“There are two types of people in this world: those who see an opportunity and think they can’t do it and those who see an opportunity and try everything they can to make it happen. I’m the second type.”

Anyone who knows “Miley” or “Prattana Chatjaroenporn” would agree with the statement above, as this lively, spirited woman has proven herself to be exactly what she said.

From the starting point as a Senior Consultant within Bluebik’s Management Consulting & Strategy unit, Miley endeavored to become the Consulting Manager in the same team and the Manager of the CEO office in just a few years before finishing off her Bluebik years with the Associate Director position. 

As an MBA student at Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, a “hidden ivy league” known to create impactful leaders, we ask Miley to reflect on her Bluebik experience and share how Bluebik helped her become the leader she is today.

A consultant’s dream

Since graduation, Miley was determined to become a management consultant as she had interned and worked part-time as one before. She landed her dream job in no time, then, after a year, an HR officer from Bluebik contacted her. Miley was immediately drawn to Bluebik for the company’s focus on digital and innovation, which was different from her workplace at the time.

The moment the young consultant had the conversation with our CEO, “Boat” or “Pochara Arayakarnkul,” was when she knew Bluebik was her place.

“I didn’t do well on the interview case, but as Boat explained how he’d come up with a solution for this type of problem, I got the impression that he’s very smart from his knowledge and how he structured his thoughts. I thought to myself: if I worked here, I’d learn so much from him.

“Vibe was another important factor. When you talk to someone, you’d know whether you can work with them, and whether you’ll laugh at the same jokes. I felt Boat was open-minded and not hierarchical. He’s the type of CEO I’d have the courage to speak and work with. And he proved to be just that once I joined.”

Going above and beyond

The timing was just right when Miley started working at Bluebik. It was around the time we were asked to pitch one of the most monumental projects of the company’s history. Thus Miley was assigned with researching, laying out the strategy, as well as preparing for the pitch.

The timing was just right when Miley started working at Bluebik. It was around the time we were asked to pitch one of the most monumental projects in the company’s history. Thus Miley was assigned to research, lay out the strategy, and prepare for the presentation.

Although Bluebik was a small company at the time compared to other consulting firms who pitched for the same project, Bluebik went all out and sealed the deal.

Miley was one of a few who witnessed Bluebik’s culture in the making – going beyond standards.

“It’s essentially Boat. He pushed the team: if we wanted to win, we must go above and beyond. So we put in extra effort. We even went mystery shopping in our client’s competitor stores and made a deck on it. The client was very impressed because that was beyond what they initially expected from the pitch. I believe this was one of the key factors why we won.

“Therefore, one of the key takeaways from Bluebik for me is that don’t just get the work done, get it perfectly done.”

Seize it or leave it

After proving her worth with the pitch, Miley was promoted to consulting manager and led the big project.

In retrospect, Miley reflected that there was a moment when fear gripped her heart. “I was new to the company but was already assigned to lead a crucial project. It was both a challenge and an opportunity. There are two types of people in this world: those who see an opportunity and think they can’t do it and those who see an opportunity and try everything they can to make it happen. I’m the second type. And I have Boat to thank for his faith in me and guidance throughout.”

Try, learn, and discover your passion

After that, Miley was also involved in many projects that helped clients integrate their digital solutions with the UX journey, making the online and offline fuse together seamlessly. For some projects, Miley even developed new products for the clients. 

After working as a consulting manager for a while, Miley stumbled upon a pain point many consultants also face – the urge to do something by yourself.

“A consultant’s job was to lay out a strategy, but I wanted to try executing a project myself. At the time, Bluebik was about to go public, so I asked Boat to transfer me to the CEO’s office so I could help our beloved company become successful. Under Boat’s guidance, I was hands-on with every process, from strategy to execution. I also helped Boat find investors and partnerships; for example, for one of our joint ventures, I was there from day 1, helping with contract draft and KPIs development.” 

After trying her hands with execution, however, Miley decided to go back to strategizing. 

“In the end, I found out I like strategizing more than executing because I love to analyze, come up with new ideas, and talk to clients. I also prefer to have a finish line in sight. There was no finish line in execution, and it’s more for those who love to think on their feet.

“At the time, there was a new project with one of our existing clients, so I asked Boat to assign me to that as I have worked with them several times and know them inside out. That’s when I became the associate director.

Miley believed the opportunity to transfer internally to other units and the various projects had all played a role in her five successful years at Bluebik. “I started out as a consultant, but it was like I was both a consultant and an entrepreneur. I was there to help build our business units from the very start. I got to pitch big projects. I tried my hands at contract drafting. I even helped with recruitment. This made me a consultant who understood the clients or the business owners. It was one of the best things about working at Bluebik.”

MBA for the future

As a matter of fact, Miley had long planned to pursue an MBA degree. She clearly saw her future as an exceptional consultant and executive in leading companies, which required a higher level of education.

That’s why she started preparing for GMAT since she graduated with a bachelor’s degree and kept improving her score while simultaneously working as a management consultant. Anyone who works in this field would know that this was no easy task and demanded extreme determination.

“I clocked off work at 2-3 am; when would I study for the test? Anyone wishing to study MBA must have work experience. So you need to work and prepare for the test at the same time. That’s why many people quit their jobs to prepare for MBA applications. Sometimes I thought to myself: I could work and earn money. Why would I do this? It was a real test of will.” 

Miley strived and finally got a good GMAT score. She then prepared for the application to her one and only choice, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.

