What To Know
- She’s also a board member of Pi Securities and advisor to NewChic Capital and the Japan ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), where her speaking engagements include “Leading with a Future Mind” at the Greater Mekong consortium.
- She has shared her leadership insights at Bangkok Patana’s STEM leadership events, Techsauce Global Summit (as a moderator), and served as a Senator candidate in Thailand.
Bangkok Entrepreneurs: Trailblazing Through E Commerce and Beyond
Shannon Kalayanamitr, known simply as Shannon, has carved a reputation as one of Thailand’s most dynamic entrepreneurs. From spearheading Lazada Thailand’s launch to co-founding Orami—Southeast Asia’s leading female focused e commerce platform—her trajectory reads like a blueprint for transformative leadership. As the former Group Chief Marketing Officer of Orami (formerly MOXY), she helped the business scale to US$50 million in revenue and commanding investment rounds totalling US$50 million. Now, as Founder & CEO of Ikigai Group, she’s on a mission to accelerate 21st century entrepreneurship across the region.
Shannon Kalayanamitr continues to redefine Thai entrepreneurship through innovation leadership and mentorship
Image Credit: hnworth
A Consulting Powerhouse and Trusted Advisor
Beyond her ecommerce success, Shannon leads Ikigai Group—an advisory firm tackling sustainability, tech innovation, and digital transformation challenges head on. She concurrently heads Iconic Media, a media tech consultancy, and serves as a venture partner at GOBI Partners, a fund managing over USD 1.1 billion across 11 vehicles. Her ability to overlap deep corporate, startup, and investment experience has made her a sought-after advisor for government agencies, major corporates, and emerging startups.
Her influence extends beyond business. As an adjunct professor, philanthropist, and mentor, she’s active in non-profit work advocating for women’s economic empowerment. Highlights include roles with UN Women’s “Generation Equality” platform and speaking at global platforms like Fortune Most Powerful Women Asia and the United Nations.
Championing Women in Tech and Investment
Shannon consistently highlights a stark funding gap: in the US women led startups receive just 2 % of capital, globally the number is 9 %, yet 40 % of women founded ventures are profitable. She urges disciplined grounding in “real knowledge” to negotiate firmly and claims confidence is critical to closing gender disparities. Her message resonates strongly at forums like the EmpowerHer Asia Summit, where she stressed that mastery of the market value empowers women to negotiate without doubt.
This Bangkok Entrepreneurs news report found that Shannon’s efforts to foster female tech talent go beyond rhetoric. Involvement with initiatives like Thailand’s AI learning platforms and regional smart city projects reinforces her commitment to inclusive innovation . Her presence as a “shark” judge on Shark Tank Thailand further amplifies her advocacy for practical mentorship and investment in women founders.
Navigating Smart Cities and 5G
Shannon has also ventured into smart city infrastructure as CEO of 5G Catalyst Technologies. Under her leadership, the firm designed and implemented Thailand’s first smart city pilot in Rayong’s Ban Chang municipality, integrating 5G, IoT, and sustainability solutions. She’s also a board member of Pi Securities and advisor to NewChic Capital and the Japan ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), where her speaking engagements include “Leading with a Future Mind” at the Greater Mekong consortium.
Mentor, Investor, Educator
Shannon’s commitment to education and mentorship is relentless. She has shared her leadership insights at Bangkok Patana’s STEM leadership events, Techsauce Global Summit (as a moderator), and served as a Senator candidate in Thailand. Her guidance transcends sectors—encouraging women to build real skills, lean into discomfort, and create their own leadership paths.
Long Game Vision Meets Tangible Impact
Her approach combines long term strategic thinking with day-to-day operational rigor. As she once explained at Techsauce, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint,” emphasizing fluid balance and tactical pivoting. Whether fundraising, building a marketplace, deploying 5G networks, or shaping the future of women in business, Shannon’s consistency lies in rooted adaptability.
A Legacy in the Making
With nearly two decades of experience—spanning Lehman Brothers, Singha Beer’s global expansion, Lazada, Orami, Iconic Media, and 5G Catalyst—Shannon Kalayanamitr anchors her legacy in multi sector leadership and social impact. Her ethos is clear: equip women with skills, network, capital and confidence to break through barriers. Her ongoing influence as an investor, speaker, academic, and visionary ensures Thailand’s entrepreneurial ecosystem will continue benefiting from her guidance for years to come.
Her story is not just one of impressive milestones—it’s a template for inclusive, intelligent, and impactful leadership. Her journey illustrates that when influence is wielded with purpose, business becomes a force for social progress. Her leadership journey is already inspiring ripples—and shaping waves.
In wrapping up this portrait, Shannon Kalayanamitr exemplifies how strategic entrepreneurship and unwavering advocacy can reshape business ecosystems and societal expectations. Her story charts not only a path for her own success, but also a more equitable and dynamic future for Thai and Southeast Asian innovation.
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