Building Through Uncertainty: Supalak Foong’s Perspective on Myanmar and Small Business Resilience Posted on May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 By Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant (small.news) — On April 29, 2026, Supalak Foong, Director of Kanok Furniture & Decoration, joined our small.talk, sharing her experience building and sustaining a business in Myanmar amid political and economic uncertainty. Supalak spoke with Silver Lining Founder and CEO Carissa Reiniger. She highlighted the resilience and generosity of local communities, emphasizing the importance of empathy, honest communication, and perseverance in business. Despite rising operating costs and instability, still calling for continued support and open-minded engagement with small business owners navigating difficult environments. Q: Tell Us About Myanmar From Your Point of View. A: To explain my perspective, I’m Thai and live in Thailand, which borders Myanmar. Our cultures are both deeply Buddhist, and people are known for their kindness, generosity, and caring nature. Our historical paths diverged some time ago. Without getting into all the politics, I began working in Myanmar as a contractor in 1999, and a major opportunity emerged around 2013-2014. In 2014, it felt necessary to take action. Barack Obama visited twice, marking success. The world would soon embrace Myanmar’s beauty as one of the last frontiers yet to blossom. After the earthquake, contrary to what movies often show, people did not loot. Instead, there was a genuine desire to help one another. That is what makes Myanmar unique. I hope others can see and appreciate this aspect. I am not insisting that everyone provide help. Top Stories The Death of the Soloist: Why ‘Project Stacking’ is the Only Way to Outsmart the LinkedIn Algorithm If you post alone, your signal is thin. But when you stack projects, you create a high-density signal that the algorithm will amplify. America’s Small Business Week Returns with Free Virtual Summit and Nationwide Celebrations For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week, reports Traders Union. Tax Overhaul Pushes Russian SMEs to the Brink as Revenue Collections Collapse Russia’s small business sector faces severe strain after sweeping tax changes took effect in early 2026, with survey data showing sharp declines in profitability, reports The Moscow Times. Q: What is the Ethical Response to Building a Business, Visiting, Touring, and Bringing the Economy Into a Country That is Being Run by People Whose Values Don’t Align With Yours? A: Myanmar is not like a small country ruled by a dictatorship. The majority of people I know, including business friends, are not linked to the military. and trying to go about their lives. And I understand what people are trying to do, you know, trying to do the right thing. I want these people to improve. Is avoiding them the best way to achieve that? If they stop coming, will the group lose valuable, diverse strengths? Will relying only on those already strong actually make us better as a whole? Q: What Has it Been Like to Try to Own a Hotel in the Middle of Myanmar? A: Well, I consider myself lucky. A lot of my friends own hotels in more conflict areas. But in Yangon, it’s very safe. However, since then, the economy has struggled. Even though Myanmar had seemed very promising initially, circumstances changed. My investors enthusiastically backed me, saying, “Yes, here’s the money. Let’s do it.” With this support, we pressed ahead, facing new challenges as they arose. Our hotel restoration project is the largest actual restoration in Southeast Asia. We are renovated the old Cornell building, and it was a significant effort. Q: What’s the Number One Thing You Think You’ve Done From a Business Point of View That’s Allowed You to Basically Stay in Business? A: It is essential to have honest conversations with everyone, even when money is owed. Rationalize with them. If they go extreme, what do we gain? I promised to do everything I can, to my last breath, and keep going as long as they give me time. I cannot guarantee the outcome, but I will keep pushing. That is the narrative, and that is how I live after coming this far. Q: What Are You Doing to Keep Yourself Going? A: I did many things. Number one is upbringing. We grew up in an environment where we talked openly about raw realities. So my real tools are two things. First, for earthly matters, I ask: Is it productive? Holding on to certain ideas and thoughts is the first step. en getting it becomes impossible to even be with my own thoughts for a split second. Somehow, I have a lot to learn from chance or random things to do a few things faster. Yeah, how to meditate, how to do the Vipassana, and it’s become a tool to strengthen the principle of not clinging to the old moment. Q: What Do You See as the Biggest Risks or Challenges That Small Businesses Are Going to Come Up Against That We Need to Figure Out and Think About? A: The number one is the cost to operate, and the number one challenge is the high cost to operate and stay. My worry is not that small business owners panic, but that their supporters do. Q: What’s the Biggest Opportunity? A: I don’t know for myself, right? Because each of us has a different one, I don’t know for myself, because each business is different. But in this situation, you get creative. You decide to keep your business alive. That is when you break free from old ways of thinking and doing things. We do it. Q: If You Had a Magic Silver Wand, And You Could Wave it, to Make One Thing Happen for Every Small Business Owner in The World Right Now, What Would You Use Your Magic Silver Wand For? A: Steady support for small business owners. Q: What Do You Need? A: I try to explore ways to reach Myanmar. It does not have to be in person. Even if you see a Myanmar person in your city looking for work, give them time. Let them engage. You will likely find good people. If I had a wish, it would be for open hearts. Do you want to shop small? Check out our new buy.small Marketplace! Latest Stories
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