Portrait of Becoming: Thammika Songkaeo
When Thammika Songkaeo stepped into the studio for her Editorial Portrait Experience shoot, she was entering a new chapter—one defined by visibility, voice, and the courage to take up space. A writer, coach, and National Geographic Explorer, her work bridges the personal and the systemic, exploring how inner and outer worlds intertwine. Recently, she published her debut novel Stamford Hospital with Penguin, a deeply personal exploration of womanhood, marriage, and identity.
In this conversation, she shares how portraiture has complemented her creative and professional journey—helping her embody the same presence and truth she brings to her writing and leadership.
Can you share a little about yourself and what you do?
I’m originally from Thailand but raised across cultures. My work often examines the hidden forces—personal, relational, and systemic—that shape how we live and lead. Alongside writing, where my book Stamford Hospital and upcoming book focus on women’s issues, I also coach leaders working on social and environmental transformation, helping them align inner clarity with outer impact. I’m qualified for the latter via a certification from INSEAD and being a National Geographic Explorer, with personal projects that examine why people do what they do to the planet.
What new chapter or direction are you stepping into right now?
I’ve just published my debut novel Stamford Hospital with Penguin. It’s a deeply personal work that explores marriage, motherhood, and selfhood. This moment feels like stepping into a more public-facing chapter, where I’m not only creating but also sharing my voice and story with wider audiences around the globe—at writers’ festivals, event collaborations, and across media. Gaining traction from Stamford Hospital, I’m also fuelled to work on my second book and deepen my identity as an author while continuing my coaching work.
With your book Stamford Hospital, what impact do you hope it will make?
I hope it offers women—especially those who feel stuck in domestic roles that don’t reflect their fuller, inner selves—a mirror and a language for their quiet struggles. More broadly, I hope it sparks conversation about the costs of duty, silence, and conformity, and opens up more compassionate spaces for honesty. That honesty, I hope, allows us to ask how we can support one another’s dreams more than we put a lid on people’s aspirations.
What role has the Editorial Portrait Experience played in this chapter of your journey?
These images have given me a visual voice to stand alongside my written one. A portrait has a way of capturing presence and truth without words—it’s become a companion piece to the book, holding a visual embodiment of the authority I feel I have to write what I write and speak up for what I’d like to speak up for.
How did the shoot itself feel for you?
Empowering. It was a rare moment where I felt seen for the courage and strength that I know I have. The teamwork behind it, from your photography to make up and hair by Vic Hwang, also made me feel cared for—like there were people who wanted me to shine and who saw in me things they knew were worth bringing out. I felt like I had a team behind my back, even if my work is largely solo.
How have the portraits helped you show up more confidently—in your brand, career, or personal journey?
They’ve given me a strong set of assets I can consistently and reliably share across my social channels. With the number of events, panels, and collaborations I’m part of globally, I need portraits and headshots at the ready. Having a collection that feels reflective of who I am and professional makes it much easier to show up across all of these platforms.
What advice would you share for someone who’s on a journey to showing up more fully and authentically?
You’re the first person who needs to see, accept, and embrace who you are. When you give yourself that permission, others connect with you more deeply than you imagine. I’d focus less on the word ‘authentic,’ which still seems to hold the gaze of others, and more on what feels right—something that people will feel in their own bodies.