A Conversation with Phuong Do

Leading up to FLA's 25th anniversary celebration this fall, each month we're sharing a one-on-one conversation with an FLA employee highlighting insights from their experience in the fair labor sector and their thoughts on the next 25 years of fair labor.

Six years ago, after more than a decade of working for corporations—including Fair Labor accredited company adidas—Phuong Do, FLA Director of Social Compliance and Accreditation, was ready for a change.

“I felt the need to expand the scope of my work, to gain knowledge about global supply chains and international compliance issues. I also wanted to have more stakeholder engagement and focus on social impact,” she says. That’s what brought her to the Fair Labor Association.

Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she began as the Regional Manager for Southeast Asia. Over the years, she has become the go-to person for the Fair Labor Accreditation process, which she now oversees, tracking the progress of member companies as well as ensuring FLA’s social compliance team is equipped with all the necessary tools, training, and guidance to effectively evaluate member companies.

As part of her role, she travels often and is constantly in communication with a wide range of stakeholders and staff around the globe, so it makes sense that when reflecting on what she’s learned during her time at FLA, she stresses that diversity and respecting cultural differences are among the most important.

Looking ahead to the next 25 years of fair labor, Phuong foresees some roadblocks. “Artificial intelligence, climate change, and political uncertainties globally present many challenges to fair labor implementation as we enter this new era,” she notes.

However, that doesn’t mean she’s pessimistic about what’s to come. Instead, she thinks that these challenges are asking us to enhance due diligence activities worldwide. She emphasizes “we need to strengthen legal frameworks and stakeholder engagements across regions.”

One thing is for sure: Phuong will be part of the effort to help build these labor protections. When asked about her perfect day, she said it begins with having a cup of coffee right after waking up and then immediately opening her laptop and checking emails. A self-confessed workaholic, she says she loves working every day. “A perfect day is a day that I can work with efficiency and then cook for my beloved family and enjoy a family dinner,” she comments.

When she’s not working, you can often find Phuong leaning into her introverted side and reading political geography books like Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall, one of her recent favorites. As an avid traveler, she’s also a fan of International House Hunters on HGTV and will frequently watch the show during her spare time.