Breaking through the fiercely competitive fashion industry may seem like an impossible feat, but the Thai sensation, GENTLEWOMAN, has done just that. This brand has swiftly garnered affection from both local and international fashionistas, propelling itself into the spotlight. At the helm of this remarkable journey is Raya Wannapinyo, the brand’s visionary co-founder, recently crowned as one of the Women of the Year 2025. Raya’s path to fashion stardom wasn’t paved with silk and lace; it was a personal challenge that sparked her entrepreneurial fire. As a petite woman struggling to find workwear that fit well, she decided to take matters into her own hands. In 2018, joined by her business-savvy partners, she launched GENTLEWOMAN, a fashion brand aimed at providing chic attire for the modern working professional. Though the brand launched with a flourish, the Covid-19 pandemic threw an unexpected wrench into their growing success. With the virus’s unwelcome…
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In the dynamic world of retail, where adapting to change is key to survival, one woman stands out as a beacon of innovation and resilience. Meet Maytinee Phisutsinthop, the chief operating officer for the Small Format at Central Food Retail Co Ltd (CFR), who’s been steering this ship towards uncharted waters and triumphantly anchoring achievements that echo across Thailand’s retail landscape. Her 33-year career isn’t just a tale of progress up the corporate ladder; it’s a saga of visionary leadership that’s reshaping the norms of Thai retail. Climbing from a management trainee to the commanding role of COO in the Small Format sector of Tops Daily, Maytinee has set a benchmark in dedication and forward-thinking. Her transformative journey took a stellar turn when she assumed her current role in 2019. As the specter of the pandemic loomed, wreaking havoc across industries, Maytinee wielded her strategic prowess to keep Tops Daily…
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance, Pittaya Vorapanyaskul stands as a beacon of leadership and innovation. As the esteemed president and chief executive of Krungthai Card Plc (KTC), she has been recognized as one of the prestigious Women of the Year 2025. Her exceptional management philosophy, focusing on the symbiotic development of human resources and technology, has ignited business growth in an increasingly digital age. Taking the helm at KTC on January 1, 2024, Pittaya succeeded Rathian Srimongkol, and with her ascension, she marked history as the first female leader of one of Thailand’s foremost consumer finance entities under Krungthai Bank’s stewardship. With 26 enriching years within the company, her expertise in the credit card industry spans nearly three decades. Throughout her tenure at KTC, Pittaya has been nothing short of a transformative force, architecting strategies that have consistently propelled the brand forward. Her tenure as chief marketing and…
The realm of art laid a roadmap for Wishulada Panthanuvong, an industrious artist whose journeys have been animated by the colorful canvas of recycling and creativity. Growing up under the care of parents who were remarkable at scouring the hidden potential in discarded materials, Wishulada found herself in a world where reinvention wore the crown of everyday life. “When our house underwent renovation, my parents salvaged wooden fragments, crafting them into unique pieces of furniture. Where others saw emptiness in emptied syrup bottles, my parents saw potential and repurposed them with finesse,” Wishulada reminisced, her voice tinged with learned wisdom. Inquisitiveness soon crept into her views on everyday resourcefulness. “Why the inclination to reuse?” she’d often asked herself. The answer she found was as elegant as it was compelling – the discarded could also hold undiscovered worth. As her childhood home overflowed with these exciting materials, she found her own…
In a developing turn of events worthy of a blockbuster thriller, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has vowed to bring the hammer down on those entangled in a web of corruption surrounding medicine procurement and distribution at the Veterans General Hospital. This month, as the wheels of justice turn, we anticipate the issuance of arrest warrants that could very well set the stage for a dramatic showdown. The whistle-blower behind this daring expose? An unnamed MP who courageously decided to yank the curtain back on the alleged misconduct – a move tantamount to lighting the fuse on a corruption scandal that stretches far and wide. With the initial tip-off in hand, Mr. Phumtham wasted no time in assembling an elite investigation committee and consulting directly with the hospital’s director, setting in motion a series of events reminiscent of a Hollywood script. As the plot thickens, investigators…
