A chip off the old block that chooses its own path

“I initially intended to try working for just one year, but throughout my time there, I've found it enjoyable, challenging, and unknowingly developed into a passion, as I've had the opportunity to learn new things all the time. I've now been working at Muang Thai Life Assurance, and I'm almost in my sixth year.”

 Sarisa Lamsam หรือ "Nim" Currently holding the position Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Strategy Department, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited He is being watched as the new generation of heirs to continue the family business in the fast-paced and challenging business world.

Despite the immense expectations, Sarisa views her role from a different perspective: a new-generation executive brimming with the power of learning, determination, and the courage to take action to truly understand the essence of the life insurance business in her own way.

As the eldest daughter of Sara Lamsam, Chief Executive Officer, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited. Sarisa is not just following in their footsteps, but is ready to prove its own potential, to forge a new path that reflects contemporary trends and build on success for the future.

A path to the unknown world of insurance

Sarisa graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (International Program) from the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Chulalongkorn University. Her initial dream was to work in consulting. However, when the COVID-19 crisis hit, she decided to switch gears and join Muang Thai Life Assurance, her family's business. Initially, she intended to "try" the job for just one year to see if she liked it.

Sarisa recounts how what she initially planned to do for just one year turned into six years filled with learning and a passion for something she never thought she would love. She recounts that before coming to work at Muang Thai Life Assurance, she had no knowledge of life insurance at all because her father had never discussed insurance work with her and there was no pressure on her to come work at Muang Thai Life Assurance. However, she did not hesitate to study and gain knowledge on her own from books to prepare herself.

Sarisa began her career in the Strategy department, where she has remained ever since. A key turning point that deepened her understanding of the insurance business came when she had to oversee a project involving "agents." With a passion for challenges and problem-solving, Sarisa decided to do something many might not expect: she "applied to become an agent" and sell insurance herself, with her first client being Khun Mae Salil Lamsam.

Experiencing the agent process—from licensing exams, studying policy formats, how to present insurance, and understanding customer needs—has given Sarisa a unique perspective on the profession. This decision reflects her own work philosophy: 'You must know everything you do.' Being on the ground in the field allows her to thoroughly understand agent pain points, a key enabler for developing strategies and tools that precisely address agent needs.

“I initially intended to try working for just one year, but throughout my time there, I've found it enjoyable, challenging, and unknowingly developed into a passion, as I've had the opportunity to learn new things all the time. I've now been working at Muang Thai Life Assurance, and I'm almost in my sixth year.”

 Challenge conventional thinking

From her direct experience as an agent, Sarisa found that some training courses may not meet the needs of the new generation of agents who demand flexibility in learning. Therefore, she believes that the curriculum and training methods should be improved to be more in line with the digital age, such as e-learning, which allows agents to study at any time that is convenient for them.

Another key issue to be promoted is the effective use of online services as a tool for agents in the digital age. This includes presenting agent information through online channels, in line with the new generation's behavior, which tends to search for information online. Furthermore, the company believes that communicating with "reason" is crucial when engaging with the new generation. It believes that the insurance sales approach of modern agents will focus on presenting information according to the "Life Stage" to meet the true needs of customers.

Create tools to strengthen the representative team

Sarisa said that to support these concepts, Muang Thai Life Assurance has continuously developed various platforms and programs, such as Muang Thai Academy, Muang Thai Life Assurance's agent training and development center, which aims to create quality agents with modern training courses and expert instructors, enabling agents to become professionals in life insurance and finance.

The goal is to train both managers responsible for recruiting new agents (Recruitment) and coaching them to become professional salespeople (Coaching), as well as to sustainably retain quality agents in the industry. Another project is The Coach, which brings in experienced agents to share their knowledge and hands-on experience with new agents.

When asked about her work style, Sarisa replied that she enjoys working in a way that involves exposure to all types of projects. She said this trait comes from her father, who always taught her that managers need to be grounded in the ground, as being on the ground allows her to see real problems that may not be apparent in reports.

She also confirmed that being Sarisa Lamsam isn't an obstacle to her work. Instead, she's treated like any other employee, requiring her to prepare information before attending meetings, just like everyone else. Her work philosophy is flexible and she's always ready to learn new things. She emphasizes working with information, reason, and collaborative decision-making. This is influenced by her mother's teachings, which taught her not to prioritize her own ideas, but to also consider the opinions of others.

Sarisa said that the most important thing in managing an organization is its people. Everyone reads the same page, which means ensuring everyone sees the same goals and direction. For example, setting the organization's main goals and giving each department its own, these goals are linked together to achieve the same overarching goal.

“I believe that choosing to work at Muang Thai Life Assurance was the right decision. My goal is to make Muang Thai Life Assurance a fun yet professional life insurance company, even though most people view insurance as boring and difficult to understand.”

Despite being considered a business heir who faces pressure from expectations to continue the business, for Sarisa, those expectations don't come from other people's eyes, but rather from the standards she sets for herself.

Sarisa emphasizes that working at Muang Thai Life Assurance is not just about duty or passion, but about a love for the work that reflects her true passion and commitment to the business. This is a key driving force that drives her to dedicate herself, take action, and overcome every challenge to prove her skills in building on the family's success.

Follow and read other columns in the September 2568 Bank Finance Journal, Issue 521, in digital format: https://goo.gl/U6OnIi

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