High-flying women executives and a management guru took centrestage at Nordic/Franco-Thai Chambers Breakfast Seminar on 26 November 2013. Insightful viewpoints and valuable lessons were shared by distinguished speakers from such diverse industries as top luxury lifestyle company, Ralph Lauren, to mobile network giant Ericsson and AmPerformance management consulting firm.
Pia Ayouty, Senior International Business Manager to Ralph Lauren at Central Marketing Group, gave an engaging account of culture clash as she was settling into her new job since the beginning of 2013. “I have to bite my tongue and place my hands behind my back,” Pia said. The Swede was discussing the do’s and don’ts in the typical Thai workplace, which include “polite and humble” as a “desirable” character trait, drawing knowing smiles and chuckles all around.
Camilla Vautier, President and Country Manager of Ericsson Thailand, offered an insider perspectives based on her implementation of Change Leadership at the Swedish telecommunications giant’s multi-cultural work environment.
“Change takes time,” Vautier said of the 3-year reorganization programme and the leader must identify and communicate clearly the need for change and follow up on “Do or Die” actions. “If all else fails, remove the obstacles.”
Anne-Marie Machet, Managing Director of AmPerformance, provided good advice on how to deal with today’s fickle workforce in turbulent time as companies focus more and more on financial results. “People under 40 tend to abandon the concept of loyalty. Talented workers are the most valuable assets of a company. Make sure people are part of the tribe.” People stay if you respect them, she said.
The Breakfast Seminar held at Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel was well attended by some 40 members of Nordic/Franco-Thai Chambers with women members outnumbering men, something that did not happen very often.
