What do you most/least enjoy about your work environment? The sense of teamwork here is strong and I think we accomplish a lot despite our relatively small size. Working in this field requires a constant awareness of what's going on in the news and, sometimes, absorbing a huge amount of information each day can be quite overwhelming, but it is also empowering and enriching. The downside is that the downturn in the economy means smaller budgets, plus the traffic and pollution don't help much either.
What, or who, has most influenced your career? My background in IT and a strong interest in current affairs have been a positive influence on me. Tom Blarcom (my current boss) and Jennifer Phang (my ex-boss), both have great vision and are real professionals in the PR field.
Where do you see yourself in the next three years? I hope to become an expert in specialised sectors of PR and communications, particular in the technology PR field, which I find to be the most challenging.
What advice would you would give fellow PR practitioners? Always try to be one step ahead of your clients, lead and guide them instead of being manipulated by their often-changing requirements and demands. If you are unable to communicate effectively and openly with them, you will have problems in getting the right message across to their targets. A good sense of humour helps to keep the atmosphere friendly and open when dealing with tricky situations.
What has been your biggest achievement/mistake? I always reflect after each successful project and try to learn from the mistakes and take on board the successes for future projects - this industry is very dynamic and competitive and it is essential to keep evolving and improving. I am always satisfied when my client is happy with the end result and the feedback is positive. We are all human and all make mistakes - most recently I had a problem with some Thai language typesetting which ended up with the invitations for a large IT event almost turning out disastrous - luckily for me, one of my colleagues spotted the mistake in the nick of time, but it was a good wake up call for me to be more diligent when proof reading! You know what they say, "God is in the details".
How do you de-stress from work? I try where ever possible to keep my private life and career as separate as possible - not taking too much work home I think is always a good idea. To de-stress I like to swim and practice yoga, which I find is an ideal way to relax after a tough and stressful day, detaching totally from the pressures of the job and my surroundings. Good company and a few drinks on a Friday are always a great start to a relaxing weekend as well.
Surat Tantanawiwat, Public Relations Manager, TQPR Thailand, 11/F Rajapark Bldg., 163 Sukhumvit 21 Rd., Kongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110. Tel: +662 260-5820. Fax: +662 260+5847/8. Email: tqprthai@ksc9.th.com.
