Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host,
Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and
I bring you content that's informative, positive,
fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and
produced with the help of students from the International
Community School of Bangkok. In a world that
constantly asks you to pick a lane and specialize,
what happens when your passion refuses to fit
in one box? What if success isn't about digging
deep in one spot? but about having the courage
to build in many. Today, we're exploring the
power of versatility and the mindset of an entrepreneur
who has built an empire by doing just that. Transitioning
from law to education, from education to skincare,
and blending decades of family tradition with
a modern global vision. We're diving deep into
a story of our guest today of Matum, the tycoon
of many trades. But before we introduce our special
guest today, let's hear our quote of the day
and get some headline news. A quote of the day
comes from an entrepreneurial mindset that perfectly
captures the spirit of Matum, the tycoon of many
traits. Versatility isn't about doing everything.
It's about daring to try anything. It reminds
us that success doesn't just belong to specialists.
It also belongs to those brave enough to explore,
adapt, and reinvent themselves along the way.
In the world that often tells us to find one
thing and stick with it, Matum shows that being
multi -talented is a strength. not a distraction.
Every skill learned, every project started, and
every trade mastered becomes part of a larger
story, one built on curiosity and courage. Don't
wait for the perfect moment or perfect path.
Start where you are, start something new, and
let your versatility lead the way. And that's
our quote of the day. Now on to some headline
news. Thank you for the quote of the day. Now
here's some headline news from around the world.
Our first story comes from Fox Business. According
to the report, more than 153 ,000 job cuts were
announced this past month, the highest total
in that month since 2003. The surprising part?
Many of these layoffs are being linked to the
increase in automation and artificial intelligence.
Instead of hiring new staff, companies are leaning
into AI tools to cut costs and streamline operations.
Economists say this might be the first real sign
that AI is starting to reshape the global job
market, not just in tech but across industries
from finance to logistics. Alright, next up we
move to the global tech front with a headline
from Fox Business Tech. NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang
made waves this week when he suggested that China
may soon overtake the U .S. in artificial intelligence
development. He pointed to China's aggressive
investments in hardware, data infrastructure,
and government -backed AI research. This isn't
just about technology, it's about who will lead
the next industrial revolution. Analysts say
if China wins this race, it could reshape everything
from global supply chains to how Western companies
compete in innovation. And finally, our third
story comes from TechCrunch. Peloton recalls
833 ,000 bikes after reports of injuries. Peloton,
once the darling of the home fitness boom, is
facing serious challenges again. The company
has recalled over 800 ,000 of its Bike Plus models
following reports of injuries caused by faulty
parts. This recall comes just as the company
was trying to rebuild its reputation after previous
product issues. It's a reminder of how fragile
consumer trust can be and how one safety incident
can ripple through a brand's financial and public
image overnight. So from major layoffs tied to
AI to global competition for technological dominance
and the continuing tension between innovation
and consumer safety, the business world is evolving
faster than ever. And that's our headline news
for this episode. Thank you for the quote. And
the news really paints a picture of a world in
constant change, driven by AI, intense global
competition, and shifting consumer trust. It
proves that to succeed today, you have to be
ready to adapt, pivot, and reinvent. And that
is the perfect transition to our main discussion.
Our guest today is the very definition of that.
We welcome Kun Matum, who is, in a way, a tycoon
of many trades. He has navigated career shifts
from law to education to building his own global
skincare brands. And he is with us in the studio
today. Esther, why don't you kick off our conversation?
Welcome to our podcast, Pima Tum. Please introduce
yourself and tell us a little about what you
do. I heard you started out as a student in Melbourne
as a... Worked part -time while studying. And
how did those early experiences shape your mindset
to today? Yeah, I start from nothing to zero.
I have no family in Melbourne. My mom lives in
Adelaide. And I work part -time at a coffee shop
called Hudson Coffee. It's like franchise, like
Starbucks, but Australian versions. And I have
to pay my rent on my own too. My family pays
the tuition fee. So I don't have time to... party
that much, but I work part -time as well. Apart
from working part -time at the cafe, I work as
a model too. And I was on the ads on TVC, promoting
Australian tourism and Melbourne Fashion Week
too. So I clean the toilet, fashion show, what
else, TVC. So I did everything for a living just
to pay rent and to support myself there. I think
that's the best way to learn because I used to
live in the UK before. my parents support me
financially, which means I can go party, I can
go, you know, I was underage, no. Drinking, no.
