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FROM POLITICIANTO AVANT-GARDEEXECUTIVEA third generation member of a political family,Porapol Adireksarn unveils his strategies for navigating the family business through floods and turbulence into a brighter futureAlthough his family has long been active in politics, unexpected events led Porapol Adireksarn to step away from political responsibilities and enter the business world. After his family-linked textile company suffered severe flood damage, he used the misfortune to take TTL Industries PLC in a new direction.In an exclusive interview with Elite+, Mr Porapol introduces his role in content provision, derived from his interest in literature and the wildlife adventures of his father, Pongpol Adireksarn. Aries Books and Aries Television, founded by his father, have turned the family’s interest in adventure and leisure activities into a sustainable business.Could you tell us about your educational background?I studied at Saint John’s School from primary level until after my second year of high school. When I was about 14, I was sent to continue high school at St Edmund’s School in Canterbury, England. It was the first time I studied abroad, andlater I moved to a high school in the US called Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. I decided to pursue my BA in the same field as my father, international relations, at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.How did you follow the family path into politics?As I graduated in the States in international relations, I served in the government service for the first time in the Foreign Affairs Division, Office of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Defence. In two years there I gained experience in government service, especially in public security. I was designated with a sub-lieutenant rank before being transferred to the Department of Export Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce. My second position gave me a chance to learn about trade and doing business with private organizations, including the Thai Garment Association, which relates directly to the family business.In 2005 I ran for parliament in Saraburi province and was elected twice as a member of parliament whenI was 30 and 33 years old. I applied for the position again in 2011 but failed this time, so I retired from work for a while. Fortunately I got a chance to get back into politics when the Chartthaipattana Party, one of the government coalition parties, offered to appoint me as an adviser to both the minister of agriculture and coopera- tives and the minister of tourism and sports.How did you make the shift into the business world?At the end of 2013, there was a political crisis when the government dissolved the House of Representa- tives. My political duties stopped since all the ministries were closed. Then in April 2014 I took my first step into TTL Industries PLC. I was appointed as adviser to the executive director of the company until my uncle resigned and asked me to take over his position as executive director. I decided to grab this chance and became a member of the company board. Today I am working full time as the assistant managing director with ChartchaiElite+ 35