Spotlight Series: Interview with Sirasar Boonma, Hear & Found Co-Founder
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
In a conversation with us, Sirasar Boonma (Mae) shares her experience as the co-founder of Hear & Found, a music social enterprise in Bangkok. She expounds on what running Hear & Found has meant for her and the indigenous communities she works with, especially in a male-dominated industry.
Why did you start Hear & Found?
I had always dreamed of starting my own business since I was a music university student at Silpakorn University. I wanted to create a space to support diverse musicians, including showing various types of music. So I worked at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre for five years, to support creative people in Thailand. After that, I studied for my master’s degree in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (music pathway) at the Goldsmiths University of London and came back to Thailand to work for a social enterprise for another five years before I began my own business.
Hear & Found comes from my personal experience during my time at university. I joined the music and community program, where I went to indigenous communities with my professors. That was the first time that I listened to indigenous music. It made me want to dig deeper, not only because of the music itself but also because of their way of life and the social inequality issues they face.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
Dr Deidre Combs. She introduced me to the notion of “inclusive leadership”. It changed my whole perception of leadership. Leaders should be the ones who encourage others and act as supporters and mentors rather than dictators or heroes. Leaders want and will move toward the goals together with their colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.
What lessons have you learned as a female leader/founder/entrepreneur?
Being open to collaboration and having courage.
Collaboration to me means listening and defining the right objectives together, especially with the indigenous musicians and performers. Our team usually asks indigenous musicians or performers about their objectives and expectations. We will not tell them what to do, but we ask what they need and want to do, including what they want to see in the future. With this understanding, we will know how we can support them better.
Courage to me means being brave enough to ask for opportunities, funding, and partners that will help us go further.
What are some of the challenges, biases, or barriers you have encountered thus far?
Being a women social entrepreneur in a male dominant industry, especially the music and sound industry, is very challenging. Many people might think that women cannot do difficult jobs or make difficult decisions such as traveling throughout Thailand and doing fieldwork with indigenous people; or that working as a field recordist is not a job for women too.
However, I do not care what people think. I am proof that women can do this kind of job and create social impact.
Since we started Hear & Found, the indigenous stories and their social issues have reached more than 120,000 people, and 80% of them understand more about cultural diversity. Also, the indigenous musicians and performers have earned more than $13,000 so far.
How do you motivate and lead your team?
I consider myself a supporter and mentor rather than a boss, and this social enterprise is the medium for change.
I motivate my team by walking them through the social issues that Hear & Found aims to solve and the social impact we have created thus far. We are also in the field together to learn from the indigenous people first-hand.
What is the greatest risk you have undertaken?
Establishing Hear & Found is the greatest risk I have undertaken. Before I started this company, I had a good job with a high salary. I could take care of myself and my family well. However, I decided to start this business because I want to do something good and hope to see it grow for future generations to come.
Any final words of wisdom?
A quote from Nelson Mandela said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Running Hear & Found has a lot of obstacles. I have considered quitting from time to time, but this quote has saved me.
I have found that as long as I know why I do what I do and am able to track the social impact I create, things that seem to be impossible are now possible.