I didn't drink. Yeah, yeah. This is the best
way to learn. I think my parents learned from
my past, so that didn't support me financially
that much. So that, you know, shape of where
I am today, learning to survive by myself, yeah.
Sounds like you've had a lot of experiences as
a worker and as well as partying as well. So
moving on from that, I've heard then you studied
sustainability management at Monash University
and later ended up working as a paralegal in
Melbourne. So I'd like to ask, what inspired
you to take the leap and start Tycoon Education
and take that very first step into your very
first business? Well, it really rare back to
those days. More than 10 years ago, sustainability,
people were like, what is this? Why would we
care about sustainability? What's the meaning
of sustainability, right? I wanted to learn how
to, you know, sustain the business. It's easy
to make business, but it's harder to maintain
it, how it's going to make the business last
long, you know. So I decided to start this course
at Monash University. And then after that, it's
hard to get a job in Australia, especially for
international students. Back to those days, people
got the same degree as well. And we have to apply
the same application with all the locals. And
I feel like I was lucky to get a job. I applied
more than 100 places. I got interviewed for just
five places. And then I got a job at La Pala
Legal. I didn't do a law degree. I did some law
unit. It doesn't count. But it ended up working
at an immigration law firm in Australia. And
that's where I started how to deal with international
students, international immigrants who want to
move and have a better future in Australia. And
I was like, oh, this is a great job because you
help people to guide them to not just work on
paperwork. You have to help them choose the right
course, choose the right pieces. It feels like
you're part of their journey to setting a new
life in a new country. That's what I proud of.
I didn't make that much. I probably got paid
really low. I'm pretty much the slave of... of
the lawyers. But I learned a lot, though. I learned
that I get paid. I didn't do law, but I learned
a lot of immigration law, Australian immigration
law, for free, and I get paid. That's how I managed
to survive for a year. Yeah. That sounds so phenomenal.
After that big shift into skincare and beauty,
what gave you the courage to start over in a
new industry? It's actually my family business.
We've been in Thailand for 60 years. People would
be like, oh, Karis, why would you? You've been
doing tycoon for almost 10 years. Better to say
almost 10 years, but now 10 years old now tycoon.
Back to my roots. My family support me selling
herbal powders from like small chop before we
even have 7 -Eleven in Thailand. So it's my family
business. I say it's the right time for me to...
To come back here to Thailand to help them, especially
before COVID too. I didn't know COVID could happen.
I came back not even a year, COVID happened.
So even though we've been in Thailand for many
years, it doesn't mean we couldn't last that
long. A lot of big companies closed down during
COVID. So I spent my time for five years, worked
for them, worked for my family too. I learned
a lot, you know, because... My family was in
Thailand. I wouldn't be back. I would probably
stay in Australia. I love Australia. Life there
was good. Yeah, but I'm glad I came back at the
right time to help save the company too. Everyone
help each other. Everyone help us. But I'm proud
to be part of, you know, when crisis happened,
I was there to help them too. And we survived
COVID. And you know what's funny? During COVID
time is like the best seller year of our company.
Our MCG products, you know, not highlights seen
our product before. In 7 -Eleven, we have many
Thai brands under the same group. And the skincare
would cost you 25 baht to 55 baht. Even though
people were stressed, depressed, they still wanted
to look pretty. They got more time to do treatment
at home. So I was like, oh, okay, COVID was great
for us. Isn't that weird? But we do the right
marketing too at that time though. So, your experiences
stemmed a lot from your family and parents at
the time. But then I heard later on, you built
your own skincare brand from the ground up. Something
you did truly on your own. So I'd like to ask,
what inspired you to create it? And what does
it mean to you sentimentally? Well, I actually
just created my job, my family business. from
the beginning of the year, which means I have
no salary. But that was like the right time for
me to grow on my own now. Five years was just
enough for me. I learned a lot from them and
I feel like I want to be one of the cake, not
fighting just, you know, for just one cake. I
believe that one day I could, if I have my own
empire, I could support them too when they need
me financially. People say like, why would you
choose this way? Really stupid. Because, you
know, you already got everything there. But at
the end of the day, it came from big family.
