Speaking from a few years experience as a "foreign" female working in Thailand, I have gained a lot of hard-won respect for doing business in a difficult corporate arena.

In the beginning, it was almost impossible to adapt to the business culture while trying my utmost to adjust to a new life in this international hotpot while dealing with my personal needs.

Anyways, 3 years on, I seem to have "passed the test".

This is not a feminist posting... am just wondering what advice other professional women (or men) have for a woman living/ doing business in Thailand? What support networks do you use? How do you gauge your worth in an international sense (for example are you highly valued for your professional experience in Asia once/ if you return to the West)? Etc, etc.....

Thanks for your input

If you want to move up in the "international corporate culture" my advice would be not to spent too many years in Thailand.

I would agree with meom. From my business prospective, investment banking, Thailand isnt one of the sweetner loactions that big co's like mine give to staff who want an easy couple of years. Singapore, hk & even malaysia are the coverted international assignment locations & thailand is bit of a no mans land in terms of career progression. Sounds interesting on the CV but not a lot going on in terms of development & experience gained. I personally would like to eventually get a posting via london to the BKK office for a couple of years before retiring as it would be an easy & quick way to save a lot of money whilst persuing future ventures in LOS. It wont be for a few years yet though & only when I am secure enough financially to give up work altogether

hello.

just popped in to buy a postcard.

hello.

just popped in to buy a postcard.

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GOBBLE GOBBLE..... !!!!!

I´m a survivor...

I´m a survivor...

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Destiny's Child

totster

I´m a survivor...

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Destiny's Child

totster

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Yeah it was playing on BKK radio when I read this ann hour ago or so.. Unreal

Sorry guys... this is not meant be ENTERTAINING , but perhaps you have a little constructive input to add here....

Sorry guys... this is not meant be ENTERTAINING , but perhaps you have a little constructive input to add here.... 

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I'll just read the OP and get back to you...

totster

where´s the OP? What thread are we on.. I thought we were in chat.. Oh That OP!

I er.. agree except on those points which I do not understand

where´s the OP? What thread are we on.. I thought we were in chat..  Oh That OP!

I er.. agree except on those points which I do not understand

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No comprehende? Please ask again.... ?!!!!

You might try contacting some professional Thai women, if you know any. The ones who are successful seem to be very very successful so they must be doing something right.

Hey, I live on a little island, the only thing I know about empowerment is telling people to MYOB when they ask why we dont' have kids

I would agree with meom. From my business prospective, investment banking, Thailand isnt one of the sweetner loactions that big co's like mine give to staff who want an easy couple of years. Singapore, hk & even malaysia are the coverted international assignment locations & thailand is bit of a no mans land in terms of career progression. Sounds interesting on the CV but not a lot going on in terms of development & experience gained. I personally would like to eventually get a posting via london to the BKK office for a couple of years before retiring as it would be an easy & quick way to save a lot of money whilst persuing future ventures in LOS. It wont be for a few years yet though & only when I am secure enough financially to give up work altogether

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I would have to agree totally with Boo's post. In addition, since I have been in and out of many career spots, I have to say that "empowerment" starts with the self. For me, it simply means having the guts to be true to myself, every single day.

I agree with Kat, I don't view myself having any issues at work becuase of my gender & completely ignore anyone trying to make any My abilities speak for themselves. I don't think about my gender in terms of it creating problems or giving me any advantages, I just am.

Hows that for zen-like

I do appreciate your replies but should add that I am Australian and since Australia is considered economically part of Asia these days I would have thought that gaining business experience in an Asian country would be an asset. Especially if the two countries have a Free Trade Agreement.

Perhaps I should be asking if there are any women or men out there from the Asia- Pacific region who have any comments on their experiences or any advice to give?

I do wonder what is an acceptable amount of time to spend living here - in a career sense - if there is any intention of moving back to the west?

Khall, my cousin worked in Paris for 2-3 years for a major corporation a few years back (she has since tired of the corporate world and has started her own consultancy) and she was told by people older than her that more than 2-3 years out of the country would leave her behind everyone else. That it would be difficult to play "catch-up" with people who hadn't chosen to leave.

That's why the saying goes "once an expat, forever an expat".

After a couple of years abroad most expats would fit in everywhere except in their own country.

Hi again... just going back to my original post... (the etc, etc bit)

I was recently hired on a contract basis to produce a publication. The company owner is Asian but not Thai. Late one night this week, he phoned (sounding rather drunk) wanting to discuss "other business", telling me he was lonely and had marital problems. So I quickly but politely told him that our relationship was purely business and I didn't appreciate his call.

He has not mentioned it again nor apologised. Do I bring it up and clear the air or just ignore it as a drunken error? (Maybe he doesn't remember it ... who knows) Any thoughts?

I think the fact that you're in Asia, working for an Asian male, who sounded drunk, means that you're supposed to ignore it.

Agreed, he would lose face if you brought it up again. Just ignore it, I am sure he would love to be able to forget all about it.

Speaking from a few years experience as a "foreign" female working in Thailand, I have gained a lot of hard-won respect for doing business  in a difficult corporate arena.

In the beginning, it was almost impossible to adapt to the business culture while trying my utmost to adjust to  a new life in this international hotpot while dealing with my personal needs.

Anyways, 3 years on, I seem to have "passed the test".

This is not a feminist posting... am just wondering what advice other professional women (or men) have for  a woman living/ doing business in Thailand? What support networks do you use? How do you gauge your worth in an international sense (for example are you highly valued for your professional experience in Asia once/ if you return to the West)? Etc, etc.....

Thanks for your input 

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Make friends with Jews. Try hanging out at Chabad house if you live in Bangkok.