WEBVTT 00:00:10.830 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:13.589 --> 00:00:16.329 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:18.870 I bring you content that's informative, positive, 00:00:19.010 --> 00:00:21.809 fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and 00:00:21.809 --> 00:00:23.969 produced with the help of students from the International 00:00:23.969 --> 00:00:28.250 Community School of Bangkok. In a world that 00:00:28.250 --> 00:00:30.589 constantly asks you to pick a lane and specialize, 00:00:31.050 --> 00:00:33.590 what happens when your passion refuses to fit 00:00:33.590 --> 00:00:36.750 in one box? What if success isn't about digging 00:00:36.750 --> 00:00:39.450 deep in one spot? but about having the courage 00:00:39.450 --> 00:00:42.350 to build in many. Today, we're exploring the 00:00:42.350 --> 00:00:45.250 power of versatility and the mindset of an entrepreneur 00:00:45.250 --> 00:00:49.469 who has built an empire by doing just that. Transitioning 00:00:49.469 --> 00:00:52.570 from law to education, from education to skincare, 00:00:52.789 --> 00:00:55.369 and blending decades of family tradition with 00:00:55.369 --> 00:00:58.329 a modern global vision. We're diving deep into 00:00:58.329 --> 00:01:01.609 a story of our guest today of Matum, the tycoon 00:01:01.609 --> 00:01:04.769 of many trades. But before we introduce our special 00:01:04.769 --> 00:01:06.829 guest today, let's hear our quote of the day 00:01:06.829 --> 00:01:09.189 and get some headline news. A quote of the day 00:01:09.189 --> 00:01:11.930 comes from an entrepreneurial mindset that perfectly 00:01:11.930 --> 00:01:15.049 captures the spirit of Matum, the tycoon of many 00:01:15.049 --> 00:01:17.569 traits. Versatility isn't about doing everything. 00:01:17.750 --> 00:01:20.569 It's about daring to try anything. It reminds 00:01:20.569 --> 00:01:23.590 us that success doesn't just belong to specialists. 00:01:23.769 --> 00:01:26.629 It also belongs to those brave enough to explore, 00:01:26.790 --> 00:01:29.290 adapt, and reinvent themselves along the way. 00:01:29.390 --> 00:01:32.950 In the world that often tells us to find one 00:01:32.950 --> 00:01:35.329 thing and stick with it, Matum shows that being 00:01:35.329 --> 00:01:37.980 multi -talented is a strength. not a distraction. 00:01:38.459 --> 00:01:41.200 Every skill learned, every project started, and 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.099 every trade mastered becomes part of a larger 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:47.359 story, one built on curiosity and courage. Don't 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.459 wait for the perfect moment or perfect path. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:52.560 Start where you are, start something new, and 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:55.299 let your versatility lead the way. And that's 00:01:55.299 --> 00:01:57.260 our quote of the day. Now on to some headline 00:01:57.260 --> 00:02:00.019 news. Thank you for the quote of the day. Now 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:02.040 here's some headline news from around the world. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:05.590 Our first story comes from Fox Business. According 00:02:05.590 --> 00:02:10.030 to the report, more than 153 ,000 job cuts were 00:02:10.030 --> 00:02:12.669 announced this past month, the highest total 00:02:12.669 --> 00:02:16.349 in that month since 2003. The surprising part? 00:02:16.490 --> 00:02:18.550 Many of these layoffs are being linked to the 00:02:18.550 --> 00:02:21.270 increase in automation and artificial intelligence. 00:02:21.689 --> 00:02:24.550 Instead of hiring new staff, companies are leaning 00:02:24.550 --> 00:02:28.250 into AI tools to cut costs and streamline operations. 00:02:29.229 --> 00:02:31.710 Economists say this might be the first real sign 00:02:31.710 --> 00:02:34.229 that AI is starting to reshape the global job 00:02:34.229 --> 00:02:37.030 market, not just in tech but across industries 00:02:37.030 --> 00:02:41.050 from finance to logistics. Alright, next up we 00:02:41.050 --> 00:02:43.310 move to the global tech front with a headline 00:02:43.310 --> 00:02:47.750 from Fox Business Tech. NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang 00:02:47.750 --> 00:02:50.789 made waves this week when he suggested that China 00:02:50.789 --> 00:02:53.810 may soon overtake the U .S. in artificial intelligence 00:02:53.810 --> 00:02:56.810 development. He pointed to China's aggressive 00:02:56.810 --> 00:02:59.439 investments in hardware, data infrastructure, 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:03.060 and government -backed AI research. This isn't 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:05.060 just about technology, it's about who will lead 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:07.879 the next industrial revolution. Analysts say 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:10.460 if China wins this race, it could reshape everything 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:13.479 from global supply chains to how Western companies 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.900 compete in innovation. And finally, our third 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:20.000 story comes from TechCrunch. Peloton recalls 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.889 833 ,000 bikes after reports of injuries. Peloton, 00:03:25.030 --> 00:03:27.530 once the darling of the home fitness boom, is 00:03:27.530 --> 00:03:30.449 facing serious challenges again. The company 00:03:30.449 --> 00:03:34.689 has recalled over 800 ,000 of its Bike Plus models 00:03:34.689 --> 00:03:37.710 following reports of injuries caused by faulty 00:03:37.710 --> 00:03:40.930 parts. This recall comes just as the company 00:03:40.930 --> 00:03:44.289 was trying to rebuild its reputation after previous 00:03:44.289 --> 00:03:47.719 product issues. It's a reminder of how fragile 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:50.520 consumer trust can be and how one safety incident 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:53.280 can