Leading with Purpose: Reflections on Our 2025 Leaders’ Conference
In June 2025, leaders across the Discova network came together to discuss something deeper than growth and strategy. Across Cambodia and Thailand, we reconnected as people, rediscovered what makes us strong, and realigned our purpose — not just as a business but as a community. We were joined by teams from across the Asia Pacific and beyond, a total of 44 participants, each bringing their stories, insights, and energy to this shared moment.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of Sina Lorn, our Cambodia Country Manager; James Duquette, Discova’s Group Customer Experience Leader; and the entire Cambodia team. Their dedication, warmth, and behind-the-scenes brilliance shaped not only the logistics but the heart of the entire experience — setting the stage for everything that followed.
“In triathlon, every coach will tell you that the best way to improve and absorb the training is to add variety in the stimulus — do sprints, do hill climbs, do slow runs. The same concept applies to a good conference — people cannot absorb information from one PowerPoint slide into infinity. With this conference, we tried to add as much variety and as many different stimuli as possible, and I think that was hugely successful,” says James.
The week opened in Siem Reap, where we gathered for a two-day conference designed to provoke thought, spark conversation, and reignite our shared vision. Sessions focused on legacy, sustainability, leadership, and collaboration. There was space for honest reflection and big-picture thinking, grounded by storytelling and practical case studies. Every voice mattered.
We were especially honoured to be joined by Miko San, the General Manager of the Ice Hockey Team Yokohama Grits, whose presence set the tone for a riveting exchange about all things leadership. In a heartfelt conversation led by Discova Japan Country Manager Olivia Jeung — who passionately championed Discova’s sponsorship of this remarkable team — Miko shared his reflections on the power of perseverance, the beauty of underdog stories, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up. His words reminded us that grit is more than endurance — it’s a mindset, a value, and a way forward.
At the heart of it all was a theme we’ve carried with us through the years — a reminder of why we do what we do. And that is to be “Simply the Best.”
She spoke about the importance of stretching our thinking and growing the alignment and collaboration between teams to reach the goals we share.
“What stood out for me,” informs Naome Pangilinan, Group Marketing Executive Educational Travel, “was the space to reflect, not just on our roles, but on the responsibility we carry — as people, as leaders, and as a business shaping meaningful change.”
But the connection ran far deeper than shared schedules and sessions. In Trei Nhoar, Cambodia, we walked side by side with a young community on its path toward self-sufficiency — a journey shaped by determination, resourcefulness, and learning. Together, we installed solar lights, planted trees, and learned to cook traditional dishes using local ingredients. Walking through the village, we saw the tangible ways responsible tourism has supported new opportunities and renewed pride.
“This is my fourth time in Cambodia, but this experience was unlike anything I imagined. Being welcomed so warmly by the community — celebrated as you walk down the street — it felt deeply personal. Like coming home to somewhere I didn’t know I’d missed,” says Parnpailin Boonwan, Regional Peopleworks Leader, who is based in Bangkok, Thailand.
The road ahead may be long, but the resilience of this grassroots community shines in every action, every smile, every hopeful conversation about what’s next.
We also experienced Dining Under the Stars — a new product we now offer to leisure travellers. Surrounded by rice fields and lit only by lanterns, we shared a community-prepared meal in the open air, where conversation flowed as freely as the wine. It wasn’t just dinner; it was an invitation into the rhythms of local life.
The seven-day journey came with its fair share of sweat, smiles, and surprises. At 4:30 am, bleary-eyed but determined, many of us climbed into tuk tuks for the chance to witness the majestic sunrise over Angkor Wat — a moment that made the early wake-up call and missed hotel breakfast absolutely worth it.
In Battambang, we pedalled through quiet villages and sunlit rice fields on a meaningful ride with Soksabike, a social enterprise offering community-led cycling tours. More than just a ride, it was a window into rural Cambodian life — stopping to meet families who’ve been crafting rice paper, bamboo sticky rice, and dried bananas the same way for generations. The scent of smoke, the laughter of children, the rhythm of daily life — it reminded us how beauty often hides in the simplest of moments.
For those not on bikes, the Battambang highlights tour offered its own kind of magic — the thrill of a bamboo train ride, the creativity of local street art, and stories shared firsthand by Chumnor, a talented Battambang-based artist whose work brings local identity and social commentary to life.
Towards the end of the week, our leaders travelled to Kok Na Sai, Thailand, to visit one of our community projects located two hours from Bangkok. We were welcomed with warmth and sincerity that stayed with us long after we left. The wonderful community members greeted us with fresh bergamot and sugar cane juice — local remedies brimming with health benefits — before joining a cooking class where we prepared Tom Kha Gai (Thai coconut chicken soup) and learned to wrap packed meals in banana leaves, just as the locals have done for generations.
Throughout the day, stories unfolded through traditions of the Thai Yuan and Lao Vieng — cultures rich in heritage, language, and ancestral memory. We learned about their migration journeys from Northern Thailand and Vientiane and how their identity endures in the intricate patterns they weave, the dishes they prepare, and the rituals they preserve.
We left with a shared sense of humanity, reminded that across borders and languages, what truly connects us isn’t our differences — but the beauty of understanding and the transformative power of travel to bring us back to what matters.
“I really loved the way we all came together from different parts of Asia and then just found collective joy — this love of travel and exploration and being together. It’s more than a moment; it’s a feeling,” adds said Natalie Vine, Global RDI Peopleworks Specialist.
That feeling of closeness, of shared purpose, resonated throughout the trip. Evenings brought celebration and reflection — whether under starlit skies in Siem Reap or over shared meals across borders. We didn’t just talk about culture; we lived it.
As the week drew to a close, we carried home something intangible yet deeply felt — a renewed sense of connection, clarity, and care. Leadership, we were reminded, isn’t just about direction. It’s about belonging, listening, and lifting each other up.
And at Discova, we’re doing it — together. Not because it’s easy, but because we believe in being simply the best — for our people, our partners, and the communities we serve.
We believe in changing lives through travel.
If your organisation shares that purpose, reach out to explore how we can create meaningful journeys — together.
