Turning her dream into a reality – How an Alumni brought the world to Bangkok

OYW is the largest delegation of youth after the Olympics and bringing this global event to Bangkok was no mean feat. Over 1,300 delegates from more than 195 countries gathered in Bangkok to discuss some of the world's most pressing issues such as human trafficking, climate change, peace and security and female empowerment in different cultures.

The person who led the bid for Bangkok to host the event was none other than our own Thai alumnus, Pearly Ingkakul. Pearly, who has been a OYW Ambassador since 2013, did her Swiss Higher Diploma with Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) and completed her Bachelor’s Degree with Hotel Institute Montreux (HIM).

 

“I attended my first summit in 2013 in Johannesburg, and was inspired by the work of OYW’s Founders, Kate Robertson and David Jones, the counsellors and, most importantly, the young delegates and ambassadors from all around the world. I left that summit with a determination to bring OYW to Bangkok and I suppose that’s how the dream started.”

 

Could you tell me how you got involved with One Young World?
The first time I heard about OYW was from an article I read in a magazine about how bright young leaders from around the world were making profound changes in their communities with the support of OYW counsellors such as Kofi Anan, Sir Bob Geldof and Jamie Oliver.

It inspired me as I was at a point in my life where I felt that I should be doing more with the knowledge and skills I had. I was already working with many charities and foundations through my job as the Group Director of Operations with Miracle Group Thailand, but I wanted more and OYW seemed like the perfect opportunity to fill the void I had. So I went with my gut instinct and applied to attend the summit in 2013 and I have not stopped talking about it since!

What was it like working with key figures from the Bangkok business community to put the submission together?
As challenging as it was, I felt it was such an honour to be able to work side by side with some of the most influential figures in Thailand. What I loved most was seeing how passionate they were about ensuring that the world got to see what Thailand truly represented.

 

“Thailand is more than just the Land of Smiles and we wanted everyone to see first-hand a different side of Bangkok and to experience the unique cultural diversity we have in Thailand.”

 

I truly appreciated the immense support I received from the Governor of Bangkok, the team from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), INDEX Events and many other public and private companies, universities and foundations.

From the time we submitted our intention to host the event, right through to putting together the Final Bid Book, it was such an exhilarating and memorable experience that I will never forget.

How did you and the team feel when you won the bid to host the OYW Summit in 2015?
Whilst we were confident about winning the bid, we were also a little concerned that the political situation in Bangkok during that time would affect our chances. Thankfully the OYW team saw the huge potential in hosting the event in Bangkok, especially with the launch of the ASEAN economic community – a new development in regional cooperation incorporating 600 million people to create a more competitive market.

We worked very hard for over seven months and I’m very passionate about my country and especially Bangkok, a city I love dearly! I can’t even begin to describe how we all felt when we heard we won the bid.

What was your most memorable experience from this event?
There were so many! One thing that has really stood out since I joined OYW was the relationships I’ve built. The founders, fellow ambassadors and everybody I’ve met since my journey began have become family to me. I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.

Another memorable experience for me would be the Opening Ceremony in Bangkok, when a girl sang the national anthem of Thailand. It was such an emotional experience and I couldn’t control my tears when I saw the flag of Thailand on stage against the backdrop of the Grand Palace.

Honestly, the list goes on and I can keep talking about all the wonderful and memorable experiences I had from this event for years to come.

How did the education you received at SHMS and HIM help you in staging a successful OYW Summit?
The OYW Summit is only second to the Olympics in terms of an international gathering. So you can imagine the kind of pressure we felt about taking on this mammoth task. However, the training I received in events management and banqueting and also things like being punctual, detail-oriented in planning and coping under pressure definitely helped me in preparing for the summit.

 

“Other than the knowledge and skills I gained at school, it was the moral support I got from the academic staff at SHMS and HIM, and the management at Swiss Education Group (SEG), that has been the driving force of my success so far. Through them, I learnt to always dream big and that nothing is impossible.”

 

My biggest supporter who has become a mentor to me is Swiss Education Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Florent Rondez. Mr. Rondez has guided me through many trials and tribulations, which has allowed me to grow professionally and personally. Seeing how passionate he is when he speaks to students and wanting all of us to succeed beyond our education makes me proud to be an alumni of Swiss Education Group.

Any final words of inspiration to students keen to attend upcoming OYW events?
I would like to leave with a quote that got me through many difficult times when people doubted in my capabilities about putting together the OYW Summit.

 

“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
- Steve Jobs