“I like Fuqua because I’m a people person. I love people, and I love my team. And everyone at Fuqua gives out the same vibe. They’re very supportive, and it is widely known that if you reach out to a Fuqua, you’ll definitely get help. We call this spirit “Team Fuqua.” I know I’ll thrive within the same vibe, and I can tell from talking to alumni and students that they’re my people.”

“Career-wise, I chose Fuqua because I’m into technology, and they’re really good at tech. Location-wise, I prefer to live on the east coast, which is not very city-ish. Fuqua checked all the boxes – a place I want to live, a school where I’ll get a job I want.”  

Bluebik supports you all the way through

It’s common knowledge that essay questions for MBA applications are no easy feat. For Miley, however, it was easy because she had been practicing her storytelling skills at Bluebik. 

“Apart from a business strategy, you also need a storyline when preparing for proposals. It would be best if you pitched that in a way they wanted to hear. So for me, the essay questions were not difficult at all. I knew what the school wanted. I positioned myself as such and then told my story in a way they wanted to hear.”

And what kind of people the Fuqua School of Business was looking for?

“They’re looking for someone with DQ (Decency Quotient) and EQ. With your GMAT score, you already proved your IQ. So they looked for DQ and EQ because they knew their students would be leaders one day, and they wanted to create impactful, empathetic leaders.”

Of course, Miley’s experience working at Bluebik helped her tremendously with the essay questions. For example, one question asked, “Tell me 25 random things about yourself.” Miley selected answers (which, really, were not random at all) from her experience.

“I told them about my contribution to Bluebik’s IPO. I was proud that I’ve been in a key role. As one of the early employees, IPO made me think of how I can improve people and organizations. This answer helped them see that I was a well-rounded leader.

“I also told them about the social committee I founded and was the president of for the first year. It was my favorite initiative because it was a way to get everyone together and give back to the community. We went trash-picking at Bang Saen. This showed the school that I was involved in other activities aside from work as well.”

And as we know it today, Miley was accepted into her dream MBA program!

Prepare today, become a leader tomorrow

Miley is now finishing off the first year of a two-year program. Although she is inundated with assignments and group projects, every day is full of fun and new knowledge. 

“I studied economics for my bachelor’s degree, so MBA helps lay the foundation for my knowledge in business. Actually, working on one project at Bluebik is equivalent to an MBA program because you need to consider every aspect, from finance to marketing and operations. Coming here, I have the upper hand as I have so many experiences to share with my classmates.

“When I lead the group projects, I basically do what I did at Bluebik. I love to build a close-knit team where everyone wants to work together and support each other. This way, you won’t get stressed out when you work. The productivity is high, and everyone is keen to give each other direct feedback so that we can all improve ourselves.”

Aside from group projects, discussing in class is something Miley really enjoys as she gets to hear different perspectives from classmates from other parts of the world.

“Here, the professors don’t just give lectures. They have us read business cases and ask for our opinions. Sometimes they don’t even conclude anything. They tell us what happened and encourage us to share our thoughts. For example, in one class, we talked about emerging market strategy. Companies in the US can’t have subsidiaries, but this is possible in other countries. And a classmate from Korea shared with us how Samsung grew into the conglomerate it is today. I felt like I learned a lot from the cases and other people’s knowledge and worldviews. It’s super interesting.”

Strategize like a pro consultant

Lastly, Miley emphasized that she couldn’t be a role model for everyone, and suggested that you need to have a clear picture of your future in mind before planning out your life.

“If you want to be an entrepreneur, an MBA degree might not be necessary. You just need to start today. But I want to be an executive in leading companies, so an MBA degree is crucial. And before applying for an MBA, I needed work experience, and what other jobs could I do that exposed me to all aspects of running a business if not a management consultant. Because I see my future clearly, I can lay down the strategy for my life.”

For anyone reading this with a similar future in mind, Miley said, “If you want a place where you can learn and grow, along with living your life to the fullest, Bluebik is the place for you. A job with such a steep learning curve normally comes with so much pressure and stress, but here at Bluebik, we have a strong support system. Everyone’s willing to help. Boat’s always here to answer your questions. Working at Bluebik, I wasn’t stressed out at all and felt connected with all my colleagues. To this day, when I go back to Thailand, I always go see my Bluebik friends.”

If you want to be a part of something extraordinary, see available positions at https://bluebik.com/career and send us an email right away!

The post “Not Just Done, But Perfectly Done.” Bluebik’s Ex-Associate Director Milley’s Lesson Learned and Her Journey to Duke’s MBA appeared first on Bluebik.

For “Beer Varakorn,” a Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at Bluebik, his passion for being a blue teamer or an expert in cybersecurity assessment and protection led him to the forefront on the leaderboard of the renowned Blue Team training platforms, CyberDefenders and Blue Team Labs Online. These platforms offer hands-on labs for developing digital forensic investigation skills, and to participate in these labs is also known as “playing in the lab.”

The term “forefront” is aptly used here, as Beer is literally at the front. He was ranked #1 in Thailand on both platforms, and at one point, he also achieved the #1 rank globally on CyberDefenders!

Furthermore, Beer is also the first Thai to be a “Certified CyberDefender” and is one of the few Thais to hold both Security Blue Team certifications: Blue Team Level 1 and Blue Team Level 2. 

How did Beer do it? Let’s hear his story.

A Blue Teamer Inspired by Movies 

Because he grew up enjoying movies about hackers, Beer dreamt of “kicking hackers off their feet and protecting systems because it seemed cool.” He studied network engineering and the internet before starting his career in a Security Operation Center (SOC), gradually advancing from an SOC Analyst to an SOC Specialist, and then to an SOC Team Lead.

