Thailand Next: When the Sun Rises Again.
We have collaborated with Narudee “Poom” Kristhanin and Eureka Global since 2015. Poom was trained in the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY method by Per in Hong Kong in October 2015, and already in December the same year, we collaborated on a client project in Thailand.
What follows below is a guest blog from Poom, an inspiring story about how she used the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY method to build a better future for her home country:
LEGO SERIOUS PLAY in action
Reimagining the future of a nation, one brick at a time.
Whenever I travel, I find myself wondering: what makes each country the way it is today?
What lives in the minds of its citizens—their beliefs, values, and ways of thinking—that shape collective decisions and behaviors, weaving together intricate social orders that ultimately determine the well-being of its people?
What makes one system inclusive, equitable, and safe for everyone to thrive at their best potential—while in other places, not everyone can even smile?
Thailand is still known as the “Land of Smiles.” Yet today, as economic and societal inequalities continue to unfold, testing our resilience, many people and I have begun asking ourselves a difficult question: What has brought us here—despite so much effort and impact created across society?
And perhaps an even more important question follows: if yesterday shapes today, and today shapes tomorrow—what must we, as citizens, think or do differently today in order to reimagine a better future for all?
A Question that Sparked a Movement
One morning at the beginning of 2025, I sat down with a dear family friend, a thought leader and life coach. We asked ourselves: How might we combine our strengths to co-create meaningful impact? What might be possible if we were not afraid?
From that simple yet bold question, the collective volunteer project “Thailand Next” was born. With heartfelt support from our Faculty of Communication Arts alumni community at Chulalongkorn University, and with the generosity of the Bank of Thailand—who opened the doors of Bang Khun Phrom Palace—we created a space for play and serious conversation at a level never seen before in our country.
On July 26, 2025, for the first time, thought leaders, philanthropists, the President of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Chairman of the Thailand Institute of Directors, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Thailand, spiritual and well-being leaders, and even figures from entertainment and media—all said yes to our invitation. They made time in their busiest calendars to join a one-of-a-kind workshop, using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method, to reimagine the values and mental models that could reshape our collective future.
Leaving Hats Outside, Bringing Hearts Inside
That day, we invited everyone to leave their titles at the door, bringing only their hearts for the country inside. We reached out to them not because of their positions, but because of their wisdom, integrity, and character beyond their roles.
Six hours passed like a breath. Together, we journeyed through an emotional roller coaster—beginning with coaching dialogues on personal values, then diving into the LSP process to uncover systemic challenges, and finally co-creating a vision of a values system for the future.
As lead facilitator and co-project manager, this journey revealed why I have devoted the last ten years to sharpening my craft with LSP, contributing faithfully to both the local and global community, and staying true to the commitment of doing the right thing, and doing things right—always aiming for the highest standard of practice.
A thousand miles of effort—sparking the hearts of business and community leaders one workshop at a time—seemed to converge on that day. I felt deeply grateful to finally give back with my whole self, at a time when my experience felt more ready than ever.
When the workshop ended, a participant reflected with delight:
“I can see the Sun rising again—from every corner of the table, from every person sitting here.”
Hearts expanded in oneness. Participants left with renewed energy, carrying ripples of impact into their missions and networks.
Seeds of the Future
The workshop was only the beginning. From that Big Bang of inspiration, new possibilities are already taking shape:
We are preparing the next workshop to listen to voices often unheard—youth, and those who feel left out of society.
Entertainment leaders are exploring how to reshape the industry to tell stories that inspire and rewire societal values.
Academics are designing research to examine values across generations.
Business leaders are linking our dialogue with anti-corruption initiatives in partnership with the Thailand Institute of Justice.
Spiritual thought leaders are weaving the inspiration into their teachings, spreading it across their communities.
The ripples continue to grow, carried forward by each participant’s commitment.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Looking back, I realize this is what play—serious play—makes possible: it opens imagination, breaks through fear, and allows us to dream and build together.
I couldn’t ask the universe for a more meaningful way to celebrate my ten-year journey with LSP—planting quality LSP seeds in Thailand and wherever I go in Asia while learning and growing alongside my dearest Asian and global community. And I know—it is still just the beginning.
With every brick we place together, we are shaping a future where the Sun can rise again—for all of us.