Behind the Success of a New-Generation Branch Manager

Hello. My name is Karan Kanpai, or you can call me Prite for short. I am 33 years old and I'm from Phuket. I graduated from Prince of Songkla University, Faculty of Management Sciences, majoring in Human Resource Management (HRM). Since graduation, I have been working at Isuzu Andaman Sales, and this year marks my 11th year working here. Currently, I am the Branch Manager of the Takuapa branch in Phang Nga province. My main responsibilities include managing the branch's operations for both sales and service center targets to ensure they are achieved.

Before becoming the Branch Manager, I worked at the Head Office in the central division. I started in the After-Sales Business Department and worked there for 6 years. Following the growth and importance of digital marketing within the company, I was given a new opportunity to move to the Sales and Marketing Department as the Section Head of Marketing Strategy. I held that position for 2 years. Following that, the company initiated a Management Trainee (MT) program, which provided employees with the opportunity to learn and develop essential skills for becoming branch managers and executives. I was selected to join this program, which allowed me to gain experience from senior executives in operations and team management. I also had the opportunity to co-manage a branch with a senior manager before officially being appointed as the Branch Manager of the Takuapa branch last year.

My diverse experience in both Sales and After-Sales Service has provided me with a comprehensive and well-rounded perspective. While my career has certainly presented challenges, I view every obstacle as a valuable learning opportunity. I recognize that nothing comes easily and that disappointment or failure is a normal part of the process. I strongly adhere to the philosophy that if we are going to fail, we must 'Fail Fast, Fail Forward' and learn quickly from the experience. The key is to find a way to recover quickly, move forward with confidence, and, crucially, strategize so as not to repeat the same mistakes again.

“Maturity is mindset, not defined by age” I always believe that with a positive attitude toward consistent self-development, continuous learning, and intentional action, we can achieve anything. Becoming an executive is not easy. However, I have been fortunate to receive opportunities from the company to gain experience, diverse perspectives, concepts, and methods from various departments and levels. This, combined with my attitude towards continuous growth and learning, has been a crucial part of my adaptation to the executive role.

I focus on seeking opportunities that others overlook while minimizing the perceived obstacles that hold others back. This forms my core attitude towards the environment. I believe that a crisis is simply an unexpected change. If we consistently manage and adapt quickly to that change, we can turn that crisis into an opportunity.

“If you can fly, fly. If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. 

If you can’t walk, crawl. Do whatever you have to do to keep moving forward.”

Because "discouragement"  is not one of my skills.

The company prioritizes providing opportunities for employees to continuously learn, practice, and develop themselves. For example, as I developed during a period of intense digital marketing competition, the company provided substantial support, training, and various projects to continuously enhance these skills. This consistent support allowed me to gain confidence and proficiency, which I can now leverage in my work to become an integral part of the company’s ongoing success and drive its future growth.

For anyone who wants to grow and advance in their career, the most important thing is to set clear goals and then actively look for the opportunities and channels that will allow you to achieve those goals. You must learn, adapt, and always prepare yourself. When an opportunity arises, seize it and commit to giving it your absolute best.

By Karan Kanpai