Tell us about Qube Consulting.
I started the company in 2011 at the advice of my dear friend, mentor and then business partner; Peter Meacock. I was frustrated that people thought was a sales and marketing person. Peter advised me to start the company and give the market it wanted it from me.
That was when I started and why.
Along the way, I have had the chance to work for a diverse range of clients doing branding, marketing, and signage design here in Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
I don’t take no for an answer.
Your background is not actually in design or construction. Tell us about that and how you got here.
It’s a long story but as a little girl I always wanted to change the world and there is a part of my life that has always sought that out.
I came to Thailand on a gap year and wanted to volunteer with non-profits organisations and just never got around to going back.
I started teaching and realised I was good at it, and I liked it, then I transitioned to working in hotels and resorts with Chiva Som, Six Senses and Soneva. It was with Soneva that somehow segued way into a bit of broadcasting and travel presenting before I really got into construction and from there I met Peter, who then introduced me to my life today. Before starting Qube and until 2014, I managed a construction project management company overseeing hotel resort construction in Macau, Maldives, Thailand and Vietnam.
I had terrific people working with me and guiding me through it all.
I realised how dynamic the construction industry is, and I have been working in this field ever since. Oh! and I am doing my bit to change the world.
As a small company, how difficult is it to penetrate the market place?
It’s tough, but my mentor told me from day one to make it my business to know everyone, and I have tried to do that. I also have fantastic friends who helped me get in front of the right people on the right occasions.
I don’t take no for answer. So, yes, it is tough, but I hustle hard.
Biggest lesson you have learned in the last ten years.
Learn from everyone and help others.
Be interesting and interested.
Be clear about the companies and people you want to work for and with. You are known by the company you keep, and if you don’t have aligned values, no job is worth that compromise.
Be fair. Ask for fairness.
If I don’t want to eat dinner with someone, I would likely not work with them.Why is this a lesson? Sometimes, when you are young, you want to get every job, but later you realise life is pretty short. Work with people you enjoy spending time with.
Thalia Andrews | Creative Director