Page 65 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 4 February-March 2018

What gives you the drive to do what you do?
I was always drawn to the world of development, and what
attracts me to the UN is that they are doing work that actually
has a direct impact on the lives of the poorest of the poor.

Throughout my career, I consistently followed what they were
doing, and I was recruited as a part of UNDP’s International
Management Training Programme in New York soon after I
finished my MBA at the University of Michigan. The world is a
rough place and I want to contribute positively in my
own manner.

Throughout your career in the UN, what has been
the biggest challenge?
My very first challenge would be joining the UN itself. I was
coming from a purely private sector background, so I had to
change my mindset entirely. However, I had no problem fitting
in because I love working in a multicultural atmosphere and the
opportunity to travel the world.

Some of our projects are also very challenging. For example,
in Africa there are difficult situations with tight budgets and
timings, making it very hard for us to deliver what we set
out to do.

Another big challenge for me, personally, is to begin a country
programme from scratch. Going to a new country to set up “ The world is a rough place and
our full operations, develop partnerships, and build a portfolio
of programmes that benefit both the government and people, I want to contribute positively
is very challenging. However, an organisation like ours really in my own manner. “
promotes this entrepreneurship aspect.

What is a regular workday like for you? nation with a lot of visibility. Currently, one of UNOPS’s key
Officially we do have a traditional 9am to 5pm schedule, but projects is working with Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health to
because I travel very extensively, I rarely follow it. Most of my focus on fighting malaria.
time is actually spent on the road. When I was younger, I wished
to travel around the world and get a job that could take me Apart from work, what do you do during your spare time?
places. Now I am always on the run. I like spending time with my family. Because I travel so much,
it is always nice to be home — even going out for a meal or a
How do you manage and lead such a large and simple gathering with friends is an absolute delight.
multinational team?
We are structured to have country offices in major regions, and As for my hobbies, art has always been a passion of mine, and
a Senior Director or Country Manager runs each office. From I love collecting paintings and carpets. I am also interested in
Bangkok, we provide intellectual guidance, technical support music and chess, but I especially try to find time for sports, like
and management leadership. My responsibilities include swimming and tennis. I had to take it down a notch because
oversight, management, strategy, technical leadership and I sprained my back, but hopefully I’ll recover soon and start
building partnerships across regions with governments, regional playing again.
bodies and UN organisations. We have a very open environment
and I believe it’s good to be criticised and challenged. Everyone Lastly, how could the public help to further the causes
is free to speak and contribute positively to take in different of the UN?
views and experiences for constructive decision-making. There are organisations such as UNICEF or UNESCO, which
people know well and can support. But, most importantly,
How does Thailand benefit from UNOPS activities? people can help by knowing and discovering more. The UN
Because of its strategic location, Thailand is a host to many UN is also a huge marketplace for the private sector. All UN
agencies and regional offices. It’s so much easier to commute organisations combined buy billions of dollars’ worth of goods
from here to pretty much everywhere. It’s a major UN centre and services, so the UN can also be a very important partner or
for Asia and that is a benefit to Thailand because it grants the buyer for companies to consider.

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