Celebrating Women’s History Month with The Team at Rakuten Viki
Career Insights from Marketing and Community Professionals
At Rakuten Viki, our mission is breakdown cultural and language barriers that stand between great entertainment and fans from around the world. We believe that great stories can inspire across borders and cultural differences to bring people together in celebration of fandom — a network of users who delight in each other’s love for the stars, the content, and the culture that defines our collective passion for entertainment.
This passion has brought together a group of talented women who power the engines behind the scenes to bring the best in Asian entertainment to our 40 Million+ global fans across our K-pop editorial service, Soompi, and our streaming platform, Rakuten Viki. In celebration of Women’s History Month (March!), we asked some of our marketing and community professionals to define what it means to work in the Rakuten Viki team.
Amy Khuu, Community Manager
Who is your favorite Asian TV character and why?
One of my favorite Asian TV characters is Huang Rong from Legend of Condor Heroes (2008), who is famous for being clever, intelligent, and mischievous. Her quick wits prove crucial during her adventures with Guo Jing (her naïve and honest boyfriend, the male lead), while her adorable personality earns them some unlikely friends. She sticks by Guo Jing’s side through thick and thin, helping him reach his greatest potential while still growing herself by kicking butt and taking names along the way — she literally defeats all challengers and becomes the chief of a martial arts sect. Badass.
1 sentence to sum up what it’s like to be a Rakuten Viki fan.
It’s an amazing feeling when you read someone’s timed comment and laugh to yourself, “Yes, this is the quality content I signed up for.”
2–3 things you learned as a marketing/community professional and why you think they’re important to young women aspiring to enter into this field.
I have been an avid Asian TV consumer for many years, so to enter this industry and be on the other side of things, my perspective has needed to quickly change and adapt. Being flexible and open to new ideas is important in any field, but it’s especially valued in an environment like Rakuten Viki where our users and our coworkers come from all over the world and all walks of life: We are just as diverse as our content! It’s truly inspiring to contribute “behind the scenes” because of the positive impact it can create among its audience. I was heavily influenced by great role models in Asian TV growing up and am so happy to be able to have a hand in giving back.
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Camille Medina, Community Manager
Who is your favorite Asian TV character and why?
I love Do Bong Soon from “Strong Woman Dong Bong Soon”, because she’s got sass, strength, and drive. She’s not just physically strong, but also strong in spirit because she stands firm for what she believes is just. She goes through some amazing character development, coming to accept her strength and who she is. We need more empowering female leads like her who won’t sacrifice who she is and gets her dream career!
1 sentence to sum up what it’s like to be a Rakuten Viki fan.
Being at Rakuten Viki is like a fan’s dream — from watching my first ever K-dramas on this site years ago, to getting to work every day with the content I love and with people who are just as passionate about it!
2–3 things you learned as a marketing/community professional and why you think they’re important to young women aspiring to enter into this field.
Working in community has given me the opportunity to talk to people all over the world (colleagues in our global offices and Viki fans!), which really highlighted to me the value of making connections. I think it’s important for young women in tech, because it allows you to listen and learn from everyone’s different experiences and diverse backgrounds.
I love that as a Viki Community Manager, I get to use my creative skills and channel my passion into how I can best communicate and connect with our community of users. Being in this constantly changing field means you’re always learning new creative skills, but also how to apply and adapt them, so it’s good to stay open-minded and eager to grow!
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Angie Mills, Content Marketing Manager
Who is your favorite Asian TV character and why?
There are so many — I can’t choose just one! (was asked by the editor to narrow down to just one) It’s been amazing to see the increase in strong female leads — especially in Chinese historical dramas. It’s a tough choice but I’m going to go with Dilraba Dilmurat in “The King’s Woman.” She is both physically and mentally strong. Plus, she saves the king a few times!
1 sentence to sum up what it’s like to be a Rakuten Viki fan.
Being a Rakuten Viki fan means having love and support from the whole K-Drama (& C-Drama) communities!
2–3 things you learned as a marketing/community professional and why you think they’re important to young women aspiring to enter into this field.
Whatever it is that you’re passionate about, you can make it into a career. Do your research and reach out to others in that field. Once you’re there, and you will get there, don’t be afraid to speak up, but don’t forget to learn from those around you. You can follow your dreams!
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Alicia Nguyen, Marketing Specialist
Who is your favorite Asian TV character and why?
My favorite K-drama character has to be Nam Hong Joo (played by Suzy) in ‘While You Were Sleeping’! When I first saw her character, I was floored by her willpower and drive to use her powers to protect the people she loved and her unapologetic attitude when it came to speaking her mind. Nam Hong Joo was a character with a strong personality that still kept a positive attitude, which is a trait I’ve always admired in people, whether they be real or fictional.
1 sentence to sum up what it’s like to be a Rakuten Viki fan.
The satisfaction you feel when you make a really good meme about an actor, actress, or idol you love and people scream in agreement is unrivaled by any other emotion.
2–3 things you learned as a marketing/community professional and why you think they’re important to young women aspiring to enter into this field.
I think the most important things to know when you’re entering the industry is to not be afraid to make mistakes and to embrace the passions that define you! As someone who joined Rakuten Viki straight out of college, I was terrified of trying new things and felt like I had to hide what I loved. In the end, it was my decade-long passion for fandom that fueled my work every single day, and I had learned that taking risks and pitching new ideas that others wouldn’t expect was the key to growing, not only personally but also in your career. When I learned to embrace my creativity and my enthusiasm for fandom, I discovered new ways to succeed in doing what I loved and, as a result, became even more passionate about marketing. Ultimately, I think young women should be encouraged to take risks and embrace their passions, so that they can grow and fulfill their professional ambitions, whatever they may be — and I’m so grateful to have had that experience to grow myself.
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Kathryn Squicciarini, Social Media Manager
Who is your favorite Asian TV character and why?
My favorite character from any Asian TV show is Takahata Mitsuki from Overprotected Kahogo! I love how much character development she gets throughout the drama. In the beginning of the show, she starts out very sheltered and ignorant, but as the show progresses, she grows to become an independent, hard-working woman with a dream she strives towards. She’s proof in my eyes that no matter where you are in life, if you work hard and stay steadfast, you can grow to do amazing things and inspire those around you.
1 sentence to sum up what it’s like to be a Rakuten Viki fan.
Being a Rakuten Viki fan means joining a community of passionate individuals who are fully committed to bringing more representation and global diversity to the cinematic landscape.
2–3 things you learned as a marketing/community professional and why you think they’re important to young women aspiring to enter into this field.
The lesson I’d most like to share for women starting their careers is to stay open to learning and growing, but also stay confident in your skills. It’s easy to experience self-doubt when you’re first starting out, but don’t let that doubt cripple your ability to move forward. If you never give up, ask for help when you need it, and seek opportunities to grow and gain skills. Eventually you’ll get to a place where you truly are the expert in your field. And make sure you own those strengths, and take confidence in your own hard work!
Thanks for inviting us to be a part of your incredible fandom. Happy Women’s History Month!
-Team Rakuten Viki