ripple through a brand's financial and public 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:56.919 image overnight. So from major layoffs tied to 00:03:56.919 --> 00:04:00.680 AI to global competition for technological dominance 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.780 and the continuing tension between innovation 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:06.960 and consumer safety, the business world is evolving 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:09.620 faster than ever. And that's our headline news 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:14.280 for this episode. Thank you for the quote. And 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:17.060 the news really paints a picture of a world in 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:20.040 constant change, driven by AI, intense global 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.199 competition, and shifting consumer trust. It 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.319 proves that to succeed today, you have to be 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:28.839 ready to adapt, pivot, and reinvent. And that 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:30.959 is the perfect transition to our main discussion. 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:34.079 Our guest today is the very definition of that. 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:37.740 We welcome Kun Matum, who is, in a way, a tycoon 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:40.660 of many trades. He has navigated career shifts 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:43.740 from law to education to building his own global 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:46.779 skincare brands. And he is with us in the studio 00:04:46.779 --> 00:04:49.439 today. Esther, why don't you kick off our conversation? 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:52.480 Welcome to our podcast, Pima Tum. Please introduce 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:54.680 yourself and tell us a little about what you 00:04:54.680 --> 00:05:19.189 do. I heard you started out as a student in Melbourne 00:05:19.189 --> 00:05:23.220 as a... Worked part -time while studying. And 00:05:23.220 --> 00:05:25.600 how did those early experiences shape your mindset 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:28.779 to today? Yeah, I start from nothing to zero. 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:30.600 I have no family in Melbourne. My mom lives in 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:33.860 Adelaide. And I work part -time at a coffee shop 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:36.720 called Hudson Coffee. It's like franchise, like 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:39.699 Starbucks, but Australian versions. And I have 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:41.600 to pay my rent on my own too. My family pays 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:44.420 the tuition fee. So I don't have time to... party 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:47.459 that much, but I work part -time as well. Apart 00:05:47.459 --> 00:05:51.040 from working part -time at the cafe, I work as 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:56.379 a model too. And I was on the ads on TVC, promoting 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:59.639 Australian tourism and Melbourne Fashion Week 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:03.899 too. So I clean the toilet, fashion show, what 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:07.220 else, TVC. So I did everything for a living just 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:10.680 to pay rent and to support myself there. I think 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:12.660 that's the best way to learn because I used to 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:15.129 live in the UK before. my parents support me 00:06:15.129 --> 00:06:18.569 financially, which means I can go party, I can 00:06:18.569 --> 00:06:22.949 go, you know, I was underage, no. Drinking, no. 00:06:23.050 --> 00:06:27.410 I didn't drink. Yeah, yeah. This is the best 00:06:27.410 --> 00:06:29.209 way to learn. I think my parents learned from 00:06:29.209 --> 00:06:31.569 my past, so that didn't support me financially 00:06:31.569 --> 00:06:33.730 that much. So that, you know, shape of where 00:06:33.730 --> 00:06:36.050 I am today, learning to survive by myself, yeah. 00:06:37.769 --> 00:06:40.910 Sounds like you've had a lot of experiences as 00:06:40.910 --> 00:06:44.889 a worker and as well as partying as well. So 00:06:44.889 --> 00:06:47.949 moving on from that, I've heard then you studied 00:06:47.949 --> 00:06:50.389 sustainability management at Monash University 00:06:50.389 --> 00:06:53.329 and later ended up working as a paralegal in 00:06:53.329 --> 00:06:56.050 Melbourne. So I'd like to ask, what inspired 00:06:56.050 --> 00:06:58.370 you to take the leap and start Tycoon Education 00:06:58.370 --> 00:07:01.430 and take that very first step into your very 00:07:01.430 --> 00:07:05.649 first business? Well, it really rare back to 00:07:05.649 --> 00:07:07.750 those days. More than 10 years ago, sustainability, 00:07:08.089 --> 00:07:10.329 people were like, what is this? Why would we 00:07:10.329 --> 00:07:12.370 care about sustainability? What's the meaning 00:07:12.370 --> 00:07:16.670 of sustainability, right? I wanted to learn how 00:07:16.670 --> 00:07:19.750 to, you know, sustain the business. It's easy 00:07:19.750 --> 00:07:22.170 to make business, but it's harder to maintain 00:07:22.170 --> 00:07:23.889 it, how it's going to make the business last 00:07:23.889 --> 00:07:27.350 long, you know. So I decided to start this course 00:07:27.350 --> 00:07:31.439 at Monash University. And then after that, it's 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:33.439 hard to get a job in Australia, especially for 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.300 international students. Back to those days, people 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:38.379 