Draft : POST Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

Draft : POST Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

by | 21 Aug 2025 | Blogs

Draft : POST Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

By NIKKI TRANSTALENTS

At a time when AI, generational shifts, and workplace burnout are redefining the rules of engagement, employee experience (EX) is no longer a perk—it’s the core of business survival. On August 13, 2025, HREX.asia and BASE Playhouse brought together Thailand’s leading CHROs and HR innovators at the #5 Roundtable: Future of Experience to answer a bold question: What should EX look like from Day 0 to Departure?

Here’s what we learned.

1. 💼 Leadership Is Still the #1 Experience Driver

According to Napas Sirivorangkul (Hewitt Consulting), leadership behavior alone drives 75% of employee experience. The top-down gap is still massive. Culture audits mean little if leaders don’t embody the values.

“If the leader doesn’t act as said—there’s no trust, and no follow-through.” — P’Ann, President, PMAT

Takeaway: Don’t start with engagement. Start with the C-suite.

2. 🛠️ L&D Must Convert to Behavior, Not Just Knowledge

Training that ends at “awareness” is no longer enough. The best learning journeys now:

  • Simulate real business challenges

  • Identify performance gaps, not just skill gaps

  • Align L&D outcomes with PMS and business KPIs

Reverse coaching is gaining traction—junior staff guiding leaders on tech, DEI, and cross-gen culture.

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Draft : POST Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

by | 31 Jul 2025 | Blogs

A Familiar Word, A Forgotten System

In Thailand, the word “katoey” is widely heard — but rarely understood in its full economic context. While transgender people are celebrated in beauty contests or performance spaces, they remain structurally excluded from legal recognition, equitable healthcare, and real economic power.

The Katoey Economy reframes this — not as identity politics, but as a strategy for inclusive economic growth. It dares to ask: what if transgender people were no longer merely visible — but owned the means of production, led enterprises, and shaped policy?

From Consumer to Creator: A New Economic Role

Historically, trans people in Thailand have been pushed into roles as consumers, service workers, or informal earners. But today, they are becoming entrepreneurs, CEOs, and strategic advisors.

This shift is urgent. According to Open for Business, LGBTQIAN+ exclusion costs Thailand up to THB 121 billion (USD 3.5 billion) annually. Conversely, inclusion pays off — each legal right granted increases GDP per capita by USD 1,694, and diverse companies outperform by 21%.

What We’re Building: Systems, Not Symbols

At TransTalents Consulting Group, we don’t just train for inclusion — we design systems. As consultants to the Thai government’s WorldPride 2030 feasibility study, we are embedding LGBTQIAN+ equity into national strategy. This includes:

  • Inclusive procurement policies

  • Trans-owned enterprise support

  • Healthcare access as economic infrastructure

  • Policy platforms led by trans professionals

Because hormones are not cosmetic — they are tools for productivity and dignity.

Katoey Economy Is Not a Show — It’s a Structure

The Katoey Economy is not about going viral. It’s not about views, followers, or fitting into beauty norms. It’s about creating a future where trans people don’t have to fight for space — they own it.

It is the evolution from ผู้บริโภค (consumer) → ผู้ให้บริการ (service provider) → ผู้ประกอบการ (entrepreneur) → ผู้ออกแบบนโยบาย (policy shaper).

The Real Risk? Failing to Invest.

Trans people are not a vulnerable group. We are an untapped engine of growth.

The question is no longer whether trans people are ready to lead.
It’s whether Thailand — and Asia — are ready to invest not in visibility, but in ownership, infrastructure, and power.

TAG: DEI Inclusion Transtalents empowerment

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Trans Pride Thailand 2025: Silom Transformed – Pride, Public, Private Sectors United

Trans Pride Thailand 2025: Silom Transformed – Pride, Public, Private Sectors United

by | 24 Jun 2025 | Blogs

Trans Pride Thailand 2025 officially kicks off under the theme “Trans(formative) Pride: Reshaping the Future for Equality” from 23–24 June 2025 at Park Silom, Bangkok. This landmark event is powered by the collaboration of over 40 organizations across public, private, and civil society sectors nationwide. The aim is to celebrate the identities of transgender communities and advocate for their rights, freedoms, and equal opportunities in all dimensions of life.

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Assoc. Prof. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok stated during the opening ceremony that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is honored to co-host and support Trans Pride Thailand, marking a significant step forward in advancing transgender rights in Thailand. She affirmed that “Bangkok will be a city that is safe for everyone” and expressed full commitment to the city’s bid to host WorldPride 2030.

Bangkok has also advanced a range of initiatives to promote sustainable gender equality, including encouraging district offices to offer same-sex marriage registration services, supporting civil servants in dressing according to their gender identity, and operating 31 BKK Pride Clinics across public health centers and hospitals under Bangkok’s jurisdiction. Additionally, the city promotes inclusive education that respects gender diversity and fosters economic opportunities for transgender individuals.

A major highlight of the event is the exhibition “Trans People Are Here — Everywhere, Forever,” which tells the stories of transgender individuals in Thailand. Nachale Boonyapisomparn, co-founder of the Trans Pride Thailand organizing team, stated:

“The history of transgender people, toms, and kathoeys in Thailand did not begin with official documents, but was written by the lived experiences of those who have fought, persevered, and stood tall amidst misunderstanding, violence, and discrimination.

This exhibition is not just about telling history — it is a space to restore voice and dignity to transgender people who have long been rendered invisible.

“We’ve come a long way, and we will not stop walking until every transgender person can live safely, equally, and proudly as their true self.”

Trans Pride Thailand 2025 is a safe and creative initiative born from the collaboration of the three key sectors — pride, public, and private — coming together to show a shared commitment to inclusion and respect for diversity. The event also opens up socio-economic opportunities on Silom Road, a symbolic and strategic space in Bangkok. The event is also proudly supported by the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (Ministry of Social Development and Human Security), the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, MSD Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as well as more than 40 supporting organizations and brands.

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Ornruedi Na-Ranong Chief Executive Officer of Nye Estate, Park Silom developer — a new-generation office space in the heart of Bangkok — stated: “Silom is a vital economic and commercial district at the heart of Bangkok that plays an important role in Thailand’s economy, attracting more than 50,000 people daily. The district is also renowned for its diverse identities, making it a widely recognized space for celebration and authentic self-expression.”

Sutee Limpanachaipornkul, President of Nye Estate, Park Silom developer and management, added: “Being a part of Trans Pride Thailand 2025 reflects the potential of Park Silom as a venue capable of hosting diverse and dynamic activities. True inclusion and sustainable diversity can only happen when everyone feels safe and free to be themselves.”

Park Silom is proud to be a safe space, a community hub, and a gateway of opportunity—economically and socially—for everyone in the heart of Silom.

 

Photo Credit: Trans Pride Thailand

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