From Malaysia to Bangkok: Calvin’s Life at Agoda
- Calvin Teng
- Senior Product Manager, Product Team
- Lived in Bangkok since 2022
Before joining Agoda, I gained experience working in startups and e-commerce in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. I was drawn to Agoda because of my personal interest in the travel industry, its strong reputation for being data-driven and focused on experimentation, and the opportunity to tackle challenges on a global scale.
A Day in a Life of Product Manager at Agoda
As a Product Manager, I have the privilege of a varied job scope. On an average day, I will be with my team of engineers crafting our features, working in cross-functional teams to drive initiatives across the company, and discussing ideas for growth with my stakeholders across Performance Marketing, Pricing and the Accommodations Funnel.
I specifically work on our relationships with Meta Search Engines across connectivity, pricing, and bidding. This channel makes up a material share of Agoda’s bookings, and I’m happy with my work’s real impact on our users and business. Something we recently deployed and that I’m proud of was a parametric optimum-seeking bidding system based on observed elasticity.
Why Agoda is an Exciting Workplace
What’s best about Agoda is that I’m working with some of the best talents globally. We have a high hiring bar, and the company brings in the most intelligent and driven people from across the world. The quality of ideas and conversations, and the unique perspectives everyone brings, is really refreshing.
Growing at Agoda: Opportunities for Personal and Professional Development
There are many opportunities for growth in Agoda, both from the perspective of personal learning and your official job scope.
Projects are frequently initiated, and sometimes spun down, which represent opportunities to learn and grow. In the Product team, switching scrum teams for learning and growth is encouraged, and is something I have been able to do in my years here.
Additionally, Agoda has a culture of providing direct, transparent and actionable feedback. I was amazed to see that many 360-reviews were provided here in a non-anonymous manner (although anonymity is still possible). Many of us grow through tough conversations, and feedback is gift.
My Life in Bangkok: Relocating with Pets Made Easy
I relocated to Bangkok with my wife and 2 cats. My wife and I had travelled to Thailand multiple times previously, and we were fond of the quality of life, kindness of its people, great food, culture, and safety. Additionally, the proximity of Bangkok to Malaysia was a big determining factor, as I could travel back home easily.
We had never relocated as “pet parents” prior to this and were initially apprehensive, but unnecessarily so. Pet-friendly accommodations are aplenty, as are other services like vets and pet sitters (or pet “hotels”). Additionally, Thai people are very accepting of pets in public spaces, and you will often see pets (in prams) in shopping malls and cafes.
Agoda’s People/Visa team was very supportive throughout the relocation process and continues to be, with support on renewing visas, 90-day notices, and tax filing guides. Additionally, the team set us up with a one-month stay in a pet-friendly serviced apartment when we moved.
Bangkok is a world-class city, with good public transport if you live in the right neighborhoods, and almost everything you could want at your fingertips. Even if public transport doesn’t get you there, a motosai (local motorbike driver) is just a few minutes away. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the city and doing fitness activities (the gym, cycling, and rock climbing)—there are plenty of options here.
Cost of Living in Bangkok: A High Quality of Life
The cost of living is comparable to that of cities in Malaysia. An average meal at a restaurant in a shopping mall might cost you THB250 in Bangkok, vs. RM25 in Kuala Lumpur (an approximately 30% increase in Bangkok). Still, the quality of ingredients and the warmth of the service here pays back that difference multiple fold.
Final Thoughts: Why Agoda is the Place to Be
For me, the most rewarding part of joining Agoda is the work you can do. We are a large, complex business that is growing rapidly every year. This growth flywheel depends on us being able to hire intelligent and driven people and allowing them to run experiments and build new things. If you ask me, this combination of opportunity and resources is rare and what makes Agoda truly special.
And to anyone nervous about starting fresh in a new city or workplace, you’d luck out by being at Agoda. So many of us are immigrants/expatriates here, and you will find a community quickly.