got the same degree as well. And we have to apply 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:42.259 the same application with all the locals. And 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:46.100 I feel like I was lucky to get a job. I applied 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:48.420 more than 100 places. I got interviewed for just 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:51.800 five places. And then I got a job at La Pala 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.139 Legal. I didn't do a law degree. I did some law 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:56.279 unit. It doesn't count. But it ended up working 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.589 at an immigration law firm in Australia. And 00:07:59.589 --> 00:08:02.069 that's where I started how to deal with international 00:08:02.069 --> 00:08:05.089 students, international immigrants who want to 00:08:05.089 --> 00:08:08.250 move and have a better future in Australia. And 00:08:08.250 --> 00:08:10.050 I was like, oh, this is a great job because you 00:08:10.050 --> 00:08:13.730 help people to guide them to not just work on 00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:16.129 paperwork. You have to help them choose the right 00:08:16.129 --> 00:08:18.410 course, choose the right pieces. It feels like 00:08:18.410 --> 00:08:20.629 you're part of their journey to setting a new 00:08:20.629 --> 00:08:22.870 life in a new country. That's what I proud of. 00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:24.629 I didn't make that much. I probably got paid 00:08:24.629 --> 00:08:28.040 really low. I'm pretty much the slave of... of 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:31.100 the lawyers. But I learned a lot, though. I learned 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:32.799 that I get paid. I didn't do law, but I learned 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:34.580 a lot of immigration law, Australian immigration 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:39.720 law, for free, and I get paid. That's how I managed 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:44.059 to survive for a year. Yeah. That sounds so phenomenal. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.919 After that big shift into skincare and beauty, 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.879 what gave you the courage to start over in a 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:55.070 new industry? It's actually my family business. 00:08:55.190 --> 00:08:57.230 We've been in Thailand for 60 years. People would 00:08:57.230 --> 00:08:59.210 be like, oh, Karis, why would you? You've been 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:01.669 doing tycoon for almost 10 years. Better to say 00:09:01.669 --> 00:09:03.669 almost 10 years, but now 10 years old now tycoon. 00:09:04.909 --> 00:09:08.389 Back to my roots. My family support me selling 00:09:08.389 --> 00:09:11.529 herbal powders from like small chop before we 00:09:11.529 --> 00:09:15.210 even have 7 -Eleven in Thailand. So it's my family 00:09:15.210 --> 00:09:17.590 business. I say it's the right time for me to... 00:09:18.330 --> 00:09:20.710 To come back here to Thailand to help them, especially 00:09:20.710 --> 00:09:22.629 before COVID too. I didn't know COVID could happen. 00:09:22.710 --> 00:09:24.870 I came back not even a year, COVID happened. 00:09:25.350 --> 00:09:27.330 So even though we've been in Thailand for many 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:28.809 years, it doesn't mean we couldn't last that 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:31.769 long. A lot of big companies closed down during 00:09:31.769 --> 00:09:35.909 COVID. So I spent my time for five years, worked 00:09:35.909 --> 00:09:39.509 for them, worked for my family too. I learned 00:09:39.509 --> 00:09:44.110 a lot, you know, because... My family was in 00:09:44.110 --> 00:09:45.629 Thailand. I wouldn't be back. I would probably 00:09:45.629 --> 00:09:49.389 stay in Australia. I love Australia. Life there 00:09:49.389 --> 00:09:51.830 was good. Yeah, but I'm glad I came back at the 00:09:51.830 --> 00:09:54.370 right time to help save the company too. Everyone 00:09:54.370 --> 00:09:56.669 help each other. Everyone help us. But I'm proud 00:09:56.669 --> 00:09:58.870 to be part of, you know, when crisis happened, 00:09:59.049 --> 00:10:01.210 I was there to help them too. And we survived 00:10:01.210 --> 00:10:03.779 COVID. And you know what's funny? During COVID 00:10:03.779 --> 00:10:06.039 time is like the best seller year of our company. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:10.480 Our MCG products, you know, not highlights seen 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.559 our product before. In 7 -Eleven, we have many 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:16.120 Thai brands under the same group. And the skincare 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:19.240 would cost you 25 baht to 55 baht. Even though 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.360 people were stressed, depressed, they still wanted 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.559 to look pretty. They got more time to do treatment 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:26.840 at home. So I was like, oh, okay, COVID was great 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.679 for us. Isn't that weird? But we do the right 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:35.299 marketing too at that time though. So, your experiences 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:38.639 stemmed a lot from your family and parents at 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:42.419 the time. But then I heard later on, you built 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:45.559 your own skincare brand from the ground up. Something 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:48.340 you did truly on your own. So I'd like to ask, 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:51.279 what inspired you to create it? And what does 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.580 