In 2016, L’Oreal became one of Coursera’s first enterprise customers, and began sponsoring employee enrollment in courses. The international cosmetics brand hopes that their Coursera program will foster a company-wide culture of learning, in which employees at all levels feel empowered to develop their job skills and advance their careers. We spoke with one L’Oreal learner – Kittisak Anansitichok of Bangkok, Thailand – who jumped at the opportunity to learn on Coursera. Here’s what Kittisak told us about his experience:
I started my in-house Public Relations career as PR Manager for Lancôme at L’Oreal Thailand, and was then promoted to PR and Communications Manager for the LUXE division. I directly manage a PR Supervisor, and I lead a team of PR managers who are assigned to the various LUXE brands.
As a manager and leader, I think being a good coach is one of the most important ways for me to add value to the team. When the Coursera courses were announced, I decided to take the course Managing as a Coach, from the University of California, Davis.
The course content was clear and concise, with all of the concepts explained by an expert. I’ve been able to apply the skills I learned to empathize with my team at a more personal level, and to personalize my management and coaching techniques for each of team member’s unique background. Now, when a member of my team makes a mistake, rather than judging them, I pause and try to put myself in their shoes. If they did something wrong because they didn’t have the right information or skills, I try to act as a mentor to help them learn and solve the problem.
I have a very full schedule, and I’ve been asked how I made time for this course with all of my hobbies and work commitments. For me, though, I think it’s about how I manage my life. We all get 24 hours every day – it’s about what we do with that time. I really wanted to take the course, so it was not hard to make the time. And I’m glad I did, because I believe the skills I learned will really improve my team’s performance.
I love that Coursera has provided a central place where I can find everything I need for my career development. I’m now looking for my next course, and I’m excited to continue to learn.