Hey Local Guides! Today, I’d love to share the story of a Cambodian woman entrepreneur I’m grateful to have met through our community connections.
Some people we meet through community events become more than just familiar faces. They become friends, teachers, and sources of inspiration.
Today, I want to share the story of Prumm Chanlang, founder of GoGreen Vegetarian Restaurant, whom I first met through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a programme supported by the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.
At that time, I was interested in meeting women who were building their own paths in business and community life. I didn’t expect that this connection would eventually become a meaningful friendship.
Chanlang is also one of my yoga instructors, and over time, I have come to appreciate not only her work but also the person behind it. Her journey has given me another perspective on the experiences of Cambodian women from different generations.
A Story That Felt Familiar
I later had the opportunity to host the Women in Business Podcast for Ladies Sparkle Podcast, and Chanlang became one of the people I hoped to feature.
During our conversation, I asked her some deeper questions about her childhood and the challenges she experienced while growing up. Her story touched me because I could recognise parts of my own childhood in what she shared.
Although our generations are different, some challenges can feel surprisingly familiar: cultural expectations, social pressures, and limited access to education and opportunities.
At one point during the conversation, she became emotional while talking about her past. It reminded me that behind every entrepreneur we meet, there is often a much longer story that we don’t see.
From Challenges to Creating Something of Her Own
Today, Chanlang has built her own business journey through GoGreen Vegetarian Restaurant and her work with vegetarian food products, including a locally created vegetarian powder called Hsama.
What I find interesting is not simply the business itself, but the journey behind it. She has taken experiences from her life and turned them into knowledge, creativity, and something she can share with others.
For me, this is one of the things I enjoy most about exploring local places and meeting people through the Local Guides community. A restaurant, shop, café, or small business can sometimes tell us much more than what we see on the surface.
More Than a Business Story
My connection with Chanlang has reminded me that women’s stories are worth listening to not only when they become successful, but also when they are still finding their way.
From meeting at an AWE event to becoming friends, sharing conversations through a podcast, and learning from her as my yoga instructor, our journey has taken several unexpected turns. I am grateful that one community connection introduced me to someone whose story made me reflect on my own.
Her journey reminds me that “Women’s stories are not only about success! They are also about where we come from, what we overcome, and how we choose to build our future.”