it mean to you sentimentally? Well, I actually 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:59.480 just created my job, my family business. from 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.940 the beginning of the year, which means I have 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:03.159 no salary. But that was like the right time for 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.120 me to grow on my own now. Five years was just 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.259 enough for me. I learned a lot from them and 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:09.179 I feel like I want to be one of the cake, not 00:11:09.179 --> 00:11:12.019 fighting just, you know, for just one cake. I 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:14.120 believe that one day I could, if I have my own 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:15.679 empire, I could support them too when they need 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:18.240 me financially. People say like, why would you 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.740 choose this way? Really stupid. Because, you 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:22.580 know, you already got everything there. But at 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.279 the end of the day, it came from big family. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:26.759 I'm like in generation three. I wanted to prove 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:30.629 to myself. mostly myself and others too, that 00:11:30.629 --> 00:11:33.269 I could do this on my own, like sales make. I 00:11:33.269 --> 00:11:34.909 hate it when people say that, oh, Curtis, you 00:11:34.909 --> 00:11:37.250 got everything on point already. Your family 00:11:37.250 --> 00:11:39.149 got this, got that. I was like, because I'm the 00:11:39.149 --> 00:11:41.509 guy who try really hard. Sometimes no one's seen 00:11:41.509 --> 00:11:43.350 it, but that's okay. I'm the one who know what 00:11:43.350 --> 00:11:46.490 I'm doing. At the end of the day, when you go 00:11:46.490 --> 00:11:49.169 older, you're careless about others, what people 00:11:49.169 --> 00:11:51.309 say, you know what you're doing. And at the end 00:11:51.309 --> 00:11:53.629 of the day, you should be proud of yourself. 00:11:54.470 --> 00:11:58.899 That's the main reason why I started. It's called 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:01.919 Biocell. It's a really new brand. My partner 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.179 is a doctor, skin doctor. And I'm the factory 00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:06.919 owner. So it's like good combination between 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:10.440 factories, RD team and skin doctor. Like same 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.000 generation too. I want to do everything on my 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.279 own way. That's why I was like, okay, it's time 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:19.519 though. I still need the salary. Yes. But starting, 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.879 you know, start up is always hard from the beginning, 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:25.879 but I'm sure it worth it after a few years. Wow. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:32.179 Also, a very nice factor about this, your family 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:35.759 has been in skincare for over 60 years, which 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:39.000 sounds so professional. How do you balance your 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.460 tradition with bringing your own modern version 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:45.639 to the brands? It took a lot of time for me. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:49.779 Like Generation 2, Generation 1, and my generation. 00:12:50.590 --> 00:12:52.330 think differently but we share the same goal 00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:54.289 to you know keep the company forward how could 00:12:54.289 --> 00:12:56.210 we survive this year how could we survive the 00:12:56.210 --> 00:12:57.850 crisis how could we come up with a new campaign 00:12:57.850 --> 00:13:02.190 yes um sometimes we have to separate the you 00:13:02.190 --> 00:13:05.509 know at home i'm a grandson i'm a son but at 00:13:05.509 --> 00:13:08.149 the company i'm the director of this department 00:13:08.149 --> 00:13:10.350 so sometimes you have to brave enough to say 00:13:10.350 --> 00:13:12.629 no to your uncle -in -law to your auntie too 00:13:12.629 --> 00:13:15.470 brave enough to challenge your grandma who's 00:13:15.470 --> 00:13:17.909 father the company but at the end of the day 00:13:17.909 --> 00:13:21.250 we have the same goal like we want to make profit 00:13:21.250 --> 00:13:22.909 of the company you want to share this good thing 00:13:22.909 --> 00:13:26.649 to thai people and international market too it 00:13:26.649 --> 00:13:30.330 i would say it took me quite some time to adapt 00:13:30.330 --> 00:13:32.549 it you know because i used to work in western 00:13:32.549 --> 00:13:35.230 country we can just speak thing honestly like 00:13:35.230 --> 00:13:38.289 straightforward but in thailand respect yes we 00:13:38.289 --> 00:13:40.210 do respect each other in western country too 00:13:40.210 --> 00:13:43.629 but you know when it comes to families yeah it 00:13:43.629 --> 00:13:45.570 really sensitive sometime like why would you 00:13:45.570 --> 00:13:48.009 do that i was like why would you hire me if you 00:13:48.009 --> 00:13:50.379 want thing to be the same You should just keep 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:52.919 this budget for marketing budget. It would be 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:54.860 better, right? You hire me because you want something 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:57.639 new. Otherwise, you don't need me here. I just 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:00.100 be straightforward to them. It takes time for 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:03.539 me. It takes time for them to accept who I am. