Before joining Agoda, I moved to Bangkok from New Zealand to work with the United Nations at their Asia-Pacific office. My background is in the non-profit sector, which is completely different from what I do now at Agoda!
In my previous work, I was very much a “doer”, focused on project execution. While I still love getting things done, I wanted to develop my skills in creatively building solutions that are my own. My role on the Change and Communications team at Agoda fits the change I was looking for in being able to see projects end-to-end.
Funnily enough, I discovered Agoda as a university student planning backpacking trips around Southeast Asia. So joining the company seemed like the perfect fit.
A Day in the Life of a Change and Communications Lead at Agoda
My team, the Change and Comms team, is part of the Customer Support and Services department, also internally known as the Customer Experience Group (or internally just CEG). The department is one of the largest, with more than 3,000 employees globally.
Our team ensures that any new changes adopted by our operations team occur seamlessly. I enjoy that this role is so wide-ranging. Those changes can include new tech, procedures, or communications channels.
For example, I am currently involved in a project that streamlines Agoda’s ways of working with our external vendors. A typical day on this project involves checking in with our stakeholders, designing processes and flows for communication channels based on their feedback, and hosting discovery and consultation sessions with operations teams. Having an overview of everything happening means that I get to think laterally and make connections between how different parts of the company operate. It never gets boring!
Why is Agoda an Exciting Workplace
Agoda is a unique workplace in that everybody comes from vastly different backgrounds, both professional and personal (my team alone speaks 10+ languages!). Being able to draw on expertise that spans multiple countries and specialties is a huge accelerator for my own growth.
Additionally, the hybrid working model is a major perk for flexibility (especially if I’ve come off a red-eye flight from spending the weekend exploring the incredible sights of Asia…), and even better is Agoda’s Remote Work program which allows us to work outside of Thailand for 30 calendar days per year. I intend to use it to go back to New Zealand at the end of the year, when it’s summer. Hopefully, I’ll get to go ocean surfing in the morning before hopping on my first calls of the day!
Growing at Agoda: A Culture of Feedback and Recognition
The feedback culture at Agoda is really great. People aren’t afraid to support you in areas to improve, but they’re also generous with their recognition. The Change and Comms team, in particular, is very proactive in offering feedback and opportunities to learn and observe professional growth.
Living in Bangkok
While I miss New Zealand a lot, Bangkok is an infinitely better place. It gives me the chance to connect with people from different walks of life. Bangkok is close to so many amazing travel opportunities in the region, and of course, there’s always something happening in the city.
I am very lucky that the friends I’ve made in Bangkok are always up for an adventure, whether it be a spontaneous weekend trip to a regional festival, going gaur spotting at midnight, 3 hours (sometimes more…) of karaoke, or simply exploring the streets of Bangkok. We’re also the extremely obnoxious winners of our local trivia night. Bangkok encourages you to make close friends fast.
Building Community in Bangkok
Moving to Bangkok is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you’ve moved here, you’re likely the kind of person who wants to meet new people and see new places. This means you already have a lot in common with the other people who have also chosen to call Bangkok home, and it makes it very easy to find your people.
There are groups for just about everything, and there’s always, always something to do. Whether it is a running club (yes, even in 38-degree heat), watching Formula 1 at the sports bar on Sunday night, or hitting the dance floor for drinks on ladies’ night (Thursday in Bangkok, if you’re curious), community is everywhere in this city.
Final Thoughts: Why Agoda is the Place to Be
If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, connect, and experience something new every day, Agoda, and Bangkok, are the perfect places to be.
I’m biased, but I think Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world 🙂
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