The Ministry of Public Health has struck a high note with its groundbreaking campaign that encouraged the citizens of Thailand to keep a keen eye on their carbohydrate intake. Under the competent leadership of Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, the initiative has educated over 18 million Thais, an impressive achievement considering the original goal was to reach 20 million by March 2025. Thanks to the unwavering support from the diligent village health volunteers spread across the nation, a commendable 445,791 citizens successfully monitored their carbohydrate consumption between November 2024 and February this year. The results have been no less than transformative: more than 90,000 people have shed an average of 2.89 kilograms each. This weight loss is not just a matter of vanity but a significant stride in lowering the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, which are often exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Mr Somsak envisions broadening the campaign’s reach beyond its…
Amidst the bustling heart of Bangkok, a towering sentinel stands guard, holding tales of the past and whispers of times long gone. This sentinel, the iconic Giant Swing, has long been more than just wood and nails—it’s a historical tapestry woven intricately into the fabric of the city’s identity. However, the ravages of time and the elements have lately shaded this beloved monument’s steadfast charm with a streak of vulnerability. As of this March in 2025, a plan has emerged from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) with fervor, poised to breathe new life into this cherished landmark, following pressing calls for action by concerned city officials. Leading the charge is Thaiwut Khankaew, a man whose name carries the clout necessary to catalyze an operation of such magnitude. As the director of the BMA’s City Planning and Development Office, Thaiwut finds himself at the helm of this intricate mission. This formidable…
The drama at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday unfolded like a scene from a high-stakes legal thriller. It featured intrigue, power struggles, and constitutional conundrums. In the midst of this judicial limelight, the court firmly rejected a cabinet petition aimed at deciphering the enigmatic phrase, “a lack of clear honesty.” It was a request as complex as a Rubik’s cube but ultimately deemed unworthy of review due to its focus on legal interpretation, not an actual legal dispute. Primed for this constitutional showdown was Prime Minister’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil, acting on the cabinet’s behalf, with the indomitable Section 160 of the constitution and the moral straightjacket that is Section 9 of the Holders of Political Positions Act. Let’s dissect what’s at play: Section 160 is the gatekeeper of cabinet minister qualifications, insisting on a portfolio of unblemished integrity and zero serious ethical misdemeanors. Meanwhile, Section 9 waves the banner…
Once upon a time, in the bustling heart of Bangkok, there stood a hulking edifice that witnessed the rise and fall of fortunes—a building that seemed to have nine lives, just like its name suggested. The SKYY9 Centre, positioned grandly on Rama IX Road, became a symbol of ambition and loss during the 1997 “Tom Yam Kung” financial crisis. This was a time when the Southeast Asian markets were caught in economic turbulence, leaving many developments like SKYY9 as skeletal reminders of dreams gone awry. Initially, the building belonged to a property developer who, unfortunately, found themselves sinking into the quicksand of non-performing loans. Like a hot potato, ownership of the building bounced from hand to hand, eventually landing with Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Plc. In an almost cinematic twist of fate, the SKYY9 Centre was given a new lease on life when it was sold to a consortium of…
In a tale reminiscent of a high-stakes detective thriller, all eyes are now on the Ministry of Labour as it gears up to uncover the truth behind what might be the most talked-about building purchase in recent Thai history. The story begins with the Social Security Office (SSO) allegedly spending a jaw-dropping 7 billion baht on the SKYY9 Centre, a famed edifice on Rama IX Road, which appraisal whispers suggest should have cost no more than 3 billion baht. As the intrigue unfurls, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stepped into the spotlight with a commitment to transparency. “The acquisition of SKYY9 is being prepared for a vortex of scrutiny,” declared Mr. Phiphat. Following his emphatic pledge, the Ministry has welcomed an inquiry committee ready to dissect every facet of this puzzling transaction. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra played her card on Tuesday, summoning Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to assemble a formidable panel…