How My Journey Started season 2 in Barcelona: Reinventing pathways, empowering communities

How far can a nursing degree take you? For Lisa Rice-Duek, an alumnus of RMIT Vietnam’s Executive MBA program, the answer spans continents. From the inception of the now well-established Franco-Vietnamese (FV) Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to the fast-evolving world of digital health in Barcelona, her journey is a case study in reinvention with resilience, empathy, and community at its core.

In this How My Journey Started episode, student host Hong Ngoc meets Lisa in the heart of Spain. Under the soft ambience, Lisa shares her story with the calm confidence of someone who’s lived many chapters, and Ngoc meets her with curiosity and bright-eyed optimism, ready to soak it all in.

It’s not just a career journey they’re talking about; it’s how to navigate change, build meaningful connections, and keep moving forward, wherever life takes you.

A foundation in care and the courage to pivot

Lisa always knew she wanted to become a nurse. But she couldn’t have predicted that her career would one day place her in a leadership role within a hospital, managing teams across three cultures and training local staff to international standards. It was 2002, and RMIT Vietnam was just being built. Lisa, newly arrived in the country, was there to help open the FV Hospital.

It didn’t take long for her to realise that leading required more than clinical expertise – it required strategic thinking. A flyer for RMIT Vietnam’s Executive MBA program landed on her desk, and she saw her opportunity.

Her decision to join the second cohort of RMIT’s MBA program in Vietnam was a turning point. It gave her the confidence to operate beyond day-to-day operations that had a direct, tangible impact.

The work was challenging, often requiring long hours and travel deep into rural communities. At the same time, Lisa was raising a young family and navigating cultural differences in how care and communication were handled.

Instead of forcing Western models, Lisa embraced local customs with empathy, adjusting how she communicated with patients and families. In doing so, she gained a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s healthcare system – and of her own strengths as a leader.

Starting over in Spain with a new horizon

In 2016, after 14 years in Vietnam, Lisa and her family relocated to Spain. The move brought major professional and personal changes. Her nursing license didn’t transfer, and suddenly, she found herself unable to practice in the way she always had.

What came next required reinvention. Barcelona was emerging as a hotspot for digital health and health tech innovation, and Lisa knew she needed to reframe her story, not just to herself, but to future employers.

She used LinkedIn and Twitter to research the local market, learn from peers, and network actively. A cold message she sent to a digital health influencer led to a job offer the next day. From there, she began building a new career in telemedicine and digital innovation, translating her public health experience into tech-enabled solutions.

Today, Lisa works at the intersection of global health and digital strategy and has reconnected with RMIT once again through alumni collaborations in Barcelona.

Lessons in making meaningful connections

Reflecting on her career with Ngoc, Lisa doesn’t talk about titles or achievements. Instead, she speaks about relationships, adaptability, and the importance of never standing still.

Lisa also stresses the value of informal mentorship. Whether you’re just starting out or facing a career pivot, she encourages students to find role models on LinkedIn, for example, and reach out. People are often more open than you expect

Her advice to international students? “Be proactive. Understand your new environment. And always, always build a support system, because transitions are hard, and community makes all the difference.”

Coming full circle

Lisa’s journey with RMIT began with a flyer in Vietnam and has come full circle in Barcelona, where she now connects with the university’s global community in new, unexpected ways. Her story isn’t about a perfect path. It’s about adaptability, courage, and finding meaning in each chapter, even the uncertain ones.

For Ngoc and RMIT Vietnam students, Lisa’s story is a reminder that reinvention isn’t a detour. It’s part of the journey. And with resilience, curiosity, and community, your next bold step is always within reach.

Check out the full episode on RMIT Vietnam's Spotify and YouTube below.

This season of How My Journey Started Podcast is part of RMIT Vietnam's 25th anniversary and celebrates the remarkable journeys of our senior alumni – the pioneers who were with RMIT Vietnam from the early days and now have built careers across the world.

Whether to start a new job, get a new degree, or find one’s passion, always remember that you already have what it takes at RMIT Vietnam, and your journey is uniquely yours to create.

Available on RMIT Vietnam’s Spotify and YouTube.

How My Journey Started season 2 in Barcelona: Reinventing pathways, empowering communities