I'm like in generation three. I wanted to prove
to myself. mostly myself and others too, that
I could do this on my own, like sales make. I
hate it when people say that, oh, Curtis, you
got everything on point already. Your family
got this, got that. I was like, because I'm the
guy who try really hard. Sometimes no one's seen
it, but that's okay. I'm the one who know what
I'm doing. At the end of the day, when you go
older, you're careless about others, what people
say, you know what you're doing. And at the end
of the day, you should be proud of yourself.
That's the main reason why I started. It's called
Biocell. It's a really new brand. My partner
is a doctor, skin doctor. And I'm the factory
owner. So it's like good combination between
factories, RD team and skin doctor. Like same
generation too. I want to do everything on my
own way. That's why I was like, okay, it's time
though. I still need the salary. Yes. But starting,
you know, start up is always hard from the beginning,
but I'm sure it worth it after a few years. Wow.
Also, a very nice factor about this, your family
has been in skincare for over 60 years, which
sounds so professional. How do you balance your
tradition with bringing your own modern version
to the brands? It took a lot of time for me.
Like Generation 2, Generation 1, and my generation.
think differently but we share the same goal
to you know keep the company forward how could
we survive this year how could we survive the
crisis how could we come up with a new campaign
yes um sometimes we have to separate the you
know at home i'm a grandson i'm a son but at
the company i'm the director of this department
so sometimes you have to brave enough to say
no to your uncle -in -law to your auntie too
brave enough to challenge your grandma who's
father the company but at the end of the day
we have the same goal like we want to make profit
of the company you want to share this good thing
to thai people and international market too it
i would say it took me quite some time to adapt
it you know because i used to work in western
country we can just speak thing honestly like
straightforward but in thailand respect yes we
do respect each other in western country too
but you know when it comes to families yeah it
really sensitive sometime like why would you
do that i was like why would you hire me if you
want thing to be the same You should just keep
this budget for marketing budget. It would be
better, right? You hire me because you want something
new. Otherwise, you don't need me here. I just
be straightforward to them. It takes time for
me. It takes time for them to accept who I am.
And this is like the new generation. And even
me now, I have to adapt to work with Gen Z too.
They work differently from us. I'm Generation
Y, right? The new Gen Z. If you add up myself
too, I was like, you can't be that guy that you...
didn't like before, open your heart and open
your mind. Understand them. Yeah, like your generation.
We'll probably work with us one day soon. Matum,
thank you for sharing so much with us. It's truly
fascinating and encouraging, a powerful reminder
that every entrepreneur's journey is unique.
We've already covered a great deal of ground,
but we need to pause for a quick break. So stay
put. We'll be right back with part two of our
discussion right after this short PSA. Hello,
everybody. Here's a quick message for your health
and safety. Don't skip the label. In today's
market, it's easy to get overwhelmed by marketing
buzzwords. But remember, the most important information
about your skincare and wellness products is
right on the ingredients list. Take a few seconds
to research unfamiliar ingredients, especially
if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Look
for clear indications of manufactured quality
and any certifications. This is especially true
for herbal products. Natural doesn't always mean
safe for everyone. Be an informed consumer. Knowing
what you put on and into your body is the first
step towards true wellness. Check the label.
Stay safe. And welcome back to our discussion
with our guest, Kun Matum. Before the break,
we were tracing Matum's journey from law to education
and skincare. Now let's dive deeper into the
strategy and values behind those brands. Esther,
go ahead and get us started again. Okay, so running
a family business isn't always easy cooperating
with them and getting in like the same level
as you. What's one challenge you faced and how
did you handle it? I would say, generation gap
between, like I mentioned before, you know, with
my auntie and with my grandma too. And communication.
Sometimes, you know, when it comes to family
business, you could say something a little bit
often that to them, you have to make sure you
don't ruin their family relationship to you.
So you have to maintain professionals and family
too. One of the child and I have faced in the
past before. But like I mentioned before, at
the end of the day, We have the same purpose.
We share the same dreams as well. And me and
myself have to do something a little bit slower
as well because back to those days, people do
things a little bit slow. Like me, wanting to
get things done fast could affect the work that
had been done in the past like 40, 50 years too.
So me and myself, I also have to change too,
which I did, and the team too. Imagine one of
the finance directors who worked there since
you were born. Now they have to work under you.