After gaining considerable experience in SOC work, Beer began to feel that this field no longer presented a challenge. Coupled with his passion for cybersecurity, he started looking for ways to upskill, broaden his knowledge, and enhance his capabilities, paving his way for future growth as a Blue Teamer.

This search led Beer into the world of “playing in the lab.”

“Playing in the Lab” for Career Advancement

Recently, the Blue Team field has seen the emergence of new platforms for honing skills, with Blue Team Labs Online and CyberDefenders being the main platforms of interest for Blue Teamers.

On these platforms, those interested in Blue Team work can investigate digital cases in Hands-On Labs. The platforms present scenarios that one might encounter in real work situations, providing some data or evidence, such as a file from an organization that was attacked. The player’s role is to examine and discover when the attack happened, where the hacker accessed the system, and how to close that vulnerability.

These labs often feature a variety of challenges that allow players to practice analytical thinking and the use of different tools for investigation and truth-finding, such as SIEM, Autopsy, or FTK. Moreover, the platforms have a leaderboard that ranks participants who “play in the lab.”

It is worth mentioning here that Beer has been ranked #1 in Thailand on both platforms and even reached the top position of #1 in the world on CyberDefenders at one point! 

Besides the numerous labs available, sometimes the platforms organize online events where all players can compete against each other. Beer has participated in these and found many benefits.

“At first, I only played labs related to SOC, which involved analyzing logs with SIEM programs because I was already familiar with them. But then the platform organized an online event on a topic I had never worked on but was interested in, so I decided to give it a try.

“The first event was about malware. I wanted to know why malware could hack into systems, why it’s more intelligent than humans, and how people create it. So, I signed up for the event just to see, and it turned out I liked it. I ranked 17th out of 30 teams, because I was new to the topic, but it was a starting point for me to do malware Analysis.

“The second time I participated in an online event, it was about forensics. It was the first time I used analytical tools such as Autopsy and FTK. I ranked towards the bottom because I was still not proficient with the tools, but I found it fun and really enjoyed it.”

Even though he was at the bottom, being open and trying new skills led Beer to shift his career path from SOC to digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) at Bluebik.

Started out as “playing in the lab,” but ended up as a career advancement! 

“Playing in the Lab” for Certifications

Previously, the blue team field of work did have some certifications, but they often involved multiple-choice questions that assess one’s theoretical knowledge. Although these could be challenging and require significant preparation, Beer felt that such certifications didn’t accurately measure practical skills.

The concept of practical exams in certifications is a relatively new development in the last 3-4 years, led by pioneers in the field such as CyberDefenders and Security Blue Team, the owners of skill-developing platforms themselves. When Beer learned that these two were offering certifications, he set his goals on acquiring every certificate available.

The certification process involves enrolling in online courses and completing them before attempting the exams. At this stage, he must apply both the knowledge from the courses and the experience from “playing in the lab.” Despite Beer’s extensive practice through “playing in the lab,” he still found the exams challenging.

“It’s true that playing in the lab helps with principles and techniques, but the tools required in the exams might not be the same as those we used in the labs. Moreover, the exams are more like real work scenarios. In labs, they simulate situations and evidence that are quite isolated and unconnected, sometimes with just one computer. But for the exams, they simulate an entire network system with multiple servers and clients’ computers with external attacks, and we have to choose the right tools for each situation and analyze how everything is connected.

“The exams are like a new challenge that nobody has solved before. There’s no information on what they’re about, just a scenario set up by them, and us trying to find the answers. It’s pressuring and exciting because there’s a time limit. For example, the Certified CyberDefender gives you 48 hours, Blue Team Level 1 gives you 24 hours, and Blue Team Level 2 gives you 72 hours.

“You might think that’s a lot of time, but when you’re actually taking the exam, you have to divide your time between taking the exam and sleeping. Because on the first night, you’re so energized that you might not sleep at all, and then when you’re exhausted, you might oversleep and not finish the exam in time. So, time management is crucial.”

Despite the challenges, Beer successfully passed the exams, and as mentioned earlier, he became the first Thai to pass the Certified CyberDefender with flying colors and is one of the few Thais to hold both Blue Team Level 1 and Level 2 certifications. For Blue Team Level 2, he was also among the first 100 people in the world to pass.

These certifications not only validate Beer’s skills as a blue teamer but also symbolize his relentless effort and self-improvement.

Self-Improvement is in Bluebik’s DNA

Despite having cool credentials as described, Beer doesn’t stop there with his self-improvement. He is currently preparing to study for and take the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) certification to boost his forensics skills and be ready for any case. No matter what type of case comes his way, Beer is prepared to delve into the truth to help “kick hackers off their feet” and ensure the ultimate security for Bluebik’s clients’ systems.

And of course, now that Beer is part of Bluebik, the company supports the expenses 100% because we believe that constant skill development is crucial. We want everyone in Bluebik to unlock their true potential like a Ferrari with no brakes! Our scholarship isn’t limited in quantity; just meet the criteria, and it’s yours. Anyone interested can inquire more at Happy Helper or talents@bluebik.com.

And for those interested in getting tested for certifications, whether from Security Blue Team or CyberDefenders, you can read Beer’s reviews (in Thai) at the links below. Enjoy defending!

• Review of the BTL1 Certification course and exam
• Review of the BTL2 Certification course and exam
• Review of the CCD Certification course and exam

Lastly, anyone interested in joining the cybersecurity team with Beer at Bluebik can check out the open positions at bluebik.com/career/cybersecurity.

The post “Beer Varakorn” First Thai “Certified Cyber Defender” & Ex-#1 in the World on Blue Team Training Platform appeared first on Bluebik.

