At Agoda, we believe our people are our greatest strength and that every career journey is unique. Sometimes, growth means embracing new learning curves, making bold moves, or even reinventing yourself in a new field. Every journey is well worth celebrating, because real career growth often comes from welcoming change and following your instincts, even when the path ahead isn’t obvious.
To learn what that looks like in action, we sat down with three employees who embraced change and found new opportunities by exploring new roles, taking on a broader scope, or seeking fresh career experiences at Agoda. Read on to discover how they take ownership of their careers and what they’ve learned along the way.
“It’s never too late.”
Avila Carlo Irawan
Senior Product Manager
Moved from Marketing to Product
“When I first joined Agoda, I was a Senior Manager in Marketing, leading a team focused on promo codes, social messaging, and tackling marketing abuse. My days were a mix of strategy, hands-on execution, and people management. But as I worked closely with Product Owners, I started to feel a pull in a new direction. Even though I’d built my career in marketing, and majored in it too, I became increasingly drawn to new learning opportunities and the broader impact I could continue to make at Agoda by joining a new team in a different role.
Making the career switch at 33 wasn’t easy. There’s a lot of pressure to stick to what you know, especially as you’re deep in your field. But I took time to reflect on what I truly enjoyed, what I was good at, and where I could make the biggest impact. When the opportunity came to move into a Senior Product Manager role to support our Customer Experience Group, I went for it. The transition meant shifting from managing people to being an individual contributor, and from focusing on growth to driving cost efficiency and operational improvements. It was a big change, but my experience with data, experimentation, and Agoda’s culture of ownership helped me adapt quickly.
What made the move possible was the support I have at Agoda, open conversations with my managers, connecting with fellow Product Managers, and a culture that encourages you to step up and take responsibility. Whether I’m bridging communication between tech and business or simplifying complex problems, I’ve learned that taking ownership is what drives real impact and career growth. It’s never too late to listen to your heart and shape your own story at Agoda.”
“Growth takes practice.”
Mimi Woranon Leevongcharoen
People Onboarding Experience Team Lead
Moved from Customer Experience to People
“When I joined Agoda right out of university, I started as a Customer Experience Specialist in the Customer Experience Group, eager to discover what working in a corporate setting was really like. CEG quickly became my learning hub. I took on different projects, applied for internships and secondments, and learned to see every opportunity as a chance to grow. Taking ownership meant putting myself forward, even when things didn’t go as planned. I didn’t get the first full-time role I applied for, but I kept searching and eventually landed a spot on the Global Mobility team as an Operations Analyst, where I supported preboarding, relocation, and orientation.
I found that the best way to discover new opportunities at Agoda was to stay curious, browsing the internal careers portal, connecting with colleagues, and never hesitating to ask questions. Shadowing, training, and networking helped me build the skills and confidence I needed to make each transition. Over the past year, I’ve taken on projects that stretched me beyond my comfort zone, from expanding the ‘first 90 days’ experience for new joiners to leading AI-driven initiatives and supporting our upcoming One Bangkok office move. Each time I moved to a new team or took on a new project, I embraced the change and made it a point to learn as much as I could.
The best career advice I’ve received and now live by, is that growth takes practice. You have to start somewhere, even if you’re not great at it yet, and keep building that muscle. Making mistakes is part of the process, but taking ownership means learning from them and not repeating the same mistake twice. For me, that’s meant going from being communication-avoidant to being comfortable speaking up and connecting with others. Every step, even the tough ones, has brought me closer to my goals.”
“Own your path, even when it’s messy.”
Nut Suthisart
Lead Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Moved from Supply to Strategic Partnerships
“I started my Agoda journey in 2017 in the Supply team, which is our partner-facing business development team, but curiosity has always been my compass. I jumped at the chance to join high-impact projects, and soon found myself drawn to the world of partnerships and innovation. That drive to learn and expand my impact led me to work closely with other teams and eventually make a lateral move into Rocket Travel by Agoda, our B2B strategic partnership arm. For me, growth isn’t just about climbing the ladder, it’s about exploring new areas and constantly stretching my range, something Agoda has truly enabled.
In 2022, I made the tough decision to leave Agoda for another role at an airline company. That experience taught me a lot, but it also made me realize what I truly value here: the culture of ownership and the real opportunity to make an impact. At Agoda, it’s easy to pitch ideas directly to leaders and be trusted to run with them. Since returning as a “boomerang,” I’ve been given full ownership of my role in B2B API partnerships, a high-impact area where I get to build relationships, solve complex problems, and drive growth as if I’m running my own mini business within Agoda.
One piece of advice that I live by is to own your path, even when it’s messy or unconventional. Some of my most valuable moves were lateral, or into completely new territory. Growth can be unconventional, and that’s okay. You don’t need a perfect roadmap; you just need to raise your hand, take initiative, and sometimes create the opportunity yourself. At Agoda, change is constant and new ideas are always welcome. Aim to grow in depth, in impact, and in your ability to thrive wherever you are.”
Ready to own your career growth? Explore opportunities at Agoda today!