How would you manage that? Calling you from Nong
Matum to Khun Matum, you have to prove to them
that you're worth it, that you could do things,
that you could lead the company too. Not many
people could lead a company, even just like the
air of the family. So it takes time and improvement
by your work as well. Yeah. Don't let them say
that you got the position by granted. I work
hard. to be in this position too. Yeah. To prove
to them that you can do this. It seems like a
lot of pressure on them. Yeah. I'm not sure you
guys got time to visit them, but this is what
can happen when you go back to them. Even a small,
big... Yeah, we like medium -sized, but you know,
still. But enjoy it along the way. I would like
to tell people and even myself too, I learned
a lot of new things from them in the past five
years. Even I just quit from January. Seems like...
Very tough experiences. For the best, I'm happy
now. I'm always happy, but work, some days are
tough, some days are good. That's life, right?
Yeah. Speaking of your life experiences, you've
lived in Thailand and Australia, two vastly different
places geologically and culturally. Places that
can bring you such contrasting experiences. So
I'd like to ask, how do you see Thai creativity
and entrepreneurship? being recognized around
the world today because it's not as prominent
as Australia or other countries? Well, good question
there. We have not many visit owners or entrepreneurs
like in Thailand. Believe it or not, in Australia,
it's rare to have your own things because all
the expenses are quite high compared to Thailand.
But yeah, I feel like it doesn't matter where
you live. You know, you just do you. And I learned
a lot from Australia as well. And I learned a
lot from Thailand. And now I'm still doing like
business in both countries. I got the office
in Melbourne too for Thai Queen Education. Still
operating right now for more than 10 years. And
one in Thailand too. And another one, through
Akara Houses and Akara Aroma, you've highlighted
Thai culture in your work. Why do you think culture
is such a strong, like important part of businesses?
Does make us unique. Otherwise, it would be the
same. If you don't have, like, cultures, it's
just a house. But Accra House is located in Sukhothai,
right? Sukhothai. It was the first Thailand capital
city. You guys know? Yeah. Yeah, you know. Okay.
I just heard about it two years ago. I don't
know where. I bought the antique, the heritage
house 120 years ago. Opposite the ancient religious
old temples is in Sukhothai, in Suisachinalai.
A lot of history. And it's really popular right
now because Thai culture, Sukhothai culture,
back to those days. Yeah. And with our cultures,
what makes us different than others, right? Yeah.
So that's why our car house is really unique
right now. It's like Airbnb, but we could book
it from agodaandbooking .com too. Yeah. And for
our foreigners of it, Thai people, they don't
even know where Sukhothai. How weird. I don't
think you guys know where Sukhothai. You guys
know? You know? Where? We've been there, honestly.
Oh, you've been there? Oh, yeah. School. Oh.
My house. Oh, okay. My house is located in such
an alley. It's another part of Sukhothai. But
it's an old town. It's opposite a historical
park as well. Yeah, you guys should go when you
have time. Wow. Yeah. Must have such a nice view,
right? 800 years old temples. Imagine that. You
wake up and you see the view of the river, Yom
River, and the temples. like that every day.
You see the view of the pagoda, like Wat Arun.
But this one is called, this one is called Wat
Phra Pran. But if you compare it to the temples
in Bangkok, it's like the Arun temples. You can
see the pagoda with a nice view. But it's, you
know, really quite slow if compared to Bangkok.
Yeah. If I want to take a break from Bangkok
for a bit, I go there. Seems really crazy now
that I'm trying to envision that. So, well, that's
a lovely house to have. I wish I would, you know,
eventually, maybe. I'll buy one there. Yeah.
You can just book and visit there, you know.
It's a $3 ,000 for a night. Come and request.
Maybe I should go to your Airbnb. I do that too.
Okay. So you've built many businesses in education,
beauty, and real estate, as we spoke. It's near.
Okay. So I'm sure you've had your share take
on each, you know, sort of sector of business
there. So what's one value that connects all
of them? Integrity. To be honest though, when
people trust you, you can do a lot of things.
Yeah, and apart from that passion, you must love,
you must like the thing that you do. Yeah, so
it comes together for me. For students just starting
out and finding their way for the future, what's
one piece of advice you wish you had back in
Melbourne? Well, I have a lot of advice. Only
one, the very important one. Just do it. Just
do it. Do it. Live your life. Be curious. Make
a mistake. Go to party. Take courses. Go to party.
