AMCHAM Women Committee: Women on Board

Speakers: AMCHAM President Ornkanya (Mook) Pibuldham of Bank of America, AMCHAM Governor Rachel Davidson of Hilton & DoubleTree Sukhumvit Bangkok, and AMCHAM Governor Wiyada Srinaganand, Country Leader of 3M Thailand.

Moderator: Deputy Chief of Mission Gwen Cardno of the U.S. Embassy

Organizers: AMCHAM Women Committee

Event Highlights: Three women from the AMCHAM Board of Governors shared insights on serving non-profit and executive boards, offering valuable advice and tips from their career journeys. They discussed the impact of mentors, peers, and work-life balance. The event was part of the AMCHAM Academy Residential Program, inspiring participants toward professional growth.

Describe your journey as an AMCHAM Board of Governor

I first joined the AMCHAM Board of Governors around mid- 2022 when I took over the position of Chevron Thailand’s Managing Director from my predecessor, who was a retiring board member. I felt that I had been given an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and take on a role that I had never done before. It allowed me to create a new network and represent Chevron while serving the Thai community and American businesses. As the election for new board members approached in the last quarter of 2022, I decided to apply and was ultimately elected as one of the board members for 2023-2024 term. In addition to serving on the AMCHAM Board of Governors, I also serve as a board liaison for both the Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) and the Government Affairs Councils.

What leadership principles have been the most effective for you in your career?

I grew up believing that we all live to create value for others, especially those surrounding us. My motto is, “When you lie down at night knowing in your heart that you have made someone’s life just a little bit better, you know you had a good day”. Leaders are the ones who make others successful. They create inspiring visions that people want to follow. Leaders not only lead, but they also support their followers and remove barriers. As I look back on my career, the leaders who cared about other people the most were the ones who were most effective.

Which AMCHAM membership benefit is most valuable to you?

I enjoy connecting with other people and learning about other companies’ businesses. I believe by leveraging each other’s strengths, we can make our own business stronger. There’s a saying “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. I do not believe we need to have all the capabilities within our own organization or excel in every aspect. In fact, that may not even be possible. What’s important is knowing where to acquire those capabilities when we need them. As I have learned more about other businesses, I have found that we often face similar challenges and can learn from each other. The various councils and committees provided by AMCHAM offer opportunities for learning and addressing common business challengesand the US-Thai business community. I look forward to building more terrific friendships!