28 Oct 2024
As part of Sasin’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive leadership, Sasin recently co-hosted a panel on the 3P Paradigm: Sustainable Impacts Through Pride-Public-Private Partnership. This event, held shortly after Pride Month and the landmark marriage equality bill ceremony in Thailand, brought together key voices from eleven different organizations from across all sectors of society to discuss how government, businesses, and LGBTQ+ actors can turn symbolic support for LGBTQ+ inclusion into real, sustainable, and systemic action.
Full List of Panelists and Hosts
- Thitikhun Petkit, Bangkok Rainbow Organization
- Vitaya Saeng- Aroon, Director, Diversity in Thailand
- Nikki Phinyapincha, Founder, Transtalents Consulting Group
- Nachale Boonyapisomparn, Co-Founder, Thai Transgender Alliance (ThaiTGA),
- Youth Pride Thailand and Trans Pride Thailand
- Patricia Duangcham, Co-Founder, GIRLxGIRL
- Poosit Changkaewmanee, second runner-up, Mr Gay World 2024
- Salanroj Sutaschuto, Director of Administration Department and Acting Vice President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB
- Dr. Drew B. Mallory, Professor of Organizational Behavior, Inclusion Ambassador, Sasin School of Management
- Surang Wongthongdee, Human Resource Officer, Social Development and Human Security at Nonthabri Province
- Michael Sirikul, EVP Head of People, ChaiXi Corporation
- Dr. Praweena Kasai, Associate Dean for Planning and Development, Dusit Thani College
- Managing Across Borders and Cultures: Panelists discussed the complexities of managing campaigns and companies across different regions, particularly in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The cultural and legal differences in these areas present unique challenges, but businesses have a critical role to play in breaking down barriers and promoting equality. Sasin’s programs emphasize the need for global leaders to develop adaptable strategies that respect local nuances while driving international standards of inclusion.
- Tackling Workplace Discrimination: A powerful takeaway from the discussion was the urgent need to address workplace discrimination. A striking 77% of transgender individuals reported facing job rejection as recently as 2017, highlighting the challenges LGBTQ+ professionals continue to face. The panel explored how businesses can create environments where talent, not gender identity, dictates opportunity. The Inclusion Toolkit provides practical measures for addressing these issues, including revising recruitment and retention policies to ensure diversity at all levels of the organization.
- Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity in Public Spaces: Beyond the workplace, the panel also examined how businesses can ensure that public venues, such as hotels and conference centers, cater to diverse needs, including wheelchair access, prayer rooms, and dietary accommodations. After all, LGBTQI+ individuals, like everyone else, have diverse needs. By considering factors like accessibility, in addition to LGBTQI+ policies, companies can create more inclusive environments that attract a wider customer base and foster a culture of belonging that’s not limited to a particular group. Sasin’s work with the Neurodiversity at Work Research Centre (NWRC) continually explores these issues through research and application and encourages other business leaders to do the same.