Young entrepreneur Lisa Phan: When you dream and act, nothing is impossible

DNHN - Lisa Phan believes that a company’s success comes not only from good products and services but also from the way people treat one another.

On a late afternoon at the end of 2024, I visited Mạ Beauty Spa, located on Dang Van Ngu Street, Phu Nhuan District. This spa belongs to Lisa Phan, a young entrepreneur in the real estate and beauty industry in Ho Chi Minh City. It is a cozy yet modern space, exuding enough sophistication to reflect the refined taste of its owner while being warm and welcoming enough to feel like home.

Lisa greeted me with a radiant smile and a confident demeanor that not only impressed me but also piqued my curiosity about the story behind this young woman from Nghe An province. As the conversation began, Lisa seemed to unfold before me a novel full of surprises and inspiration.

A journey starting from nothing

“My first days in Saigon were daunting, no connections, no knowledge of the city, everything started from zero. Honestly, I was in shock for the first few months,” Lisa said, laughing as she recalled her early struggles in the city.

However, instead of letting these difficulties discourage her, Lisa turned them into motivation. She began with a small eatery, doing everything herself from selecting ingredients and cooking to serving customers.

“I wasn’t a great chef, but I knew how to listen to customers. That helped me sustain my first business and taught me how to manage a business, starting from the smallest details,” Lisa shared.

Yet, the eatery was merely a steppingstone. Lisa wanted more. “I realized that I loved communicating, meeting people, and creating greater value. I couldn’t settle for just running a small eatery,” she said.

A turning point in real estate

Lisa’s entry into the real estate industry began through a friend working in banking, who suggested she try her hand at the field. Initially, she hesitated due to her lack of knowledge and connections. But a piece of advice from a book changed her mindset: “The value of the product you sell matches the value of yourself.”

“At first, I thought, if I’m going to put in effort, it should be worth it. Why not challenge myself with high value products to elevate my own worth?” Lisa recalled.

Her early days in real estate were marked by relentless learning. She spent hours daily studying, researching the market, and building relationships.

“I faced hundreds of rejections, but I never gave up. I believed that if I remained patient, one day, the door of opportunity would open,” she shared.

Real estate not only provided Lisa with financial opportunities but also broadened her horizons. She said, “I learned so much from my clients, people who are highly skilled and successful. They weren’t just buyers, they became mentors in life.”

From real estate to beauty: A parallel journey

On December 22, 2024, Lisa officially launched Mạ Beauty, a skincare and beauty center for both men and women in Ho Chi Minh City.

Lisa revealed that her intention to venture into the beauty industry had been in the works for years, ever since she met a renowned aesthetic doctor in Vietnam.

When asked why she chose to pursue two completely different fields, Lisa laughed, “Real estate lets me express my boldness and love for challenges, while the beauty industry requires tenderness, sophistication, and meticulousness. Both are parts of who I am.”

“Beauty is my way of helping people feel more confident in themselves. It’s not just a business, it’s a personal mission,” she said passionately.

However, the beauty industry is not an easy path. “I’ve invested a lot of time learning and improving our services. But the most important thing is building trust with customers. In this field, even a small mistake can greatly affect your reputation,” she said.

Lisa is currently planning to combine her two ventures by integrating beauty services into luxury resorts and hotels.

“I want customers to experience our services no matter where they are. It’s not just about convenience but also about delivering satisfaction and elegance,” Lisa shared.

Despite her ambitious vision, Lisa acknowledged that realizing these goals is no easy feat. “I constantly remind myself that no road is paved with roses. But if you pour your heart into it, everything will gradually come to fruition,” she said with clear determination.

Lisa emphasized that her business is not solely focused on profit but also on sustainable values. She believes that a company’s success lies not just in good products and services but also in how people are treated.

“I treat my employees like family. When they feel secure, they will give their best. That’s how I build my team,” Lisa shared.

With a long term vision, Lisa is nurturing plans to create a comprehensive ecosystem for beauty and health, including spas, international dental clinics, and cosmetic surgery centers.

“I want to contribute to the development of Vietnam’s beauty industry so that when people, both locally and internationally, think of us, they think of credibility and quality,” she said.

Lisa concluded our conversation with a charming smile and boundless energy. As I left Mạ Beauty, I carried with me not only the story of a successful young entrepreneur but also the life lesson that nothing is impossible when you dream and act on it.

Nguyen Cuong