Phuong Le's unconventional journey at UC Berkeley unlocked a new passion and career trajectory

Portrait of Phuong Le in black dress with Berkeley graduation stole

I’m currently enrolled as a pre-MBA candidate at GLOBIS University, and my professional goal is to develop expertise in data-driven decision-making across various niche industries. Honing these skills allows me to support and contribute to the communities I serve and care about through education, resourcefulness, empathy, and fellowship.

Phuong Le '22

October 9, 2025

L&S Alum Spotlight:
Phuong Le '22 (she/her)

Major: American Studies

Phuong Le graduated from UC Berkeley's College of Letters & Science with a degree in American Studies. While that may sound straightforward, her path was anything but traditional. After building a strong academic foundation at Berkeley, personal challenges with her mental health and finances ultimately led Phuong to withdraw from school just shy of graduation in 2017.

Over the next five years, Phuong worked tirelessly to overcome these obstacles, which were intensified by the onset and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, this period of uncertainty enabled Phuong to re-evaluate her career plans and discover a newfound passion for data-driven decision-making and financial literacy. After fulfilling her financial obligations and academic requirements, she returned to Berkeley to complete her undergraduate degree in 2022, highlighting her dedication to personal and professional growth and continued education.

In this interview, Phuong shares how her perseverance, hunger for growth, and transformative journey allowed her to mold her sense of purpose and cultivate resourcefulness toward communities she cares about.

L&S Communications: Please tell us about your current occupation or pursuit.

Phuong Le: I currently work as a full-time Data Analyst at Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) and a part-time Senior Business Analytics Instructor at COOP Careers.

COOP Careers is a program that is currently deeply aligned with my current values and aspirations. This 11-year-old nonprofit organization and fellowship program focuses on equipping recent graduates, as well as those who have experienced underemployment or unemployment, with essential skills for launching a successful career in digital marketing, data/business analytics, or financial services.

Before discovering the program, I found it extremely difficult to access the resources necessary for my professional growth. However, since joining COOP Careers, I’ve forged meaningful connections and become a part of a supportive community and network that’s fully invested in helping me achieve my professional goals. While I continue to grow, I look forward to giving back to the program in my own unique way, because I strongly believe that everyone deserves a chance at building their own peaceful version of their life.

I’m currently enrolled as a pre-MBA candidate at GLOBIS University, and my professional goal is to develop expertise in data-driven decision-making across various niche industries. Honing these skills allows me to support and contribute to the communities I serve and care about through education, resourcefulness, empathy, and fellowship.

Group of students in front of a GLOBIS management banner

Phuong with fellow alumni and students at GLOBIS USA.

How did your experience at UC Berkeley influence your journey?

My journey has been filled with unexpected turns and valuable lessons. At UC Berkeley, I developed a strong academic foundation and a deep appreciation for learning; however, personal challenges, including my ability to manage my mental health and financial debt, led me to withdraw from school just shy of graduation in May 2017.

Over the next five years, I worked hard to overcome these obstacles and supported myself through incredibly challenging times. The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of uncertainty, causing me to re-evaluate my career trajectory, my lifestyle choices, and ultimately, uncover a new passion for data-driven decision-making and financial literacy - which is now the focus of my professional life.

Returning to UC Berkeley to complete my undergraduate degree was both a humbling and rewarding experience. The College of Letters & Science showed me unwavering support by providing the necessary resources I needed to successfully graduate. And the moment my name was called out to walk the Zellerbach stage, I was reminded of how much perseverance, self-care, adaptability, knowledge, love, and resilience I truly have, especially in the face of adversity. Bonus points for graduating from UC Berkeley debt-free. :)

My journey has been anything but conventional, and yet it has transformed me into the resilient, resourceful, and empowered woman I am today. The experiences I have had during, outside of, and beyond my time at UC Berkeley have instilled in me a deep sense of purpose that I continue to refine each day that I’m alive. I’m thankful for the challenges I’ve encountered. Those challenges guided me to my current career path, nurtured my personal growth and self-love within myself, and fueled my passion for making a positive impact in the communities that I serve and hold dear.

Before UC Berkeley, I was consumed by fulfilling other people’s expectations of me and refrained from asking questions.

Because of UC Berkeley, I maintain my resolve to shape my life so that I can assist others in my own, distinctive way - regardless of the magnitude of my impact.

