson in itself. Adapting to different perspectives and finding common ground within our community taught me invaluable lessons in empathy and collaboration. These experiences collectively fostered a sense of resilience and open-mindedness that continues to drive my growth today.”