12 women thriving in APAC: Damisa Ongsiriwattana

Damisa Ongsiriwattana, creative director, Ogilvy & Mather | THAILAND

Tell us about your career path and achievements.

I started my career at JEH United [now GREYnJ United after being acquired by Grey Worldwide in 2015], a local agency formed by Jureeporn Thaidumrong, one of the top female creative leaders in Thailand in 2005.

Over 11 years, I have had a chance to work at Ogilvy, J. Walter Thompson and Creative Juice\Bangkok. I am thankful to have received global and local awards including at Cannes Lions, London International Awards, One Show, Clio, Spike Asia and Adfest, and was a jury member at Cannes Lions 2014.

Who is your role model?

My role model is Ms. Jureeporn Thaidumrong. She is a famous creative and a true warrior of Thailand’s advertising industry. I was impressed by her vision and leadership, and her ability to transform a vision into a reality.

Do you think there’s a glass ceiling in advertising in Thailand? 

I don’t think there is a glass ceiling in Thailand’s ad industry. Once you’ve entered and proved yourself, gender inequality is not an issue here. We just started out with fewer female creatives at the entry level; 10 years ago there were not many female creative role models for the next generation to follow.

Although there aren’t too many female creative directors, there are many female executives at senior management level in Thailand, such as Khun Punnee Chaiyakul, chairman of Ogilvy Bangkok, and On-Usa Lamliengpol, chairman of Leo Burnett Thailand. Personally, I think it is because Thai women have excellent management skills.

What are the sort of challenges you have faced as a woman in making it to the top of your profession?

For me, being a woman in advertising is more like an opportunity than a challenge. As I mentioned, there are not so many women. And if you can prove your value as a creative, people see you as a good creative, not a female creative.

What is your view on the belief that women do not want management roles in advertising?

Most creative people I have worked with, both men and women, want to progress in their career, but perhaps do not want to move into management roles. Being creative and being a manager are two very different things in my view.

What do you make of the claim that women aren’t as creative as men?

I think we all have experienced very good and less good creatives, both female and male. The important thing is to raise the creative bar of our industry, and also the reputation of the industry to outsiders, rather than focusing on which sex is more or less creative.

What advice would you give to a woman who aspires to be a creative director in Thailand?

I believe women are stronger than men. Put on your lipstick and be creative.