"My name, Diem (as in carpe diem), means living in the moment, and that’s how I try to approach both life and work."

About Me

I’m Diem Nguyen, a Senior Business Analyst at Nordea. Originally from Vietnam, I’ve been living in Finland for the past 10 years, and today it truly feels like my second home.

Turning Complexity into Clarity

In my role, I work closely with internal stakeholders, especially client executives. Their job is to meet customers, build relationships, and make important decisions. But they often face a common challenge: there is a lot of data, systems are complex, and time with customers is limited.

My job is to bridge that gap.

Together with my team, we build data applications that transform complexity into clarity. Instead of navigating multiple systems, users can get a quick and intuitive overview through dashboards. Within just a few minutes, they can understand:

• What products a customer already has

• Pricing and previous interactions

• Meeting history and activities

• Opportunities to better support the customer

The goal is simple: to help them walk into every meeting prepared, confident, and focused on creating value.

A Career Shaped Step by Step

Looking back, my path hasn’t been a straight line; it’s been a series of natural steps, shaped by curiosity, openness, and continuous learning. 

I started with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Banking in Vietnam. Later, I moved to Finland to pursue my master’s in real estate economics, fields deeply rooted in business and economics. At that point, I realized something important: While my academic background gave me strong domain knowledge, I needed technical skills to bring ideas to life. So I learned, mostly on my own: SQL, Python, data modelling, and coding. I studied online, practiced constantly, and most importantly, learned by doing. 

During my Master’s thesis project, I worked as a trainee, gaining hands-on experience building data models in the real estate domain. That combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills became a strong foundation for my career. 

From there, opportunities started to open. I joined Nordea as a Data Analyst in Internal Audit, and over time transitioned into my current role as a Business Analyst — continuing to grow both technically and from a business perspective.

The Turning Point: Learning How to Think

Studying in Finland was a defining experience for me — not just academically, but in how I approach problems.

What stood out most was the mindset. There wasn’t always one correct answer. Instead, I was constantly asked: What do you think, and why?

That changed everything.

Before, I often thought in a binary way — right or wrong. Over time, I learned to question assumptions, explore multiple possibilities, and reframe problems before solving them.

I realised that asking the right questions is often more important than having quick answers — because it shapes how we approach the entire problem.

How That Changed My Career

After graduating in Real Estate Economics, I initially thought of following a traditional path in property valuation.  But instead of asking if I can do a certain job, I started asking: What else can I do in this field? What is missing in this field? Can data improve how I solve problems? Where are the bottlenecks?

That shift, from answering questions to asking better ones, changed everything. It led me into data science, then data analytics, and eventually into business analysis. 

Skills That Made the Biggest Difference in My Career

One of the most important skills in my role is active listening. Every day, I work with stakeholders, and my responsibility goes far beyond simply hearing what is being said. The real value lies in understanding the underlying problem behind each request and translating it into meaningful solutions.  

Another critical skill is the ability to say “no.” We can’t do everything, and saying “yes” to one task inevitably means saying “no” to another. So, I’ve learned to prioritize what creates the most value, focus on high-impact work, and feel comfortable declining, postponing, or delegating when necessary. 

Finally, self-learning is essential in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. What we know today might not be enough tomorrow. That’s why self-learning is not optional; it’s essential. I’ve learned through formal education, hands-on experience, online platforms, and learning from colleagues.

My Tips to Keep Learning in a Fast-Changing Tech World

1. Learning by Doing (80% happens on the job)

Most of my learning comes directly from my daily work: I face a problem, I notice a limitation or bottleneck, and I ask how I can solve it. Instead of sticking to what I already know, I explore new tools, different approaches, and better ways to solve the same problem. 

2. Other times, I explore internal resources, discussions, or past solutions, and importantly, I’m not afraid to make mistakes. 

3. Learning from Others & Staying Receptive

I also learn from colleagues by asking how they would solve a particular problem. Learning doesn’t happen in isolation. In my team, we constantly share articles, YouTube talks, podcasts, and industry insights. Then I explore further: I read more, take a course, and experiment.

4. Learning Through Curiosity 

Some of my best learning comes from solving my own problems. For example, I often receive long YouTube videos from friends and colleagues (2-3 hours), but I don't always have time to watch them. So I ask myself: How can I still get the value without spending hours?

That curiosity led me to build a small solution: a chatbot that summarizes YouTube videos, using APIs and AI tools, integrated into a simple workflow. And through that one personal project, I learned how APIs work, how tools connect, and how AI can be applied in practice. All because I wanted to solve a real problem. 

What I’ve Learned About Handling Challenges 

When I faced challenges, my instinct was to stress, isolate, and try to solve everything on my own. But over time, I realized that it is not sustainable, and it’s not effective. Now, my approach has changed. I’ve learned to pause, ask for help, and separate problems from myself. 

Earlier in my career, when I faced challenges, my instinct was to stress and try to solve everything on my own. Over time, I realised that the approach is not sustainable—and often not effective. Now, I try to pause, step back, and ask for help. Getting input from others doesn’t mean you are weak. It gives you perspective and often leads to better solutions than working in isolation.

AI Won’t Replace Us, but It Will Redefine How We Work

AI is one of the most powerful inventions of our time.  In many ways, I see it like the invention of the Internet in its early days. The question is not whether to use AI. The question is how to use it responsibly and effectively.  But let’s stay realistic, AI is not perfect. It can hallucinate, miss context, and oversimplify complex problems. And while tools like “vibe coding” can quickly turn ideas into prototypes, the real work starts after: maintenance, data security, system reliability, and scalability.  These still require human expertise. 

How I Recharge in a Fast-Paced World

In a fast-paced environment, taking care of energy is just as important as delivering results.

Physical

• Running, swimming, staying active

• Eating well and getting enough rest

Emotional

• Spending time with family and friends

• Having a real, face-to-face conversation

Spiritual

• Taking time to reflect

• Going to church, reading the Bible, and reconnecting with my values

Final Reflection

If there is one thing I’ve learned throughout my journey, it’s this:

It’s not just about solving problems.
It’s about understanding and defining the right ones.

That’s where real impact begins.

Diem kept solving problems alone, until she learned that asking for help isn't weakness, it's perspective. If that's a shift you're working on too, there's a community for that. You belong in tech. Every story shared opens a door. Join us. 💜