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.240 And this is like the new generation. And even 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:08.159 me now, I have to adapt to work with Gen Z too. 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:10.620 They work differently from us. I'm Generation 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:13.679 Y, right? The new Gen Z. If you add up myself 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.419 too, I was like, you can't be that guy that you... 00:14:18.649 --> 00:14:21.090 didn't like before, open your heart and open 00:14:21.090 --> 00:14:24.490 your mind. Understand them. Yeah, like your generation. 00:14:24.809 --> 00:14:28.009 We'll probably work with us one day soon. Matum, 00:14:28.029 --> 00:14:30.289 thank you for sharing so much with us. It's truly 00:14:30.289 --> 00:14:32.950 fascinating and encouraging, a powerful reminder 00:14:32.950 --> 00:14:35.409 that every entrepreneur's journey is unique. 00:14:35.909 --> 00:14:37.730 We've already covered a great deal of ground, 00:14:37.870 --> 00:14:40.629 but we need to pause for a quick break. So stay 00:14:40.629 --> 00:14:42.950 put. We'll be right back with part two of our 00:14:42.950 --> 00:14:50.210 discussion right after this short PSA. Hello, 00:14:50.250 --> 00:14:52.830 everybody. Here's a quick message for your health 00:14:52.830 --> 00:14:55.850 and safety. Don't skip the label. In today's 00:14:55.850 --> 00:14:58.350 market, it's easy to get overwhelmed by marketing 00:14:58.350 --> 00:15:01.250 buzzwords. But remember, the most important information 00:15:01.250 --> 00:15:04.009 about your skincare and wellness products is 00:15:04.009 --> 00:15:07.129 right on the ingredients list. Take a few seconds 00:15:07.129 --> 00:15:09.929 to research unfamiliar ingredients, especially 00:15:09.929 --> 00:15:13.120 if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Look 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.919 for clear indications of manufactured quality 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.100 and any certifications. This is especially true 00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:22.519 for herbal products. Natural doesn't always mean 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:26.059 safe for everyone. Be an informed consumer. Knowing 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:29.059 what you put on and into your body is the first 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:31.740 step towards true wellness. Check the label. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.750 Stay safe. And welcome back to our discussion 00:15:34.750 --> 00:15:38.009 with our guest, Kun Matum. Before the break, 00:15:38.049 --> 00:15:41.309 we were tracing Matum's journey from law to education 00:15:41.309 --> 00:15:44.330 and skincare. Now let's dive deeper into the 00:15:44.330 --> 00:15:47.429 strategy and values behind those brands. Esther, 00:15:47.490 --> 00:15:50.210 go ahead and get us started again. Okay, so running 00:15:50.210 --> 00:15:53.509 a family business isn't always easy cooperating 00:15:53.509 --> 00:15:56.149 with them and getting in like the same level 00:15:56.149 --> 00:15:59.710 as you. What's one challenge you faced and how 00:15:59.710 --> 00:16:03.220 did you handle it? I would say, generation gap 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:05.399 between, like I mentioned before, you know, with 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:11.220 my auntie and with my grandma too. And communication. 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:14.100 Sometimes, you know, when it comes to family 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:15.759 business, you could say something a little bit 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.879 often that to them, you have to make sure you 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.200 don't ruin their family relationship to you. 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:24.019 So you have to maintain professionals and family 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:26.500 too. One of the child and I have faced in the 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.899 past before. But like I mentioned before, at 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:31.740 the end of the day, We have the same purpose. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:35.899 We share the same dreams as well. And me and 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.960 myself have to do something a little bit slower 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.019 as well because back to those days, people do 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:43.720 things a little bit slow. Like me, wanting to 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:46.679 get things done fast could affect the work that 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:48.840 had been done in the past like 40, 50 years too. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:52.000 So me and myself, I also have to change too, 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:57.080 which I did, and the team too. Imagine one of 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:59.559 the finance directors who worked there since 00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:01.620 you were born. Now they have to work under you. 