Although Thailand appears to have a high level of gender equality, the Global Gender Gap Index 2024 reveals a different reality – a large number of women leave their jobs to start a family and take up the role of full-time homemakers.
This raises big questions. Can women excel in both family life and career? Do they really have to sacrifice one for the other?
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2025#IWD2025, True Blog interviewed “Ploy Jatukanyaprateep,” Head of Service Excellence & Customer Experience, to delve into her success as a prominent executive and a mother of one.
Dad: The First Man to Unlock Her Potential
Born in Bangkok as her parents’ only child, Ploy grew up in a warm family and enjoyed quality education. Her life went smooth thanks to solid support from her attentive parents. In her simple life, there was so little for her overcome on her own. One day, her visionary father suggested to her that she should consider “expanding her horizons” and embrace challenges by enrolling in a boarding school for girls in Gold Coast, Australia. The move, he pointed out, would present a great opportunity for her to learn to take care of herself.
“Several people asked my dad if he wasn’t worried about sending his only daughter so far away from home. But my father really saw it as an ‘opportunity’ for me to truly explore and develop myself to the fullest,” Ploy stated.
Back then, Ploy felt her life was already perfect – school, living conditions and friends. Yet, once at a crossroad, she decided to follow her dad’s suggestion. At the time, it was a mix of fear and courage; part of her was eager to try, while the other part was anxious about the new environment, unfamiliar society, and a different educational system.
“The first year of studying abroad in Australia was particularly challenging in terms of adaptation, especially with the language barrier. I still remember having to rely on a talking dictionary while attending classes. But in the end, I managed to get through it with relentless efforts,” she recounted.
Australia’s educational concepts and curriculums focus on enabling students to discover their true interests and pursue subjects they are genuinely passionate about. This fosters determination and creativity, particularly for students in Years 10 to 12 (high schoolers). At this stage, students have the freedom to choose subjects that interest them, such as business, economics, history, geography, digital technology, music, and drama. As Ploy was also a boarding student, she additionally developed self-discipline, a sense of duty and responsibility, as well as problem-solving skills.
At that time, Ploy didn’t know what she wanted to become in the future. But she noticed that she excelled in business-related subjects, which she had chosen herself, and looked up to her father who worked as a business consultant. Based on these points, she then pursued a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Queensland in Australia. After her graduation, she joined Deloitte’s risk advisory team in Singapore and worked there for as long as four years. She left that job only when deciding to attend the US-based Northwestern University’s MBA program.
Backed by the MBA from the prestigious institute, Ploy accumulated more experience, broadened her knowledge, and enhanced her skills at Boston Consulting Group, where she worked as a consultant for about two years. It is widely known that members of this internationally acclaimed consulting company possess not just exceptional talents but also resilience and endurance needed to perform well in the demanding work environment.
“Looking back, even though it was only a few years, one of the most lasting takeaways is how incredibly productive I have become. The high expectations from clients, combined with tight deadlines—like having a meeting today and needing to present findings by tomorrow—shaped me into someone who truly believes in and upholds a can-do attitude,” she said.
Ploy later had the opportunity to transition to the client side, starting with a role in Corporate Strategy at Total Access Communication (DTAC). This experience served as a “springboard,” allowing her to fully immerse herself in the telecommunications and digital technology sector. At the company, she finally took on a diverse range of responsibilities, including corporate strategy, online services, digital marketing, and marketing strategy.
From Mindfulness to Intended Results
With her remarkable skills, ability to deliver results, and readiness to tackle challenges, Ploy earned the trust of senior leaders. So, by the age of just 31, she was appointed a vice president. Then at the age of 35, she became the company’s Senior Vice President for Postpaid Market and Product, making her one of the youngest executives in the organization’s history at that time.
But… life has never been easy.
Before her promotion to this senior executive post, she had just returned from her six-month maternity leave. So, she was well aware that she would need to juggle the responsibilities of being a top executive and a mother to a young baby. When she was first approached for the position, she was somewhat worried.
“Normally, I never turned down opportunities and was always ready to take on new challenges. But this time was different. With limited experience in the field and my eight-month-old baby in mind, I was hesitant. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to excel in both roles. But in the end, I chose to say YES,” she said.
Her significant promotion happened around the time the COVID-19 crisis was still looming, adding even more challenges to her already demanding situation. The overwhelming obstacles may have shaken Ploy at times, but she managed to navigate through the storm successfully. Her secret? A simple yet powerful practice—mindfulness. By staying present in the moment and focusing entirely on the task at hand, she was able to maximize her effectiveness and push forward.
“”Most importantly, the company’s policy of providing six months of maternity leave was incredibly valuable. This extended period—beyond the standard three months required by labor laws—allowed me to fully embrace my role as a mother. From four to six months old, babies still need close attention and care,” the mother of one said.
The implementation of a six-month maternity leave policy, however, has often been questioned. How can it be implemented without causing internal conflicts given the limited availability of human resources. Having experienced both perspectives—as an executive and as a mother—Ploy firmly believes that everything can be managed effectively. She highlights three key principles:
1. Leader takes the lead: Leaders must demonstrate responsible leadership by temporarily taking on some of the workload from those exercising their maternity leave rights themselves.
2. Prioritising tasks: During the six-month period, work plans can be adjusted to align with available resources. There should never be just one rigid plan—flexibility is essential to adapting to different situations.
3. Advance Planning: Leaders should always plan ahead.
“The six-month maternity leave policy won’t trigger any conflict within a team if its leader plans ahead, makes good preparations, and fairly distribute tasks involved. Based on my experience in strategic consulting services, I have found that there are solutions to every problem,” she emphasized.
Husband: The Second Man Who’s Like Wind Beneath Her Wing
This accomplished female executive further shared that her husband, along with her parents, played a crucial role in enabling her to completely fulfil her responsibilities both as a “mother” and as a “leader.” During postpartum period, she faced significant physical changes, including fluctuating hormone levels, and the demands of breastfeeding. She also lacked enough rest throughout the six months following child delivery. But fortunately, her husband actively helped with childcare, taking turns to care for the baby during certain periods. His support has greatly alleviated her exhaustion as a mother.
“A father’s active involvement in child-rearing not only eases the mother’s physical fatigue but also reassures kids that they will always have someone by their side, creating a sense of warmth and closeness. I consider myself very lucky to have the unwavering support of my husband, my parents, and my company. Because of opportunities and support from them, I can do well both as a mother and as a working woman,” Ploy said.
Her case, moreover, underlines that in spite of her “devotion to motherhood,” True has continued to promote her career advancement based on her potential and the principles of gender equality. Her success, aside, reflects that good families and employers can help strengthen and sustain family institution.
“A father’s active involvement in child-rearing not only eases the mother’s physical fatigue but also reassures kids that they will always have someone by their side, creating a sense of warmth and closeness. I consider myself very lucky to have the unwavering support of my husband, my parents, and my company. Because of opportunities and support from them, I can do well both as a mother and as a working woman,” Ploy said.
Her case, moreover, underlines that in spite of her “devotion to motherhood,” True has continued to promote her career advancement based on her potential and the principles of gender equality. Her success, aside, reflects that good families and employers can help strengthen and sustain family institution.
Throughout her career, Ploy has proven that she is no less competent than men and that she can have the best of both worlds – family life and professional life. Yet, it is undeniable that behind her accomplishments are two men who have always stood by her side, offering her the total peace of mind.
It seems that the little girl who lived a simple life in the past has now found joy in soaring and exploring the vast world ahead of her.