For many people, however, learning is still a challenge. For some, flipping through a few pages of a book can make them yawn, while others have left their online courses incomplete by chapter two.

No matter which scenario you find yourself in, we’re all in the same boat.

Don’t despair and lose your passion for learning just yet. Today, “Ying,” or “Suphan Fayong,” the Associate Director and Head of Technical Education from Bluebik’s HR team, is here to share his experience as a lifelong learner. He’s a successful self-learner who sets his own timetable, holding 17 IT certifications and earning a second runner-up prize from AWS DeepRacer.

Without further ado, let’s hear Ying’s story and get a glimpse of his passion for lifelong learning!

Disliking Before Liking

Although Ying is passionate about learning new things, he mentioned that he didn’t particularly enjoy learning when he was a student. Truth be told, he wasn’t even among the top students.

“As a child, I wasn’t particularly good in school. The only subject I excelled in was math. However, in high school, I discovered another subject that I not only excelled in but also enjoyed—physics.

“Physics is slightly different from math. When I studied math, I couldn’t see how it was related to anything in real life. With physics, on the other hand, I could see how it was connected to the world around me. For example, I could calculate the movement of stars and understand their positions in space and the amount of light or energy they were emitting.

“Studying physics ignited a passion for learning in me. I went from disliking learning to genuinely liking it. I also realized that learning something new and thoroughly understanding it can bring me happiness and add value to my life.

From Learner to Tutor

As a computer engineering student at Chulalongkorn University, Ying transformed from being a learner to becoming a well-known tutor among his peers.

“It all began when a friend asked me to tutor him, so I decided to give it a try. Through this experience, I discovered that tutoring others was beneficial to me because it forced me to understand the subject more thoroughly. Typically, when I learn something new, I gain a certain level of understanding through reading or watching videos. However, I deepen my comprehension by applying that knowledge to projects. Through tutoring, I achieved an even deeper understanding. Before passing on the knowledge, I had to crystallize my thoughts and find ways to explain what I understood to others by organizing my thoughts and preparing the explanations sentence by sentence.

Ying’s tutoring sessions became extremely popular among the computer engineering students. One time there were more than 30 participants, requiring him to conduct the session in a lecture room. It’s also worth mentioning that our CEO, Pochara Arayakarnkul, also participated in Ying’s sessions.

Build Your Own Motivation

At Bluebik, Ying might be the one holding the most IT certifications, including certifications from Google Cloud, Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, and more.

To Ying, displaying certifications on LinkedIn is merely an additional benefit. The real value of pursuing and obtaining these certifications lies in motivating himself to successfully acquire new knowledge and skills.

“Many times, self-directed learning can be challenging because there is no set schedule or defined content scope. You might not know when or how much to study. This often leads to either overcommitting and never finishing, or undercommitting and not gaining adequate proficiency.

“Sitting for certification exams serves as a way to compel oneself to learn. First, in preparing for the exam, you have a clear understanding of the required content to pass the test based on established standards. It’s neither too much nor too little. Second, you invest money to take the test, and there is a fixed test date. This compels you to create a structured study schedule, for example, dedicating 3 hours to study on both Saturdays and Sundays. Ultimately, failing the exam would be disappointing. This is how pursuing certifications can help you establish a study schedule and content scope.

“In summary, by creating a learning environment that mimics traditional schooling, where passing the test is essential to complete a course, there is a higher likelihood of successful self-directed learning. Consider applying Ying’s tips the next time you want to learn something new!

Learning to Compete Can Be Enjoyable

Besides taking tests, Ying has another tip that enhances the enjoyment of learning, which is to compete. Recently, Ying participated in the AWS DeepRacer competition hosted by Amazon Web Services.

The AWS DeepRacer competition challenges participants to apply their knowledge in AI, specifically the reinforcement learning method. They are tasked with defining the reward function, where the challenge lies in defining it in a way that allows the car to achieve maximum speed without falling off the road.

“AWS provides all the necessary tools for us to easily deploy AI models on the car. For example, the car is equipped with a camera for input. What we needed to do was: 1. Define the reward function to determine which behaviors we want to reward, 2. Define the action space to specify the car’s possible actions, and 3. Define the hyperparameters for training the AI.

“My approach involved experimenting with different types of reward functions and action spaces. I also trained the AI on various simulation tracks to develop the best AI model.”

By practicing extensively to gain a deep understanding of reinforcement learning in both theory and practice, Ying ultimately secured second place in the competition.

Bluebikians, Let’s Learn!

As he enjoys learning and sharing knowledge, Ying is happy to take on the role of Associate Director and Head of Technical Education at Bluebik.

Every day, Ying is both challenged and delighted to discover which topics each team needs to learn and to create content that caters to those needs in order to educate everyone at Bluebik. The classes he offers can be divided into two types: live classes for those who prefer real-time learning and the opportunity to ask questions during the class, and on-demand courses for those who value flexibility in terms of when and at what pace they learn.

Furthermore, Ying encourages everyone to explore topics that are not necessarily related to their profession because learning simply for the joy of acquiring new knowledge can be a passionate hobby for anyone.

“Creating a personalized learning program is advantageous, as relying solely on on-the-job learning may not always be fast enough. Therefore, you should actively pursue new knowledge without waiting.

With this in mind, let’s embrace lifelong learning together!

The post “Learning something new makes me happy.” A Story of “Ying,” A Lifelong Learner appeared first on Bluebik.

Each year, Cambridge Judge Business School thoroughly assesses top-tier candidates from every corner of the globe. Only around 200 people made up one class.

