Medium
Power Women: Nimol Bunchan of SASTRA Film on How to Successfully Navigate Work, Love, and Life as a Powerful Woman
“Listen to your heart. When problems arise, pause. Ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. The answers ultimately lie within. Trust your inner compass — it’ll keep you strong and focused.”
[as originally published on medium.com]
How does a successful, strong, and powerful woman navigate work, employee relationships, love, and life in a world that still feels uncomfortable with strong women? In this interview series, called “Power Women” we are talking to accomplished women leaders who share their stories and experiences navigating work, love and life as a powerful woman. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Nimol Bunchan.
Nimol Bunchan, a pioneering figure in Cambodia’s film industry, serves as the CEO and Founder of SASTRA Film (SASTRA Co., Ltd). Under her leadership, the company has grown into an industry juggernaut, employing some 150 individuals and fostering opportunities for over 200 artists each year. Deeply devoted to the advancement of Cambodian entertainment, Nimol is responsible for the production of some 700 TV episodes, 20-plus feature films, and numerous educational projects annually.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
Iwas born in Kampuchea Krom, a Khmer community in the southern part of Vietnam. I studied in a Vietnamese state school in grade 2 and learned Khmer at a pagoda whose monks were teachers in the evening. I remember sneaking peeks through my neighbor’s window to watch their TV. I loved the dramas and dreamed of becoming a writer. When I moved to Cambodia with my family, I began my Khmer school in grade 1. I was an outstanding student so was able to skip some grades. Due to my parent’s job changes, we had to relocate a lot. I remember helping my family financially by taking on odd jobs like laundry, carrying water, fishing, selling vegetables, and so on… READ MORE