DJ Nana is an influential media personality in Cambodia. She has engaged in social work since she was 14-year-old. She has worked with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international NGOs before working with radio and TV networks. Dj Nana’s Facebook page, Dj NanaTips, has about 1 million followers. She engaged with the audience through her Facebook page on various topics, including leadership, business, and self-motivation.

Q: Hello! I don’t think I would need to tell people who you are. Could you please give us ‘one word’ that describes you?

DJ Nana: That is ‘energy’ because I have been doing what I am doing with my full energy.

Q: How are you doing these days?

DJ Nana: I am quite busy with work such as moderator, modeling, writing book, etc. Yet, I can manage my time. I still have enough time to sleep and take good care of myself, not stress or depression.

Q: How many hours do you work? How many for sleeping then?
DJ Nana: It is flexible. If I have a shooting schedule, I work between 17 to 18 hours a day. I work from 3:45 am to 1 am the next day. If I don’t have a shooting schedule, I work between 10 to 11 hours. If I don’t have any schedules for events or shooting, I work between 7 to 8 hours a day. For me, work between 7 to hours means I don’t have important work to do.

Q: How long have you been in your career?

DJ Nana: It is bout 5 or 6 years. I think one job leads to another. For instance, I open a bookstore. It is a coincidence; I didn’t intend to run a bookstore. I like reading books. I read the books for my fans. Then, I thought about opening a bookstore, writing books, and selling books of other authors. This was not what I initially wanted to do. But, when the opportunity came, I just did it. I grab whatever business opportunities that I come across while I and others can gain from those opportunities. I work on new initiatives every day.

Q: What was your first job?

DJ Nana: My first job was with the civil society organization. That was a volunteering job, yet I got paid. I volunteered at NGO since I was in high school. I have worked full-time with local NGOs and international NGOs. After that, I worked with the radio and TV stations. Then, I worked for myself independently today.

Q: Since when?

DJ Nana: I started since I was 14 or 15. I could recall the year; that was too long ago. I had a paid job in 2004. I finished high school in late 2003 and started working in Phnom Penh in 2004.

Q: You mentioned eerier that you worked from one place to another place because of opportunities. How would those opportunities come to you?

DJ Nana: Opportunities coming to you means that I always see job announcement when I go out. I start thinking about new initiatives. For instance, when I moderate an event, I watch dancers and singers. I talked to them. Then, they invited me to be an actress in Karaoke. When I worked with CSO, I knew people working with radio stations. Then when those radio stations announced a new post, they asked me if I have someone to recommend. That is called an opportunity for you. Working at the radio station wasn’t in my career plan or dream. I didn’t even know that I was able to do the job. During the interview, I told them I was interested in the position. I needed money at that time; so, I worked on whatever. Another example is that I come to know some authors when I worked as a Master of Ceremony (MC). I talked to them, then I thought about writing a book and running a bookstore.

Q: I heard people said that people like to work on what they love? You have done so many things in various sectors. What do you want?

DJ Nana: That is so true. People work on what they love. But if you have not had an opportunity to work on it, you never know if you like it or not. For my many cases, I did those works before I realized that I enjoyed them. I have done some jobs that I didn’t enjoy, and I quitted.

Before, I just knew that I enjoyed community work because I have worked on it, and my father has done the same. I grew up in that environment. When I worked at the radio stations, I didn’t know if I liked it or not. I just needed extra money. At that time, I was at university. I earned 3$ per hour at the radio station. I made between 80$ to 90$ a month; I told myself why not do it. When I did it, I realized that I enjoyed it. That surprised me. I am talented at talking on the radio.

I am the type of person who tries before making a decision. If I enjoy the job, I do it. If not, I quit.

Q: Have you ever doubted your capability?

DJ Nana: I think that was probably the financial burden that encouraged me always to say ‘yes’ whenever people need me. I sometimes doubted my ability. But, whenever I say ‘yes,’ I will find ways to make it work.

Check out her Facebook’s page at: https://www.facebook.com/djnanatips