For the class of 2024, which will commence soon,  one of the 200 students is “Boss” or “Supavich Pannara,” a Senior Consultant from the Management Consulting & Strategy team. He was the brain behind the success of multiple projects, such as an application for Thailand’s leading organization that facilitates and meets the needs of users’ daily lives. It was Boss who came up with the app’s killer features. 

Despite his Master’s Degree in Finance from John Hopkins University, Boss discovered his passion for management consulting when he represented the university in a Venture Capital Investment Case (VCIC) competition at Silicon Valley and the JHGCC 9th Healthcare Case Competition. Thus, he decided to become a management consultant.

“Competing, I felt challenged. There were so many things I had yet to learn in class, and I must apply what I knew. The questions were open-ended. It’s not a fixed mathematical formula. We had to figure it out ourselves. Apply the formula in a way we thought would make sense.” 

Boss’s formula worked, apparently, as he has been working as a management consultant for over 4 years. Half of that time he spent with Bluebik helping our prestigious clients achieve their business goals.

Before Boss began a new chapter of his life, he sat down with us to share his experience working at Bluebik and his tips for applying to the MBA program at one of the world’s most distinguished universities.

With a strategy in place, you take off fast

Although he already finished his Master’s Degree, Boss believed an MBA degree was the missing piece in his career puzzle. It would fill his knowledge gap and open new doors of opportunity.

“I’ve been a consultant for a while, so I know what I don’t know. I was once assigned to work on a branding initiative for a financial institution in Singapore. I knew right away that I needed to work on my creativity. I want to improve myself, and what’s good about MBA is that I can choose whatever class I like, and I plan to learn everything that will help me overcome my weaknesses.”

Knowing full well what he wanted out of an MBA degree, Boss laid out an MBA application strategy like any great consultant would do.

“As I didn’t have much time, I completed a mock assessment to evaluate myself first and then only read the part I didn’t score well on. I also tried to tackle as few test questions as possible and picked only the quality ones. For example, if I already nailed this type of question, I’d move on to the next. Focus on what you didn’t do well, and your score will improve.”

“Also, although GMAT mainly focuses on logical thinking, familiarization with the English language also plays an important role. At that time, I subscribed to websites like “The Economist” and read the articles daily. It’s good for both my consultant job and test preparation.”

“As for the essay part, I need to develop how to tell my own story. Honestly, it’s almost like working as a consultant. It would be best to have a convincing storyline and pitch yourself to the university. Everything must be connected. Why do you want to study for an MBA? What makes you different from the other candidates? Tell your story in the simplest, most easily understandable way possible.”

With hands-on experience, you’re unique

More than half of the MBA candidates have management consulting backgrounds. That’s why Boss was asked, “How are you different from the others?”

Some people might find this question difficult, but Boss can answer right off the bat.

“I’m not like any other because I got hands-on experience. Consultants in most consulting firms would only lay out the strategy but aren’t involved in the implementation process. However, at Bluebik, I participated in every process, such as the application development. This is a rare opportunity in this field which I personally enjoyed. Every consultant must try once in their life because when you devise a strategy, there will be something you can’t foresee. If you’re there in the implementation process, you’ll see whether your strategy is actually doable, do any problems arise during implementation, and so on. With this experience, you’ll develop better solutions next time.”

Aside from being involved in the implementation process, Boss also said that working at Bluebik has provided him with an exceptional experience working with premium clientele from the public and private sectors. He wouldn’t be able to work with them had he not worked with a leading consulting firm such as Bluebik.

With international exposure, you’re ready to roll with intercultural classmates

With background studying and working in international environments, Boss believed Bluebik to be the best fit for his career as he got the opportunity to work with international clients. For example, he led an application development project for an Indonesian brokerage firm.

International exposure was one of the key selection criteria for MBA candidates, so Boss definitely had the upper hand here. “The MBA program values international exposure tremendously. When you join the class, they won’t put you in the same group with people from the same country. This is based on research that you wouldn’t learn as much if you were with people from the same background. So, the fact that I had so much experience with people from diverse backgrounds was of great help.”

With getting-things-done mindset, you’re successful

When asked about his tips for building a successful career, Boss said there were none.

“I didn’t do anything differently. I only did what everyone else should do as a norm: always complete whatever task you’re assigned. Get it done no matter what.”

But when asked about his learnings from Bluebik, Boss said there were plenty. 

“The first thing was prioritization. You need to juggle many things all at once, so you need to prioritize. What is at risk and needs immediate attention. What requires no attention, so don’t waste time with it. These things were not just hands-on, day-to-day experiences, but it’s something that I got from spending time with high-level clients, too.

“The second lesson was resilience. Sometimes I was assigned projects that I wasn’t familiar with. The good side is I learned a lot. On the flip side, however, the job did come with high stress. And if I made any mistake, I needed to learn how to get back on my feet again.”

With self-awareness, you live a life you love

Boss has some advice for anyone reading and wishing to work in management consulting or pursue an MBA degree: don’t do it just because everyone’s doing it. Talk it out with yourself first. 

“Lately, I interviewed a lot of aspiring consultants, and I met a lot of young graduates wishing to break into the field only because being a consultant seems so cool and you can transfer to other areas later. But you need to ask yourself first: why do you want to be a consultant, and do you really like this job? For me, any field of work is equally good if you have passion.

“Similar situation for studying for an MBA. Some consultants think getting an MBA degree is mandatory, but you need to pinpoint first what you need from the program. The school also wants someone who knows what they want and how they will take their career further with an MBA degree.”

If you already know what you want to do, Bluebik is more than willing to open doors for you. See available positions at https://bluebik.com/career and email us now!

