Interview: Product Development Manager and team member discuss what it’s like to work at CHARM, a student-run consulting group
“When we see our products making a difference in people’s lives, even if it’s something as simple as a set of to-do list stickers that makes them more inspired to become organised, our mission is accomplished.”
By Nawapat Srisuphapreeda and Kamonwan Kongmee, CHARM staff writers
In this day and age of fast-paced globalisation, the world is constantly getting bombarded with countless new products and markets are becoming increasingly saturated. As a result, businesses must produce high-quality products that are not only different from market competition but add value to customers’ lives by serving their true needs and wants. Here at CHARM, our product development team is committed to providing the best solutions to make positive impacts on the Chula community.
Today, we will be interviewing Ning, the product development team’s manager and fourth-year BBA student, and Gun, a lifestyle product designer and second-year architecture student, on their valuable experiences gained from working at CHARM.
What made you interested in joining the product development team at CHARM?
“I always wanted to have some sort of ‘learning playground’ where I would have the opportunity to apply concepts learnt in the classroom to real work and see tangible results, and CHARM was exactly that!”
Ning: It all started from an elective course in management consulting I took in my sophomore year. What began as an in-class idea of starting a student-run consulting group with students from different faculties became a reality when my seniors decided to put the idea into action.
I was specifically interested in becoming a product development manager because it is such a central part of any organisation and you constantly get to see ideas become reality. After all, promotional advertising can only get you so far if your products aren’t truly remarkable!
I had always wanted to have some sort of “learning playground” where I would have the opportunity to apply concepts learnt in the classroom to real work and see tangible results, and CHARM was exactly that!
Gun: I was always looking for an opportunity to work in a professional and systematically run organisation where I would get to apply classroom knowledge and hone my team-working skills by collaborating with people from various faculties.
I was particularly interested in the product development team because I wanted to major in productions, so CHARM was a great place to get hands-on work experience in a fun, creative way!
Tell us a bit about how the product development team is organized.
Ning: We are a team of 17 with three sub-teams: the collab team, the event team, and the lifestyle team.
The Collab team is responsible for collaborations with other Chula organisations. We are currently collaborating with Termtem, a green start-up founded by Chula students, to develop eco-friendly products.
The event team works on seasonal and festive products. For example, as Songkran is approaching, our event team is now open for illustration pre-orders outsourced to Thai illustrators on Instagram.
Gun: The lifestyle team, which is where I work, focuses on making everyday products like jackets and water bottles. Our first completed project was making Chula-themed stickers. As of right now, we’re conducting market research on the manufacturing of cloth bags and water bottles.
Please tell us more about your recent product!
Gun: We wanted to make Chula-themed stickers that were not only aesthetic but practical, so we made some designs that could be used in to-do lists and other designs that could be used for tagging people who have been COVID-19 temperature-checked.
The process of creating this was a rather fun, creative brainstorming exercise where everyone was given time to make rough sketches before bringing ideas to meeting sessions where we would then build upon each other’s initial outlines.
Is there anything that makes you particularly proud of this first piece of work?
Ning: Our first product was essentially an ice-breaking activity for the team so that we could get our creative juices flowing before starting more complex projects in future.
What makes me proud is the dedication and collaboration we managed to get out of a freshly formed team in such a small time frame. We only had a week before the midterm exams to work on this project, so the fact that everyone was so dedicated to creating something and putting it out there was impressive.
Gun: What we truly gained from this first project was increased chemistry and synergy in our team from tossing ideas around and giving constructive criticism. I’m glad everyone got a chance to share their thoughts.
What is it like working in the product development team at CHARM?
“Constantly exchanging ideas with people from different specialisations and backgrounds is just a truly amazing thing because you not only get to make a difference with your own set of unique strengths but you also have the chance to continually learn from others.”
Gun: What I’m most impressed with at CHARM is the professionalism and systematic collaboration. It has also been fascinating to work with people from different faculties. Constantly exchanging ideas with people from different specialisations and backgrounds is just a truly amazing thing because you not only get to make a difference with your own set of unique strengths but you also have the chance to continually learn from others.
Ning: It’s been a great experience carrying out professional duties in an organisational setting. Perhaps the most priceless aspect of working here is seeing your ideas become reality: we designed, developed, and launched products into an actual store.
Ning: Overall, it is a great opportunity to explore yourself and gain valuable work experience that will prepare you for the job market after graduation.
Tell us a bit more about the team’s culture and work process.
“Diversity is one of CHARM’s strengths. Our team members are from various faculties including engineering, architecture, accountancy, and liberal arts. This helps us gain different perspectives and ideas which ultimately lead to more creative and satisfying results.”
Ning: In terms of our culture, we have a highly practical and customer-centric approach to developing products. The process begins with market research through surveys or interviews. We then create prototypes of potential ideas, which will be improved upon before reaching the manufacturing phase.
Gun: What I truly like about working in the product development team at CHARM is its inclusivity. Everyone is very open-minded and there is always a chance to see your ideas get put into action. I also appreciate how people aren’t afraid to give constructive comments as we all want the best outcome for CHARM and our Chula community.
Ning: Diversity is also one of CHARM’s strengths. Our team members are from various faculties including engineering, architecture, accountancy, and liberal arts. This helps us gain different perspectives and ideas which ultimately lead to more creative and satisfying results.
Have there been any challenges so far?
Ning: To me, the most important part of being a leader is creating synergy and value-alignment in a work environment, which essentially comes down to maintaining and strengthening relationships.
However, because the product development team is rather large, and with the pandemic and online learning, it’s hard for people to get together. Our first project also happened close to the exam period so it was a bit tight with time. Nevertheless, thanks to everyone’s enthusiasm, collaboration, and hard work, we managed to launch our first product successfully, which really helped strengthen our team.
Gun: The challenge I had to take on was a conflict of schedule. The week we were working on CHARM’s planner overlapped with my school project’s deadline. It was indeed a challenge, but I managed to get everything done in the end. If anything, it was good practice for multi-tasking, which is an essential skill for most work environments in the world today.
What future visions do you have for your team?
“Ultimately, my main goal is about creating a positive impact in the Chula community, whether it’d be by creating useful products, or by giving people a chance to discover themselves and become inspired through our team.”
Ning: My visions include expanding the team and forming a BI (Business Intelligence) unit that uses data analytics to empower us. We may need this team to attend to the products’ back of the house if we want to develop our own tech gadgets in the future.
Ultimately, my main goal is about creating a positive impact in the Chula community, whether it’d be by creating useful products, or by giving people a chance to discover themselves and become inspired through our team.
Gun: As a product designer, I share a similar view. When we see our products making a difference in people’s lives, even if it’s something as simple as a set of to-do list stickers that makes them more inspired to become organised, our mission is accomplished. Creating things that make other people’s lives easier is what we’re passionate about.
Indeed, CHARM is all about creating a learning space for Chula students where they can apply their knowledge to real-life and bring about positive change in the Chula community. We firmly believe that in this day and age, a strong sense of social responsibility is the key to any sustainable business. As the famous entrepreneur, Bill Ford, said, “Creating a strong business and building a better world are not conflicting goals — they are both essential ingredients for long term success.”
If this kind of valuable work experience and organisational culture resonates with you, follow us on social media to not miss out on important updates, which may include new members recruitment!
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