Dusit Thani Group chief executive Suphajee Suthumpun believes there are three key points to achieve success as a woman leader in these fast-changing times.
“Know yourself, plan well, know how to work with others, and I believe anything is possible for you all,” Ms Suphajee said at the Bangkok Post Women Vision Forum 2024 on Thursday.
She said she encouraged everyone, regardless of gender, to not only learn about their strengths and weaknesses but also to have a keen belief in themselves.
This mindset needs to come hand in hand with good planning skills and knowing what to prioritise in order to execute tasks effectively, she said.
Success will come when you know how to work well with others, she noted.
“I have always believed that if you want to go fast and far at the same time, you need to work with others,” she said. “As women, we have a very strong essence of empathy.”
Despite not having a background in the hospitality sector, Ms Suphajee took her first role in the industry in 2016 as the chief executive of Dusit Thani Group, a long-running family business founded by Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui.
She was the first chief executive who was not a family member.
Her background was in the tech industry, including 23 years at IBM and a chief executive role at the satellite operator Thaicom.
“It was a very bold decision for Dusit that they appointed me as chief executive officer, but it was also very bold of me to accept the role,” said Ms Suphajee, adding that the leadership at Dusit Group comes with immense responsibility and high expectations.
She said she used to ask herself whether it was possible for her to lead a hospitality venture that has such a long-established tradition.
Today, she has accomplished this by overcoming those nagging voices in her head.
With eight years under her belt, she has since earned the trust and support of the boards of directors, shareholders and most importantly, her team, who helped define the new chapter of Dusit Thani Group, she said.
At present, the group’s portfolio has become more balanced with four business lines, and is not overly dependent on hotel ventures as in the past.
Meanwhile, the group has expanded its footprint to 19 countries with over 300 properties under eight brands, and 20,000 employees.
The group focuses on expanding strategically, not only in terms of its footprint but also its ability to address all travel segments with risk management in mind, she said.
The Dusit Thani Group will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year while Ms Suphajee will also celebrate her 60th birthday.
This coming September, the Dusit Thani Bangkok, the group’s flagship hotel and an iconic city landmark, will reopen after a major five-year revamp.