The post International Exposure at Bluebik Got “Boss,” Into Cambridge appeared first on Bluebik.

You wouldn’t want to believe your ears if you knew Teeratat “Tat” Arayakarnkul because he’s now an MBA candidate at Columbia University, one of the most prestigious ivy league institutions in the US. 

Before this, Tat worked in marketing for a parking innovation platform, a subsidiary of Bluebik. He also worked as an Associate Category Manager at Lazada Thailand.

And before that, Tat was an undergraduate at the International School of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.

How did a low-ranking student become a marketing all-rounder and an ivy league MBA candidate?

Now Tat’s ready to share his story. 

What is your dream job?

Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an entrepreneur because I grew up running around my grandparent’s mom-and-pop shop. In primary school, my parents didn’t give me any allowance. Back then, there was a snack that came with Pokemon tokens.

Once I ate the snack, I’d sell the tokens to my classmates and use that money to buy more snacks.

To this day, I still want to start my own business, but I haven’t figured out what I’d do yet. I only know I want to be an entrepreneur who gives back to society, so I’m now exploring my options.

Since you want to be an entrepreneur, why did you study engineering?

At first, I didn’t have a preference for any faculty in particular, and my parents wanted all their children to study anything vocational. Thus, I chose to study engineering. Also, information technology was trending, and my major focused on all things information technology – software, coding – so I thought they would come in handy in the future.

After graduation, what did you do before you came to Bluebik?

I tended to the family business for a while. My responsibility was in sales and marketing, in which I had no prior education. So, I looked up the internet and just gave it a go. The good thing about helping out with the family business was I could experiment until I found out what worked or didn’t and used the findings to improve the business.

After that, I worked at Lazada Thailand as an Associate Category Manager. The job was a mix of sales and marketing, and the goal was to grow the category as much as possible with as few resources as possible.

What was your responsibility at Bluebik?

Mainly marketing. I laid out the marketing plan for a parking innovation start-up, a subsidiary of Bluebik. I also helped with hardware imports from  China. Later, I also worked as a project manager for platform-related projects.

What did you like most about working at Bluebik?

I liked having international exposure. I had always lived and worked in Thailand. Although I studied in an international program at university, all my classmates and professors were Thai. So, working at Bluebik was my first exposure to a multinational environment.

Previously, I’d assume that my colleagues shared similar backgrounds. However, when I worked in a multinational setting, I realized nobody’s the same. To succeed at work, I need to get to know each of them individually and open up to their views.

Was there a learning curve working in a global setting?

Once there was a conflict within the team. We argued as we didn’t know each other’s intentions. But it was more of a communication issue than anything else; while Thai people tend to compromise, people from different cultures tend to be straightforward. So, the message got lost in that different styles of communication. 

How did you come to that conclusion?

We opened up to each other and talked until we were on the same page. On my end, I needed to improve how I communicate, too.

Did that incident change your style of working? For example, did you become more straightforward than compromising?

We need both in the mix. You need to understand your team culture. If your team dislikes straightforwardness, you’ll need to find a way to talk to them without hurting their feelings.

I think of communication as an art, and working in such a diverse environment allowed me to practice my communication skill with different people. 

Why did you decide to pursue a master’s degree?

First of all, I still wanted to start a business. Although I could learn some topics myself, I wanted to dive deeper.

Secondly, I wanted to connect with foreigners as I might be able to collaborate with them in the future.

And lastly, I want to broaden my perspective because many businesses started overseas before they came to Thailand. Therefore, I might see business opportunities abroad and bring them back to Thailand.

How did you prepare yourself for the application?
I started by setting a goal, which is standard practice if you want to get into an MBA program. I’m interested in health care because I have an incurable medical condition that requires expensive treatment. So, I wish to do something to help Thai people have better access to such treatment.

Then I chose the university. My criteria were that it must be famous for healthcare and other industries, and Columbia was the first university that fit those criteria.

After that, I studied extremely hard for GMAT. After work, I’d study from 9 PM to 3 AM the next day and kept at it for almost five months. 

What was the key success factor of your MBA application?

Effort. To be honest, I wasn’t book-smart at all. I can clearly remember that in middle school, there were 121 students in my class, and I ranked academically at 119. 

I was looked down upon, so I used that energy to push myself further. If you’re not as smart as the others, you need to put in more effort. Thus, I put in as much effort as possible and never stopped doing so.

For example, my GMAT scores were terrible at first, so I pushed myself harder and harder. I studied harder for months on end. I sacrificed everything; I didn’t talk to friends or watch a single movie at the time.

I also put in extra effort for the personal statement. Some people might need a week to write, but it took me at least five months to craft it because I knew my English was not that good. I contemplated how to tell my story to stand out from the crowd and consulted with at least 20 people. I gave it my all. 

So how exactly did you tell your story in your essays?

There were three prompts: 

• What is your goal?
• Why did you want to study in Columbia?
• Write about a movie, song, or book you like.

For the first question, I wrote about my goal in healthcare. I explained why I was invested in this cause, how my previous experience helped with my purpose, what gaps needed to be filled to achieve my goal, and how studying at Columbia would help me fill those gaps.

How did working at Bluebik prepare you for the application?

Bluebik taught me how to think systematically. As I wrote the essays, I planned how to shape my storyline to make it interesting. Instead of treating the prompts as three separate questions, I connected all my answers and ensured each answer complemented the others. So, I wasn’t limited by the word count restriction at all.

What’s it like studying at Columbia?

This is only my first month here, and I have to say that it is quite a challenge. Assignments can be expected from every class, and half of them are group projects. 

