Bangkok, 27 October 2026 – Knowing what you want and making the most of opportunities when they arise is a belief shared by three women leaders navigating a world transformed by AI: Monsinee Nakapanant, Co-president of Ascend Money; Natchachanok Na Takuathung, Chief Executive Officer, CP Fresh Co., Ltd.; and Saranee Sanguanruang (Faunglada), Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Soul First Co., Ltd. They shared their experiences at “WOMEN WHO BUILD WHAT’S NEXT: Leading Innovation, Shaping Inclusive Growth”, a panel discussion held during CP Innovation Exposition 2026, CP Group’s ninth innovation exposition, at True Digital Park.
As AI Gets Smarter, Trust Matters More: The Challenge for Financial Services
Building trust, ensuring transparency and providing safe access to financial services are central to the approach of Monsinee Nakapanant, Co-president of Ascend Money, and her team. Ascend Money was established to address a common challenge: financial services that are unnecessarily complicated. It has developed innovations to make financial services more convenient and secure for everyone, from savings and loans to insurance and investments, working with partners to broaden access. Technology and AI support data analysis, customer communications and tasks such as document processing, reducing time and improving efficiency. For Monsinee, trust and measurable results are essential to AI adoption. Yet, as AI becomes increasingly capable, the challenge is ensuring that people can keep pace with it.
Reflecting on female leadership in the fast-changing technology industry, Monsinee described women as being like water: sometimes carrying a boat forward, sometimes becoming powerful enough to sweep obstacles aside during a crisis, and sometimes bringing calm when others are heated. Flexibility and the ability to adapt to different situations, she said, help leaders guide their organizations through challenges and achieve their goals.
Delivering Fresh Produce 24/7 with AI: Behind CP Fresh’s Mission Led by a Next-Generation CEO
With a clear sense of purpose and a passion for CP Group’s mission to deliver quality food to consumers, Natchachanok Na Takuathung, CEO of CP Fresh Co., Ltd., began her journey through the Group’s Tao Kae Noi young entrepreneur programme. Today, as a dynamic next-generation female leader, she leads the company’s operations across the entire value chain, from upstream to downstream, sourcing and selecting quality fruits and vegetables to meet diverse consumer needs. AI plays a key role in helping the team better understand customers, monitor transportation 24/7 to maintain produce freshness, and improve product standards to help farmers earn more income through exports.
While technology and AI play an important role, Natchachanok stressed that a business cannot grow without its people. Having benefited from opportunities herself, she is committed to creating opportunities for her team and developing the next generation of leaders. “What makes us successful is that we do not think only about our own success. Developing people is what drives the business. Ultimately, when we think of others, our dreams grow bigger”, she said.
Wisdom: The Human Advantage in a Rapidly Changing AI World
Drawing on her experience as a technology content creator and influencer, Saranee Sanguanruang (Faunglada), Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Soul First Co., Ltd., said AI can no longer be ignored. When people clearly understand who they are and what they want, they can use AI to create new outputs. At LDA, her team has redesigned workflows to make greater use of AI, improving efficiency and saving time while enabling employees to achieve a better work-life balance and create more value.
Faunglada emphasized the importance of having a clear sense of purpose and believing in oneself. She believes humans possess something remarkable: wisdom, which AI does not have and cannot fully understand. The key is to connect human wisdom with AI intelligence. Those who understand themselves and recognize both the capabilities and limitations of AI will be better positioned to succeed in the future. She added that women’s flexibility, adaptability and creativity will become even more valuable in a technology-driven world.
The Courage to Begin, Experiment and Learn
Another central theme of the “WOMEN WHO BUILD WHAT’S NEXT: Leading Innovation, Shaping Inclusive Growth” discussion was the courage to act. All three leaders shared advice on overcoming hesitation and taking the first step. Monsinee encouraged those who are reluctant to start to take action without fear. Everyone has the potential to make an impact, she said, and should make the most of every moment. Whatever the outcome, taking action builds wisdom and, importantly, a deeper understanding of oneself. Natchachanok said having the courage to try, make mistakes and learn can accelerate personal growth. When an opportunity comes, seize it and learn along the way. If something goes wrong, recognize it and avoid repeating the mistake; if it works, build on it. The important thing is not to be afraid to begin.
Saranee closed with a reminder: “There is no such thing as being ready”. People may hesitate because they fear the outcome or the judgment of others, but they may ultimately regret the time they have let pass. Whether an effort ends in success or failure, it offers experiences and lessons that help people grow into the best version of themselves.