For real. Go to balls. Attend all the events
that you could do. You can't turn back to your
high school anymore. That's why I said just do
it. Because if I just do it, you could do a lot
of things. You wouldn't feel regret. I have no
regret joining so many clubs back to my uni day
or my school day as well. Yeah, make a mistake.
Work part -time. um phone love cry whatever it's
pop life and you won't regret anything at all
so just do it follow your heart yep be brave
is there a very like favorite memory of yours
from melbourne yeah so many only one only one
only one right oh okay this is good um this is
the first day that i tried to apply for the job
at justin shopping center it um in a department
store right and i didn't i never worked in you
know in sales before i it took me two three hours
to hand in hand out my resume i stand there at
law course store and i was like you can do this
because you can do this because i was a little
bit chubby because back in the uk my thai friends
don't want work part -time before back to my
day oh you work you don't have money oh that's
funny but for my australian friend i'm like how
come you don't work are you what what's wrong
with you everyone work here so people around
you like really important so total difference
my Thai friend back to those I was like young
like 16 yeah but I was like 20 something back
then in Melbourne town so people were like you
must work hard you can't rely on your family
if you want to do something else if you want
to have pocket money you must work so people
99 % of my friends, my classmates from everywhere,
all the Australian locals from countryside, from
Melbourne too, from other states too, they work.
So it encouraged me like, Karis, you must work.
So it's one of my highlights because it took
me like an hour to like, this is my resume. Please
take me. Please take me. But after once, I remember
at LaCourse, they thought like, oh, you want
to buy something? I was like, no, I'm looking
for a job. And then I ran away. Because I was
shy. And then I never got any call back. So you
have to, you know, in retail, you have to be
brave to sell stuff. But I was so shy just to
because hand out my resume. I was like, okay,
I can do this. But after the first store, I end
up like hand out my resume, more than like 20
store back to those. It was like happiest day
of my life. Because I, you know, I could just,
I was, I'm there. I thought I was the winner
back to those. I didn't get any job. I don't
know why, because I didn't have any retail experience.
But at the end of the day, I win my heart. You
know, I find my fear. Like I was fearless back
to those days. I was like, yeah, that's one of
my highlight thing. Yeah. So actually what's
really intrigued me and from what, you know,
from talking to you, I've heard that you have
such a, you know, you always like when you're
talking to yourself, you always say your full
name. It seems like you have such a strong self
identity. And like, I feel like that gives you
the confidence and like sort of, you know, shows
how far you've become and how you've really trust
me, like truly know yourself now. And how is
that, like, self -identity? How does that help
you throughout life? I want to know. Well, every
time I say, you can't do this because it reminds
me of myself, what I have done in the past and
how far I came right now. Yeah, so it gives me
the energy, like, you could do this. I always
tell myself, anything gets tough because at the
end of the day, guys, no one could help you except
yourself. Even your friend could guide you, but
the one who makes the change is you. Which university
you want to go, which of you want to apply. it
up to you so i spent a lot of time by myself
i love going to see friends as well but you know
once you get a little bit like order have more
experience you talk to yourself more like hey
curse let's talk to yourself what you want to
do why are you so stressed what can we help what
can me myself help me so it that's why i love
calling it like you can do this And if I've done
something wrong, I'm going to tell myself, it
was wrong, fix it too. So it takes a lot of time
to be in this, you know, level of like talking
to yourself verbally, you know. Yeah, being there,
doing that and doing that again. Thank you so
much for coming on site and having a recording
with us. We're actually so grateful. Thank you
so much for everything, Pimatum. Thank you so
much. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you so
much. A massive thank you to our special guest,
Fatoum, for sharing his incredible story. And
of course, thank you to our co -host, Esther
and James, for their insights and great questions.
The big takeaway for me today is that your path
doesn't have to be a straight line. Success can
be found in the courage to pivot, to blend tradition
with new ideas, and to stay curious. Thank you
all for tuning in. If you enjoyed today's discussion,
please be sure to subscribe to our podcast on
whatever platform you're listening on. so you
never miss another episode. And as always, this
podcast would not be possible without the hard
work and support of our international student
production team. All music and sound effects
are courtesy of Pixabay .com, a vibrant community
of creatives sharing copyright -free images,
videos, and music. And we're signing off. Until
next time, we're Students Incorporated, because
your voice matters.