My name is Soe. I was born and raised by a single mother after my father passed away in November 1991, when I was four years old. I completed my primary, secondary, and high school education between 1992 and 2003, and passed my matriculation exam from Yangon Institute of Education in Yangon, Myanmar. I then earned my Bachelor of Engineering degree between from Assumption University in Thailand. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I lived and worked in Singapore for over a year before returning to Myanmar.
I am currently living with my 93-year-old grandmother and working as Branch Manager at the Myeik branch of Cummins DKSH (Myanmar) Ltd.
In my professional career, I have traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates, gaining on-the-job training, safety training, technical sales training, and hands-on experience along the way.
I have recently been admitted to the one-year Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) program at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. I am planning to pursue further studies in business administration to support my growth as a branch manager responsible for sales and business development of Cummins products in southern Myanmar.
After researching graduate programs in Europe and other English-speaking countries, I found that Canada offers one of the best education systems in the world at relatively affordable fees for international students.
About Soe
- Age: 39
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Memorial University
- Master’s, Business Administration
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Work for Google
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $6,000
- Amount Left To Fund: $0
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In Repayment
Quotable
What Others Are Saying About Soe
An internationally recognized graduate qualification is important to me, as most of my regional counterparts in Myanmar and Thailand have completed graduate studies in Germany, Australia, and the United States, and I need to be competitive at the regional level.
Myanmar’s economy has faced serious contraction in recent years due to the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing instability. The country needs educated citizens to help it emerge as a developed nation, and I want to be part of that transition as a leader in the business sector.
When my GDBA program is completed, I plan to rejoin my current firm in a senior management role — as a senior sales manager, regional sales manager, or country general manager — and contribute to the rebuilding of Myanmar’s economy. DKSH, the Switzerland-based company, operates across technology, consumer goods, and healthcare industries with over 30,000 employees throughout Myanmar, other ASEAN countries, and the Asia Pacific region. The GDBA will give me the knowledge to navigate the political and economic environment, manage exchange rate risks on imported products, and compete for senior leadership positions within the firm.
I have two dreams I hope to accomplish: completing my graduate studies in business administration, and building a warm and loving family in Myanmar when our country is peaceful and stable. I always wished that these dreams might come true, and now I can see that at least my educational dream is nearly within reach.
Written by Soe with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Soe
“Myanmar needs educated citizens to help it emerge as a developed nation, and I want to be part of that transition as a leader in the business sector.”