Thanks to UC Berkeley, I firmly believe in my ability to learn, adapt, and confront uncertainty with proactivity, resilience, and kindness.

What is a moment from your journey that stands out to you?

In the summer of 2022, after successfully achieving my financial goal, I made a spontaneous decision to revisit the College of L&S’s Office of Undergraduate Advising on a day off from work. I wanted to seek additional guidance on how to reverse my withdrawal and proceed with the readmission process.

I vividly remember sitting in the office, explaining to the Advisor that I had $5,000 left to pay, but it would not be available until a week after the readmission deadline. The advisor kindly provided me with all the necessary information and guidance I needed to expedite my return. I was truly amazed and utterly shocked at the level of care, support, and assistance - so much so that my level of professionalism and maturity left the room when I cursed in disbelief. I remember leaving the admissions office, processing this pivotal moment of accomplishment, while the advisor wholeheartedly and warmly chuckled at the sight of me walking away. And it was a warm, beautiful sunny day, on top of that.

I’ve been going through a period in my life where I’m trying to form more connections and meet new people. Since I’ve started participating in Cal’s alumni events more frequently, it’s been great making new connections while fostering the current ones and reconnecting with the old ones.

Phuong Le '22

Group photo of students holding up a Cal banner

Phuong and fellow Cal alumni visiting Cologne, Germany in the Cal Discoveries program.

Take ownership of your failures as much as your accomplishments, and don’t let other people tell you that you are a failure, otherwise. We all have to start somewhere.

Phuong Le '22

Woman wearing a scarf smiles while standing outside in a holiday market at night, next to a Christmas tree and a house decorated with holiday lights

Phuong visiting a festive and colorful Holiday Market in Cologne, Germany.

Do you keep in touch with any friends or professors from L&S?

I do! I’ve been going through a period in my life where I’m trying to form more connections and meet new, amazing people. Since I’ve started participating in Cal’s alumni events more frequently, it’s been great making new connections while fostering the current ones and reconnecting with the old ones at the same time.

What is a challenge that you’ve navigated in your journey?

The COVID-19 pandemic presented itself as the most difficult, and yet most necessary, challenge I have ever encountered in my career and life, thus far. In a matter of weeks, the initial career I had devoted my early years to building upon seemed to have been demolished within a flash, and it proved to me how deeply entangled my identity was with my profession.

This experience taught me how important it was to nurture not only my professional aspirations, but the parts of my life that hold meaning and value beyond my work, as well. I also learned how much I value developing an open mindset and establishing myself as a strong, fluid, and adaptable professional. This mindset allowed me to overcome any challenges and uncertainties that I currently face and will face throughout my lifetime.

What is something that is sustaining or supporting you now?

My sister, my housemates, a few of my friends back from college, and my strong belief in my ability to accomplish anything I set my heart to!

What else are you up to these days?

Self-care and personal development are important to me. During my free time, I can be found either reconnecting with my friends at a local restaurant, taking slow walks, studying a language (right now, it’s Japanese), or working on some pixel art. While it’s important to me that I continue to strengthen my professional skills, it’s equally important to me that I enjoy my life without compromising my interests.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to offer to students?

No matter where your path takes you, believe in your ability to learn, research, and utilize that knowledge to do something bigger than getting good grades, making other people happy, or satisfying an academic requirement; do not place your reason to learn toward external factors and validation.

Instead, incorporate your studies and findings to foster personal growth and shape yourself into the person you want to become. Truly incorporate your learnings into your everyday life, learn what you like, find out about what you dislike, and use your newfound knowledge to establish a powerful, transferable skill that will help you and, eventually, other people around you. You’ll slowly start to see how empowering it is to master this mindset. By incorporating this mindset into your life, your overall confidence will become stronger, and you will feel unstoppable in steering impactful change.

Ultimately, this will put you on the path to becoming the best version of yourself. In turn, this will become a ripple effect, and others will gradually follow suit.

Take ownership of your failures as much as your accomplishments, and don’t let other people tell you that you are a failure, otherwise. We all have to start somewhere. Treat yourself with kindness, and believe in your ability to accomplish anything. By doing so, you’ll become one heck of a resilient person.

Lastly, be proud that you’re a Golden Bear. Whether you’re absolutely in love with your experiences on campus or you find that you don’t align with the campus culture, the knowledge and skills you’ll absorb and take with you will bring meaningful progress and transformative growth.