Mitihoon – What if the workplace had “clubs” where employees could come together around mutual interests, take a break from work responsibilities, and enjoy what they love freely?
This idea was initiated by True’s Human Resources team, who aimed to create a space where employees could engage in passion-driven activities together. The space serves as a mechanism to foster an open organizational culture that embraces diversity, strengthens connections, and supports everyone in doing what they love while also promoting well-being.
This approach aligns with research by Perceptyx, a company specializing in employee experience analytics, which found that employees who participate in interest-based clubs or groups are significantly more likely to feel a sense of belonging within their organization.
Today, True offers a variety of clubs that regularly organize activities, including basketball, football, badminton, running, music, True Volunteers, travel, and the “Bring Your Best” club. On this occasion, representatives from all 8 clubs came together for a group discussion to share fun stories and experiences from participating in the clubs—experiences that helped them reconnect with what they love and build new friendships within a diverse and inclusive organization.
But when there is a shared “love for the same thing,” that diversity becomes a driving force—making work and life more enjoyable, more meaningful, and allowing each person to be the best version of themselves.
Returning to a Long-Lost World of Fun
“I’ve been playing badminton since I was a kid, through university, and even into my working years. But I stopped playing for almost a decade. I only got back into it when True launched the club last year,” said Sarunyoo Lavankura from the Network Planning, Engineering & Operation team, who also serves as president of the Badminton Club. His story resonated with many others in the conversation, who shared how their working lives had distanced them from the activities they once loved.
“I think everyone was really glad. We felt like the company should’ve started something like this a long time ago,” added Eakarin Ponvattana, treasurer of the Football Club from the Procurement & Logistics team. “Before, people had their own regular football circles, but once we started working full time, many lost touch with the game. When the club opened, even colleagues in their 50s reached out saying they wanted to join. So we arranged the teams so everyone could have fun together.”
After the clubs officially launched in August 2024, each club formed its own LINE group to welcome new members. HR then supported each club in organizing their first meet-up to help members get to know one another. They also helped form an official club committee to ensure activities could continue on a regular basis.
No Barriers, Just Passion
With no pressure or competition involved, these clubs have become safe spaces that offer psychological comfort, where anyone who shares a common interest can come together freely, without barriers of position, gender, age, or skill level.
“After the launch event, our Basketball Club saw a lot of people signing up in the LINE group, both from Bangkok and from other provinces. Our first meet-up took place at the basketball court on the 13th floor of the True Ratchada office. Everyone came fully prepared to play, from young newcomers to senior colleagues. Female employees and LGBTQ+ members also joined. Many of us had never met before, but our shared love for basketball brought us together,” said Sankaworn Sattayamongkol from the Innovation Center, a member of the Basketball Club, recalling their first gathering.
Even though most members didn’t know each other beforehand, having a shared interest made it easier to connect. The same happened in the Travel Club, where the first trip brought together people who had never met but quickly became friends.
“Many people think that traveling with strangers might be difficult. I wasn’t sure whether anyone would join our first club trip, which involved camping and reforesting. But in the end, people came, even though we had never met or worked in the same building. And we had a great time together,” said Sumala Wongkham, president of the Travel Club from the Digital Communications team.
Do What You Love, and Grow Stronger Together
Many employees joined clubs simply because they wanted to do what they love. But what they gained often turned out to be even more meaningful—whether it was learning new skills, building confidence, or finding motivation from walking the path together with others. “Some people want to join a sports club but start by saying they’re not good at it or don’t know how to play. They’re hesitant to come. But we always say, just come and exercise with us. If you’re not good yet, we can teach and support each other,” said the president of the Badminton Club.
“At first, I wasn’t a good runner. I only started running seriously about 2-3 years ago,” said Alongkorn Srimuang, vice president of the Running Club from the Workplace Management team, reflecting on his own journey. “When I ran alone, I just ran at my own pace and would stop when I felt tired. But after joining the club, I met seniors and teammates who had more experience. They shared techniques that helped me improve. Running together motivated me to go farther and eventually aim for mini-marathons and full marathons.”