Moreover, I’m still adjusting to how classes are carried out here. It’s totally different from Thailand. Here, the professors expect a lot of participation. I need to read a lot to prepare for in-class discussions.

Overall, it requires a lot of energy for a successful study, so it’s pretty tiring. I hope the situation will improve once I get used to it.

Is there something new you’ve just found out there?

Here, the professors encourage the students to experiment and not be afraid of being wrong. And the best part is that they won’t judge you at all.

For example, when the professor asks you a question, and you can’t explain your thoughts very well, he will try to help you with your words and get your ideas out. It’s okay even if your answer is wrong because he will then guide you to the correct answer. To me, it feels like a very safe space to learn.

Do you consider yourself someone who isn’t afraid to be wrong?

Actually, I am afraid of being wrong. Since I was young, at school, I’d be seen as an outcast if I did anything different or had different ideas. That had made me quite fearful of getting out of my comfort zone or being wrong. 

However, when I worked at Bluebik, I started to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Actually, there was a time when I interned as a consultant at Bluebik. I was very new to the scene, but the manager asked for my opinion without judging and even developed my ideas further.  

And being here, I tried to step out of my comfort zone even more. The first few days, I couldn’t bring myself to raise my hand. But this one time, a professor called me to answer a question. I did, and he smiled and said that was a good answer. I didn’t think it was a good answer, but it gave me the confidence to raise my hand the next time. 

So far, what do you like most about studying for an MBA degree at Columbia?

It’s the thing I just talked about. I like that they encourage everyone to participate. I’ve changed from someone afraid of being wrong to someone who dares to speak in class. I felt like I’d grown a lot.

Lastly, is there any advice for readers aspiring to work at Bluebik and study abroad?

Find out what you genuinely want to study. Once you do, find out which university will help you achieve your goals. Then all you need to do is put in as much effort as possible. I truly believe that effort will get you wherever you want to go.

The post “If You’re Not as Smart as the Others, Put In More Effort.” appeared first on Bluebik.

Today Anna is a Cornell University’s Tech MBA alumnus and the Senior Program Manager, Supply Strategy and Programs at Amazon. And she’s here to share her unique story. To get where she is today, Anna didn’t walk the red carpet. Instead, the carpet was the color of Bluebik’s outstanding blue!

The Right Place to Grow

Fresh out of Skidmore College as an Economics graduate, Anna was always doing something new. It was the time to discover her passion, and she had always been the type to challenge herself anyway. She studied Mandarin in Shang Hai. She worked in wealth management and data analytics. There was also a time when she considered launching her own dog treats business.

Of all the jobs Anna had tried her hands on, one stood out. It was when she worked as a Case Team Assistant at Boston Consulting Group.

Of course, it was also when she met Pochara Arayakarnkul, who went on to become the CEO of Bluebik.

Perfect timing did the trick. One day, Anna was looking for a new job. Although she worked in a big and stable company, she didn’t feel like it was a good fit for her.

“I felt like my colleagues weren’t as passionate as I am,” said Anna. “And a friend happened to tell me that Pochara was recruiting. So I came in for the interview.”

“There was a test question about underwear sales in Bangkok or Thailand. How would I solve the problem? How would I segment the target? How would I hypothesize? I was to come up with a presentation deck, too. I remembered Pochara commenting that the deck could be much better, but he offered me the job anyway,” Anna laughed.   

“He also asked me why I didn’t like my job and what I was looking for in the new position. I told him, ‘I want to work in a challenging environment to stretch myself and grow. I want to try harder and solve problems every day.’”  

Considering Bluebik was a newly established company at the time, Anna took a leap of faith. Why? Some people may ask.

“I only knew that if I took that risk, I’d learn and grow more. I didn’t even know what projects I’d be working on, but I was ready to roll up my sleeves. I also had the chance to talk to the team, and everyone’s so talented and energetic. I wanted to be part of a team like that.

“As it turned out, working at Bluebik was the longest I’d ever worked at one company, which was three years. Before that, the record was one year. Working at other companies, I’d find new jobs constantly because they’re not the right fit for me. Working at Bluebik, I’d never think of getting a new job because it was always challenging. I was never once bored. I loved it.”

Tackling Problems Head On

Anna started her journey at Bluebik as a Senior Consultant and was promoted to Senior Manager in no time. The client Anna took care of for three years was one of the top commercial banks in Thailand, which had long entrusted Bluebik with their digital projects since the very beginning of the company.   

Each project Anna worked on was monumental for both herself and Bluebik.

For Anna, it was the opportunity to gain valuable experience as a consultant and a team leader working on various IT projects. 

For Bluebik, it was the opportunity to establish itself as a consultancy that wouldn’t accept “no” for an answer.  

One of the innovations that Anna and the team rolled out successfully was a payment method that had become the new normal during the Covid-19 pandemic: QR code payment.

Pre-pandemic, disrupting the way people pay and receive money was a challenge. Still, Anna and the team toiled on and delivered results. EDC machines that can display QR codes, an application that supports QR code payments for merchants — done and dusted.

With no prior education or experience in banking or technology, Anna said three factors contributed to her success as a consultant: asking the right question, constant hunger for knowledge, and a 360 perspective.

“When you have your eyes on the goal, you need to know what information you need to get there. You will get some of the information by interviewing the clients. So, you need to ask the right questions to get the right answers.

“You also need to hunger to know more. For example, if the client answers something, but you think there’s still more to the story, then ask more questions. Keep asking until you prove every hypothesis right or wrong.