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:06.180 How would you manage that? Calling you from Nong 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:09.140 Matum to Khun Matum, you have to prove to them 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:11.299 that you're worth it, that you could do things, 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:16.200 that you could lead the company too. Not many 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.140 people could lead a company, even just like the 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:22.339 air of the family. So it takes time and improvement 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:26.599 by your work as well. Yeah. Don't let them say 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:28.740 that you got the position by granted. I work 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:32.009 hard. to be in this position too. Yeah. To prove 00:17:32.009 --> 00:17:35.509 to them that you can do this. It seems like a 00:17:35.509 --> 00:17:38.210 lot of pressure on them. Yeah. I'm not sure you 00:17:38.210 --> 00:17:39.710 guys got time to visit them, but this is what 00:17:39.710 --> 00:17:42.130 can happen when you go back to them. Even a small, 00:17:42.190 --> 00:17:44.950 big... Yeah, we like medium -sized, but you know, 00:17:44.970 --> 00:17:47.910 still. But enjoy it along the way. I would like 00:17:47.910 --> 00:17:50.410 to tell people and even myself too, I learned 00:17:50.410 --> 00:17:52.210 a lot of new things from them in the past five 00:17:52.210 --> 00:17:57.230 years. Even I just quit from January. Seems like... 00:17:57.470 --> 00:18:01.130 Very tough experiences. For the best, I'm happy 00:18:01.130 --> 00:18:04.829 now. I'm always happy, but work, some days are 00:18:04.829 --> 00:18:06.789 tough, some days are good. That's life, right? 00:18:07.289 --> 00:18:11.250 Yeah. Speaking of your life experiences, you've 00:18:11.250 --> 00:18:15.210 lived in Thailand and Australia, two vastly different 00:18:15.210 --> 00:18:18.769 places geologically and culturally. Places that 00:18:18.769 --> 00:18:21.930 can bring you such contrasting experiences. So 00:18:21.930 --> 00:18:25.069 I'd like to ask, how do you see Thai creativity 00:18:25.069 --> 00:18:27.440 and entrepreneurship? being recognized around 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.119 the world today because it's not as prominent 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:34.700 as Australia or other countries? Well, good question 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:38.900 there. We have not many visit owners or entrepreneurs 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.980 like in Thailand. Believe it or not, in Australia, 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:44.839 it's rare to have your own things because all 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:46.779 the expenses are quite high compared to Thailand. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:50.720 But yeah, I feel like it doesn't matter where 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:54.079 you live. You know, you just do you. And I learned 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:55.579 a lot from Australia as well. And I learned a 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:57.799 lot from Thailand. And now I'm still doing like 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:00.440 business in both countries. I got the office 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:03.559 in Melbourne too for Thai Queen Education. Still 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.720 operating right now for more than 10 years. And 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.519 one in Thailand too. And another one, through 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:13.400 Akara Houses and Akara Aroma, you've highlighted 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:16.660 Thai culture in your work. Why do you think culture 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:19.440 is such a strong, like important part of businesses? 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:22.710 Does make us unique. Otherwise, it would be the 00:19:22.710 --> 00:19:25.529 same. If you don't have, like, cultures, it's 00:19:25.529 --> 00:19:28.069 just a house. But Accra House is located in Sukhothai, 00:19:28.130 --> 00:19:31.549 right? Sukhothai. It was the first Thailand capital 00:19:31.549 --> 00:19:34.490 city. You guys know? Yeah. Yeah, you know. Okay. 00:19:34.589 --> 00:19:38.009 I just heard about it two years ago. I don't 00:19:38.009 --> 00:19:40.410 know where. I bought the antique, the heritage 00:19:40.410 --> 00:19:45.109 house 120 years ago. Opposite the ancient religious 00:19:45.109 --> 00:19:48.309 old temples is in Sukhothai, in Suisachinalai. 00:19:48.609 --> 00:19:51.200 A lot of history. And it's really popular right 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:54.099 now because Thai culture, Sukhothai culture, 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.660 back to those days. Yeah. And with our cultures, 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.720 what makes us different than others, right? Yeah. 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:03.240 So that's why our car house is really unique 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.940 right now. It's like Airbnb, but we could book 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:09.460 it from agodaandbooking .com too. Yeah. And for 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:12.180 our foreigners of it, Thai people, they don't 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:15.559 even know where Sukhothai. How weird. I don't 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:17.039 think you guys know where Sukhothai. You guys 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:20.079 know? You know? Where? We've been there, honestly. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:23.359 Oh, you've been there? Oh, yeah. School. Oh. 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:28.420 My house. Oh, okay. My house is located in such 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:31.019 an alley. It's another part of Sukhothai. But 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:34.799 it's an old town. It's opposite a historical 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.839 park as well. Yeah, you guys should go when you 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:40.980 have time. Wow. Yeah. Must have such a nice view, 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.819 right? 