Sumana “Fon” Parchariyanon

Chief Financial Officer, RISE

Industry : Business

For Sumana “Fon” Parchariyanon, finance is only part of the equation. As chief financial officer of RISE, she combines financial oversight with strategic partnerships, connecting corporations, governments and startups with expertise designed to strengthen their ability to compete in a fast-changing economy.

A defining element of her work has been helping bring global executive education to Thailand through RISE’s exclusive partnership with Harvard Business Impact. The collaboration gives Thai business leaders access to AI-driven learning, international case studies and practical leadership tools, helping translate global best practice into local action. It also reflects a larger ambition: to raise Thailand’s competitiveness by developing future-ready talent and creating the conditions for innovation and growth.

Fon’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that sustainable success requires investment in people as well as technology. Rather than viewing transformation primarily as a route to greater efficiency or lower costs, she focuses on the skills, creativity and leadership that allow organisations to create new sources of value.

That perspective places her at an interesting intersection of finance, learning and innovation. By forging connections and widening access to knowledge, Fon is helping Thai organisations build capabilities with lasting relevance – and a stronger foundation from which to compete internationally.