The Music Club has also opened new creative worlds for its members. Adisorn Atikomchakorn, president of the Music Club from the Internal Communications team, shared, “Every rehearsal and performance is an opportunity to learn. The most recent time we played at the office was especially challenging because some of the songs chosen by our members were completely new to me. At the same time, our younger members had to try songs that were unfamiliar to their generation. It became a great chance for all of us to expand our listening and playing skills, discover music from different eras, and explore new ways of performing together.”
Each club now hosts regular activities, often with weekly meetups for practice or casual play. Some even extend beyond the workplace. For example, sports clubs like basketball, football, and badminton have taken it a step further by organizing matches with teams outside the company. These clubs now have formal selection processes to ensure transparency and to build strong, well-matched teams for external competitions.
Small Actions from the Heart Can Lead to Big Change
For the True Volunteers Club, a love for social impact activities may be the starting point, but what actually unfolds goes far beyond that. The club has become a space where people in the organization can get to know, understand, and actively participate in True’s real social missions.
Piluntanee Panichpat, president of the True Volunteers Club and a member of the Corporate Relations team behind many of True’s CSR projects, sees the club as a key channel that enables employees to truly “participate” rather than “just be informed”.
“We want people at True to be aware and get involved in the activities our organization does for society, not just promote them externally. If people inside understand, they can help spread the word. Recently, we organized an ‘Art from the Heart’ activity at the Autistic Thai Foundation, where we painted together with autistic art teachers. It was a way to learn how to live together with respect for diversity. Our next project is a book donation drive, which came from a suggestion within the club and is now becoming a reality within the company,” she shared.
Another club that started with a strong intention to give voice to diversity in the workplace is the Bring Your Best Club. In its early phase, the club focused on creating a safe space for women, LGBTQ+ employees, and people with disabilities. It was not just about organizing activities, but about designing a space where everyone feels empowered to be themselves.
“We held a workshop called ‘Aware Because We’re Equal,’ which focused on education and open discussion around workplace harassment. Members of all genders, including LGBTQ+ employees, joined and learned together. The feedback was very positive, because many people don’t realize that small actions can count as harassment. The session also covered its impact, ways to prevent or respond to it, and how to file a complaint. At the very least, we want this club to be a place where people feel comfortable reaching out and talking about anything,” said Suchin Saeng-la-or, vice president of the Bring Your Best Club from the Sustainability Development team.
A Workplace Culture Grown from Joy
“Shall we go have fun together today?” is a greeting that’s becoming more common around the office whenever club members meet—whether they’re from different departments or have never worked together before. One key factor that strengthens bonds within the clubs is the involvement of company executives who participate not only as sponsors providing support and resources but also by joining the activities themselves.
“The Badminton Club recently invited Khun Nakul, our Co-CFO, to play with us. It was so much fun. He’s really good at it too. We got to see a whole new side of him. Once we were on the court, no one held back. There were no titles or hierarchies—just all of us playing together,” shared Sarunyoo.
“The Basketball Club had Khun Tanaphon, our CMO, on the court too. We were blocking shots left and right,” added Sankaworn, sparking laughter from the group. The Music Club also shared a story from their first event. “Khun Chakkrit, our CCAO, joined us on stage to sing and play guitar before officially becoming the club’s sponsor,” recalled Adisorn. In other clubs, Khun Yupa, Co-CFO, joined a workshop with the Running Club. Khun Prathet, CTISO, participated in an art activity with the True Volunteers Club. And Khun Ekaraj, CDO & CBO, stepped onto the field to compete alongside members of the Football Club.
Everyone in the conversation agreed that the clubs have brought new energy into both their work and personal lives. “It’s definitely more fun now. I look forward to seeing my football friends. People who love the same things naturally connect and have great conversations,” said Eakarin. “I feel so much more inspired. I used to be a ‘basketball nomad,’ always hopping from one court to another. But now after work, I have friends to play basketball with right here at the office,” Sankaworn from the Basketball Club added.
All of these stories are real examples of how clubs at True create opportunities for people to reconnect with what they love, spark new inspiration at work, and truly bring diversity to life.
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