800 years old temples. Imagine that. You 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:46.119 wake up and you see the view of the river, Yom 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:48.990 River, and the temples. like that every day. 00:20:49.029 --> 00:20:50.950 You see the view of the pagoda, like Wat Arun. 00:20:51.029 --> 00:20:53.230 But this one is called, this one is called Wat 00:20:53.230 --> 00:20:55.289 Phra Pran. But if you compare it to the temples 00:20:55.289 --> 00:20:58.049 in Bangkok, it's like the Arun temples. You can 00:20:58.049 --> 00:21:00.589 see the pagoda with a nice view. But it's, you 00:21:00.589 --> 00:21:03.410 know, really quite slow if compared to Bangkok. 00:21:03.710 --> 00:21:06.029 Yeah. If I want to take a break from Bangkok 00:21:06.029 --> 00:21:08.549 for a bit, I go there. Seems really crazy now 00:21:08.549 --> 00:21:12.109 that I'm trying to envision that. So, well, that's 00:21:12.109 --> 00:21:14.829 a lovely house to have. I wish I would, you know, 00:21:14.849 --> 00:21:16.980 eventually, maybe. I'll buy one there. Yeah. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:19.119 You can just book and visit there, you know. 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:21.259 It's a $3 ,000 for a night. Come and request. 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:25.319 Maybe I should go to your Airbnb. I do that too. 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:29.819 Okay. So you've built many businesses in education, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:33.160 beauty, and real estate, as we spoke. It's near. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:38.000 Okay. So I'm sure you've had your share take 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:40.160 on each, you know, sort of sector of business 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:43.480 there. So what's one value that connects all 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:47.599 of them? Integrity. To be honest though, when 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:49.440 people trust you, you can do a lot of things. 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:54.019 Yeah, and apart from that passion, you must love, 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:56.519 you must like the thing that you do. Yeah, so 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.440 it comes together for me. For students just starting 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:03.279 out and finding their way for the future, what's 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.779 one piece of advice you wish you had back in 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:11.500 Melbourne? Well, I have a lot of advice. Only 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:16.569 one, the very important one. Just do it. Just 00:22:16.569 --> 00:22:20.009 do it. Do it. Live your life. Be curious. Make 00:22:20.009 --> 00:22:23.430 a mistake. Go to party. Take courses. Go to party. 00:22:23.470 --> 00:22:26.430 For real. Go to balls. Attend all the events 00:22:26.430 --> 00:22:28.630 that you could do. You can't turn back to your 00:22:28.630 --> 00:22:31.009 high school anymore. That's why I said just do 00:22:31.009 --> 00:22:33.269 it. Because if I just do it, you could do a lot 00:22:33.269 --> 00:22:35.789 of things. You wouldn't feel regret. I have no 00:22:35.789 --> 00:22:38.730 regret joining so many clubs back to my uni day 00:22:38.730 --> 00:22:42.450 or my school day as well. Yeah, make a mistake. 00:22:42.589 --> 00:22:47.549 Work part -time. um phone love cry whatever it's 00:22:47.549 --> 00:22:50.210 pop life and you won't regret anything at all 00:22:50.210 --> 00:22:53.769 so just do it follow your heart yep be brave 00:22:53.769 --> 00:22:56.809 is there a very like favorite memory of yours 00:22:56.809 --> 00:23:00.970 from melbourne yeah so many only one only one 00:23:00.970 --> 00:23:04.690 only one right oh okay this is good um this is 00:23:04.690 --> 00:23:07.230 the first day that i tried to apply for the job 00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:10.339 at justin shopping center it um in a department 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:13.299 store right and i didn't i never worked in you 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:16.880 know in sales before i it took me two three hours 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:20.960 to hand in hand out my resume i stand there at 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:24.240 law course store and i was like you can do this 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:27.339 because you can do this because i was a little 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:29.579 bit chubby because back in the uk my thai friends 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:32.140 don't want work part -time before back to my 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:34.519 day oh you work you don't have money oh that's 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:37.619 funny but for my australian friend i'm like how 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.700 come you don't work are you what what's wrong 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.599 with you everyone work here so people around 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.859 you like really important so total difference 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:46.160 my Thai friend back to those I was like young 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:49.319 like 16 yeah but I was like 20 something back 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:51.359 then in Melbourne town so people were like you 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:53.220 must work hard you can't rely on your family 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:55.259 if you want to do something else if you want 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:57.299 to have pocket money you must work so people 00:23:58.590 --> 00:24:00.769 99 % of my friends, my classmates from everywhere, 00:24:00.890 --> 00:24:03.309 all the