SOM Alumni Spotlight: Ms. Nusara Pongpitak on Leadership, Growth, and Lifelong Learning

By: Dennes Bergado Jr.

The AIT School of Management is honored to reconnect with distinguished alumna Ms. Nusara Pongpitak (MBA Class of 2004), General Manager – Finance & Operations at Shiseido (Thailand) Co., Ltd. We sincerely appreciate her taking the time to share her career journey, leadership insights, and reflections on how AIT SOM helped shape her professional path. We hope her story inspires our students, alumni, and future leaders alike.

Ms. Nusara Pongpitak, General Manager – Finance & Operations at Shiseido (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

1) Please give us a brief introduction about yourself

"My name is Nusara Pongpitak. I currently serve as General Manager – Finance & Operations at Shiseido (Thailand) Co., Ltd., where I oversee finance, accounting, supply chain, legal, and overall business operations.

I began my career in accounting and auditing and bring over 25 years of experience across financial management, business transformation, and system implementation. Throughout my career, I have developed both deep functional expertise and broad cross-functional exposure, enabling me to drive value creation, strengthen governance, and support strategic decision-making.

My current role focuses on ensuring strong financial discipline while acting as a business partner to the organization – aligning operational execution with overall business strategy to deliver sustainable growth."

2) You graduated with an MBA in International Business in 2004. May I ask what made you choose AIT School of Management to further your education?

"My decision to pursue an MBA at AIT School of Management (SOM) was driven by a strong desire to develop a broader, international perspective on business. SOM offered a well-balanced combination of academic rigor and a diverse, multicultural environment, which I found particularly valuable.

In addition, the dual-degree program in collaboration with ESCP Business School in Paris further expanded my exposure to international business practices. It strengthened not only my knowledge in areas such as marketing, but also my ability to work effectively in multicultural settings – enhancing both my communication and interpersonal skills.

Coming from a technical background in accounting, I was keen to build a more holistic understanding of business beyond finance, particularly in strategy, marketing, and operations. The experience at SOM played a key role in developing this broader perspective, which continues to be highly relevant in my professional journey today."

3) Let's discuss a bit about your current position as General Manager of Finance & Operations, Shiseido (Thailand). What were the main experiences or choices in your life that led you to this accomplishment?

My career progression has been shaped by a combination of deliberate choices, continuous learning, and adaptability in navigating a dynamic business environment.

Key factors include remaining open to opportunities beyond my core function, gaining exposure across a variety of industries, and taking on increasingly complex and challenging assignments. These experiences have enabled me to build strong cross-functional collaboration and develop a broader perspective beyond finance.

Over time, I have evolved from a purely functional role into a business partner, contributing not only from a financial standpoint but also in driving operational effectiveness and supporting strategic decision-making.

This integrated perspective is critical in my current role, where balancing financial discipline, governance, and business agility is essential to ensure alignment with overall business strategy and the delivery of sustainable growth.

4) Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? What are you still planning to achieve and how do you see yourself reaching your goals?

Looking ahead, I aim to continue contributing at a strategic level – particularly in strengthening organizational capabilities, advancing digital transformation, and shaping business strategies that drive sustainable growth.

A key priority for me is also the development of future leaders, ensuring that the organization is equipped with strong, agile talent to navigate an increasingly complex business environment.

At the same time, I plan to expand my involvement in mentoring and knowledge sharing, supporting professionals at earlier stages of their careers and contributing to the broader professional community.

While remaining focused on growth and impact, I also place importance on maintaining a balanced and sustainable approach over the long term, both at an organizational and personal level.

5) Do you have any words of advice for any of our students who are about to start their career paths? What kind of difficulties did you face in your career journey and how did you overcome them?

"For students starting their careers, I would offer a few practical perspectives – particularly for those coming from a diverse and international learning environment like AIT:

• Remain open to opportunities beyond your initial area of expertise; early career choices do not define your entire career path

• Leverage the international exposure at AIT to build a global mindset and adaptability in multicultural environments

• Continuously strengthen both technical and business capabilities, as well as digital literacy, which is increasingly critical

• Actively build and maintain your professional network, including the AIT alumni community, which can be a valuable source of opportunities, perspectives, and long-term support

• Invest in meaningful relationships and collaboration, as success increasingly depends on working effectively across functions and cultures

• Be resilient and patient with your development, as growth often takes time and is rarely linear

One of the key challenges I encountered early in my career was managing self-doubt when stepping into unfamiliar roles and responsibilities. Over time, I came to realize that these situations are often the most valuable learning opportunities.

In that sense, a certain level of uncertainty should not be seen as a setback, but rather as an indication that you are stretching beyond your comfort zone and progressing in your career."