Orapim Pakdeesongkram
I’m from Bangkok, Thailand and I would describe myself as a determined and passionate individual. Motivated to address the challenges in our world—from conflicts, gender inequality and human rights to environmental issues, sustainability, food insecurity and more—I knew I needed to build new skills if I wanted to make a lasting difference. I see the Executive Master in International Development as a way to learn more about peacekeeping in the context of the UN SDGs and advance my career.
"It is an amazing experience to learn from others and connect with people who share the same goals and passions."
Fostering global peace with a newly acquired skill set
Passionate about international relations, peace operations, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development, Orapim Pakdeesongkram has been working toward meaningful change since completing her undergraduate studies. She is an active military personnel in the Royal Thai Armed Forces and was deployed as a military observer in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in 2016-2017. After Orapim returned from the mission, she worked as a military planning officer on tactical and operational levels within the Peace Operations Center of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
In 2021, Orapim started working as a planning officer in the Force Generation Service in the Office of Military Affairs—a position that allowed her to experience firsthand the strategic decision-making process, as well as the political and diplomatic relations, related to peace operations. Her passion for her work only continues to grow.
During her time as a planning officer, Orapim regularly received emails from the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC). One, in particular, caught her attention, highlighting the UNSSC’s collaboration with IE University on the Executive Master in International Development. A program based on the UN 2.0 Quintet of Change policy was the right fit for Orapim’s passions and professional goals. So she decided to take on the challenge of completing the program while still fulfilling her duties in her peacekeeping role.
Orapim is a firm believer in the idea that to support others, you must be willing to “grow from the inside out.” The Executive Master in International Development helped her do just that. Since starting the program, she has gained a new perspective on innovation, data analytics and leadership, to name a few. And due to its focus on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she has gotten a closer look at what working for the UN would be like, which is a long-term goal for her.
“To be able to support others, you must be willing to grow from inside out—which is something this program provided me.”
Working in peacekeeping has allowed Orapim to dive into many subjects, some of which she wasn’t aware were connected. She says that the Executive Master in International Development has further enhanced her knowledge and professional abilities by first showing her what she’s been missing, then filling the gaps with relevant skills. “I’ve learned the foundations of PowerBI, the concept of data analytics and innovation, how to safely use AI, and the link between peacekeeping and the UN SDGs.”
Outside the classroom, Orapim has been able to build an incredible network with people from all over the world. With IE University's extensive reach, she has also engaged with professionals who currently work in other UN bodies and leading companies in the private sector. “It is an amazing experience to learn from others and connect with peers who share the same goals and passions.” Recently, she was thrilled to participate in the first residential week in Madrid, where she met her professors and classmates before the start of the semester.
Orapim knows the knowledge she has gained in the program will play a crucial part in her career. She is especially pleased with her behavior science courses, which have taught her how to implement psychological safety in the workplace. Soon, she plans to move back to Thailand to work in the plans and projects department at the Peace Operations Center. There, she will use her newly acquired policy coherence skills to develop the peace operations military policy to support and elevate the UN 2030 Agenda.
She is also working toward designing a course on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to support the implementation of the SDGs. The data analytics skills from the program will come in handy here as Orapim intends to collect data and harness various visualization techniques for the decision-making process. Through the program, she is also strengthening her leadership skills, which will allow her to guide her team to new heights.
Orapim encourages anyone and everyone to apply for the Executive Master in International Development. She specifically highlights the chance to step outside your comfort zone and connect with motivating and inspiring people from all over the world. “This is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. You will have a chance to experience a learning journey like no other.”