Australian locals from countryside, from 00:24:03.309 --> 00:24:05.410 Melbourne too, from other states too, they work. 00:24:05.730 --> 00:24:07.509 So it encouraged me like, Karis, you must work. 00:24:07.890 --> 00:24:10.630 So it's one of my highlights because it took 00:24:10.630 --> 00:24:13.150 me like an hour to like, this is my resume. Please 00:24:13.150 --> 00:24:15.549 take me. Please take me. But after once, I remember 00:24:15.549 --> 00:24:17.769 at LaCourse, they thought like, oh, you want 00:24:17.769 --> 00:24:18.750 to buy something? I was like, no, I'm looking 00:24:18.750 --> 00:24:21.390 for a job. And then I ran away. Because I was 00:24:21.390 --> 00:24:24.609 shy. And then I never got any call back. So you 00:24:24.609 --> 00:24:26.089 have to, you know, in retail, you have to be 00:24:26.089 --> 00:24:28.490 brave to sell stuff. But I was so shy just to 00:24:28.490 --> 00:24:30.769 because hand out my resume. I was like, okay, 00:24:30.910 --> 00:24:35.009 I can do this. But after the first store, I end 00:24:35.009 --> 00:24:36.849 up like hand out my resume, more than like 20 00:24:36.849 --> 00:24:39.190 store back to those. It was like happiest day 00:24:39.190 --> 00:24:41.970 of my life. Because I, you know, I could just, 00:24:42.130 --> 00:24:45.509 I was, I'm there. I thought I was the winner 00:24:45.509 --> 00:24:47.789 back to those. I didn't get any job. I don't 00:24:47.789 --> 00:24:49.250 know why, because I didn't have any retail experience. 00:24:49.430 --> 00:24:51.950 But at the end of the day, I win my heart. You 00:24:51.950 --> 00:24:55.289 know, I find my fear. Like I was fearless back 00:24:55.289 --> 00:24:57.390 to those days. I was like, yeah, that's one of 00:24:57.390 --> 00:25:01.990 my highlight thing. Yeah. So actually what's 00:25:01.990 --> 00:25:04.410 really intrigued me and from what, you know, 00:25:04.430 --> 00:25:06.690 from talking to you, I've heard that you have 00:25:06.690 --> 00:25:09.630 such a, you know, you always like when you're 00:25:09.630 --> 00:25:11.190 talking to yourself, you always say your full 00:25:11.190 --> 00:25:13.829 name. It seems like you have such a strong self 00:25:13.829 --> 00:25:16.569 identity. And like, I feel like that gives you 00:25:16.569 --> 00:25:20.349 the confidence and like sort of, you know, shows 00:25:20.349 --> 00:25:24.049 how far you've become and how you've really trust 00:25:24.049 --> 00:25:27.089 me, like truly know yourself now. And how is 00:25:27.089 --> 00:25:30.009 that, like, self -identity? How does that help 00:25:30.009 --> 00:25:33.049 you throughout life? I want to know. Well, every 00:25:33.049 --> 00:25:35.690 time I say, you can't do this because it reminds 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:37.970 me of myself, what I have done in the past and 00:25:37.970 --> 00:25:41.670 how far I came right now. Yeah, so it gives me 00:25:41.670 --> 00:25:43.509 the energy, like, you could do this. I always 00:25:43.509 --> 00:25:45.809 tell myself, anything gets tough because at the 00:25:45.809 --> 00:25:47.369 end of the day, guys, no one could help you except 00:25:47.369 --> 00:25:49.769 yourself. Even your friend could guide you, but 00:25:49.769 --> 00:25:52.329 the one who makes the change is you. Which university 00:25:52.329 --> 00:25:54.180 you want to go, which of you want to apply. it 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:58.000 up to you so i spent a lot of time by myself 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:01.019 i love going to see friends as well but you know 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:02.880 once you get a little bit like order have more 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.819 experience you talk to yourself more like hey 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:06.619 curse let's talk to yourself what you want to 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:10.039 do why are you so stressed what can we help what 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:14.039 can me myself help me so it that's why i love 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:18.190 calling it like you can do this And if I've done 00:26:18.190 --> 00:26:19.630 something wrong, I'm going to tell myself, it 00:26:19.630 --> 00:26:22.289 was wrong, fix it too. So it takes a lot of time 00:26:22.289 --> 00:26:24.869 to be in this, you know, level of like talking 00:26:24.869 --> 00:26:29.089 to yourself verbally, you know. Yeah, being there, 00:26:29.109 --> 00:26:31.329 doing that and doing that again. Thank you so 00:26:31.329 --> 00:26:34.450 much for coming on site and having a recording 00:26:34.450 --> 00:26:37.049 with us. We're actually so grateful. Thank you 00:26:37.049 --> 00:26:39.450 so much for everything, Pimatum. Thank you so 00:26:39.450 --> 00:26:41.349 much. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you so 00:26:41.349 --> 00:26:50.210 much. A massive thank you to our special guest, 00:26:50.329 --> 00:26:53.150 Fatoum, for sharing his incredible story. And 00:26:53.150 --> 00:26:55.049 of course, thank you to our co -host, Esther 00:26:55.049 --> 00:26:57.089 and James, for their insights and great questions. 00:26:57.690 --> 00:27:00.250 The big takeaway for me today is that your path 00:27:00.250 --> 00:27:02.950 doesn't have to be a straight line. Success can 00:27:02.950 --> 00:27:05.789 be found in the courage to pivot, to blend tradition 00:27:05.789 --> 00:27:09.329 with new ideas, and to stay curious. Thank you 00:27:09.329 --> 00:27:11.809 all for tuning in. If you enjoyed today's discussion, 00:27:12.069 --> 00:27:14.950 please be sure to subscribe to our podcast on 00:27:14.950 --> 00:27:17.319 whatever platform you're listening on. so you 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:20.319 never miss another episode. And as always, this 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.680 podcast would not be possible without the hard 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:24.839 work and support of our international student 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:27.279 production team. 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