“Knowledge in frameworks was essential, too. To be a good consultant, you need to see from every perspective possible, and frameworks could help you do that.”

Besides being a trustworthy consultant, Anna was a team leader with more than ten people in her unit. As Bluebik believes in meritocracy over seniority, Anna was one of the first Bluebikians to get promoted to a managerial position very fast. Later, this practice became Bluebik’s fast-track promotion policy as we know it.

What qualities did the C-levels see in her and appointed her a manager so fast?

“Tough question,” Anna laughed before speculating, “I guess it was because I wasn’t afraid of problems. I might even like problems. I would complain but try to solve them anyway. Another reason might be that I liked being number one, and I wanted to be the best or even better than the best.

“However, managing a team was actually challenging. I went from doing everything myself to guiding people to do the work. Pochara coached me on how to do so. He even gave me bits of advice on managing my emotions when I felt overwhelmed. This was one of the good things about working at Bluebik. I’d never been left to my own devices. I was supported and guided all the way through.

“What’s more, my colleagues were helpful. They always lent me an ear. Bluebik was one of the few workplaces where my colleagues became my best friends. We spent so much time together on weekdays, yet we still wanted to hang out during weekends. Going to work was like spending time with friends. I had so much fun.”

The Path to an MBA

Although Anna thoroughly enjoyed working at Bluebik, every party must come to an end. 

After three years, Anna decided it was time to pursue a master’s degree. She had her eyes on the Tech MBA program at SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University. The program focuses on developing and managing technological products.

To apply for any MBA program, the candidate must prepare for two essentials: a GMAT score and a personal statement.  

On her GMAT score, Anna said “my score couldn’t possibly get me into Cornell. I only scored 650, while my friends scored 700 and above.”

If her GMAT score was too low, what got her into Cornell?
The answer was creativity and presentation.

“The personal statement can be in any format, be it a video clip or a PowerPoint presentation. So, I made an Instagram account telling my life story—what made me who I was and what I’d like to do. I told them I wanted to create a platform that helps farmers sell their produce without an intermediary, and I still want to do that someday. 

“And there was an interview focusing on my passion and life goals. It helped that I had so much exposure to the C-suite when I worked at Bluebik as I got to sharpen my speaking and presentation skills.”

When the program commenced, Anna discovered that “studying an MBA is not as in-depth as learning at Bluebik. When I worked at Bluebik, the knowledge I acquired was more profound, and the results were tangible.

“I didn’t struggle with the study, and I was already used to learning something new in a short span of time ever since I worked at Bluebik. Plus, I had many cases to share during class because I had experience managing big projects, worked for an influential commercial bank, and initiated new payment innovations for the country.”

Still, the MBA program was far from a disappointment. It broadened Anna’s horizons. “There was a class about the creative industry. Creative products like food, art, and music are not absolute. Everyone has their own opinions and feelings, so it was interesting to explore how I could sell this kind of product.”

Another great thing about MBA was friends. “Everyone in the class had similar goals in life, and they were serious about their goals, so we connected really fast.”

And it was an MBA friend who guided Anna to Amazon.

The Rare Opportunity

After graduation, many of Anna’s friends applied to the Leadership Development Program in Operations at Amazon. The program opened its door to MBA or other Master’s degree graduates who wished to work as operational managers. The participants would rotate in many operations units before being appointed to a suitable position.

Although she initially wasn’t interested, Anna applied because a friend told her to. Her application passed the initial screening, but the real challenge awaited at other steps of the hiring process.

“The first round was a writing test. I was given many mock workplace situations. If someone talked to you like this, how would you respond? If you encounter this situation, what would you do? It was more of a personality test, and I thought I wouldn’t make it because my working style might not fit in a competitive environment. 

“There was this one question — If a colleague did something wrong, but your line manager scolded both of you. What would you do? I told them my real thought: ‘I wouldn’t tell my line manager that it wasn’t my fault. I would help my colleague because I want us to win together.’ Finally, I passed that test.

“The second round was a four-hour, back-to-back interview with four interviewers. They asked me questions based on Amazon’s Leadership Principles. For example, on the principle ‘Deliver Results,’ they asked, ‘have you ever been in a situation where you have to deliver results on a tight deadline?’ 

“I was told that I must give three examples per principle. It was tough. With five years of work experience, how could I do that if I didn’t work at Bluebik? Everything I told them that day was not made up at all. All the experiences working on big projects and coming up with innovations were real. If I didn’t work at Bluebik, I might not have had these experiences. An opportunity like that was rare. Looking back, I am certain I made the right decision to leave a large, stable company to work at Bluebik.” 

Today, Anna has worked at Amazon for almost three years. After a few rotations to managerial positions within the operations unit, she is now the Senior Program Manager, Supply Strategy and Programs. Her core tasks are to plan and analyze data for the middle-mile delivery all across the 50 states of the US.

As always, she doesn’t fret even with such a heavy responsibility.

“When anyone tells me I’m not doing my job well enough, I don’t feel pressure because I still know what to do next. It’s okay. Let’s try this solution first. If the situation’s not improving, I’ll try other solutions. Every problem can be solved.”

To this day, Anna still misses the fun and friendly vibes of working at Bluebik. For anyone who dreams of a career in consultancy, a degree in MBA, and maybe a job overseas, here’s Anna’s advice.

“Come work at Bluebik. Everyone here is talented. You will learn so much and be part of a growing company. It’s an opportunity not to miss.”

The post “Studying an MBA is not as in-depth as learning at Bluebik.” Anna Chitman, ex-Senior Manager, Talks the Path to Ivy League and Amazon appeared first on Bluebik.