A Kings Park man who couldn’t speak English when he arrived in Australia three years ago has finished in the top 100 of a business strategy game.
Khamla Sengmany, who is studying for an advanced management diploma at Martin in Melbourne’s CBD, was the only Australian to earn a global top-100 ranking for his performance in a business strategy game last month.
The Martin team was one of 1109 teams from 87 colleges and universities around the world to take part.
Each team was assigned to operate a hypothetical athletic footwear company.
They had to make business decisions on a variety of aspects of running the company, including plant operations, distribution and warehouse operations, online sales, workforce compensation, sales, marketing and finance.
Mr Sengmany received an individual score of 108, only two points from taking the title.
“I felt very happy as I didn’t expect to get that far,” he said.
“I am proud of what I achieved.”
The feat is all the more significant as Mr Sengmany couldn’t speak any English when he moved to Melbourne from Laos three years ago.
Since then, he has completed a certificate IV in business, a diploma of business and an advanced diploma of business.
“I learned English through speaking, writing, reading and also just listening to and observing my family, friends and peers,” Mr Sengmany said.
He said he hoped to help his family improve the management systems of their businesses and also planned to open a business of his own.
