Panthers of ISKL #303: Cayly Chia - The Adaptable Panther
Even though I am not an ISKL alumnus myself, the Panther spirit feels wonderfully familiar and reminiscent of my own upbringing. It is truly inspiring to observe and actively participate in the passionate subcultures that enrich the community.
Meet Cayly Chia, our new Community Engagement and Alumni Senior Specialist, whose journey to this role has been one of stepping stones from an interest in design and events to marketing. From her own experience as a Third Culture Kid (TCK), attending an international school in Beijing, to working in the MS/HS library before joining the Advancement team, Cayly has developed a unique understanding of the school and its community.
Here is Cayly’s story:
Please tell us more about yourself.
As with most international alumni students or Third Culture Kids (TCKs), my story is all over the place.
I’m Malaysian but born in Singapore and raised in Beijing and Manila. I’m a product of the international school system myself, graduating from the International School of Beijing (ISB), doing International Baccaulaureate Art and sports clubs after school. Though sports science was an interest at the time, I ended up going to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for design.
I’ve worked in the Art Institute of Chicago museum and the college’s design department woodshop, so I’ve always been in an educational setting.
When and why did you join ISKL?
Before ISKL, I worked at a furniture sales company in San Francisco, but I decided after the COVID pandemic that I needed to take a break and return home to Malaysia. I had never lived in Malaysia beyond family holidays, so there was a lot to get used to, but about a year after I moved back, an alumni friend (both in ISB and an ISKL alum) told me there was a temporary position at the Middle School/High School Library at ISKL. I could cover while I was looking for jobs.
I helped out there for a few months until the very passionate Head of Advancement, Catherine Gresse, heard about my background and asked me to do some work for the Advancement department. The work in the department was an interesting mix of many things I’d learned in college and in my international school days. There was a stimulating kind of community-building challenge I had never experienced during my schooling or in my previous jobs. After about a year and a half of working in Marketing on various design projects, I transitioned to events management, which also falls under the Advancement department.
Please share a little about your role as our new Community Engagement and Alumni Senior Specialist.
Having spent a little over three years in different roles at ISKL, engaging in various staff and student-focused initiatives, I naturally eased into the rhythm of the school’s annual cycle. As part of the Events team, I gained insight into many of the activities taking place across campus, providing a deeper understanding of just how busy this place can get!
Even though I am not an ISKL alumnus myself, the Panther spirit feels wonderfully familiar and reminiscent of my own upbringing. It is truly inspiring to observe and actively participate in the passionate subcultures that enrich the community.
What are your daily activities?
Currently, my daily activities include lots of planning and emails for both the usual ISKL activities and alumni business, digging through yearbooks, helping out at certain events, and meeting with people!
What is your overall vision for the upcoming semester?
The more I learn about the overlap between our alumni and current community members, the clearer the vision gets. High Schoolers curious about alternative paths that may include a gap year, working before college, or pivoting to non-traditional careers don't have to wonder alone. We have alumni who've lived exactly that, with plenty of stories to help.
The questions people have for every graduating cohort quietly ask: "Where are they now? What are they up to? Is there someone in the city I’m going to that I could talk to about this? How do I find my way?" Those experiences are cyclical and occur every year. The vision is making it easier to connect.
The existential crisis facing every cohort of seniors is very real; however, there are many great experiences that have been shared across the whole community that could be even more easily accessible with just a bit more clarity and intention.
What do you feel at this stage will be the most enjoyable and most challenging part of your job?
I think the most enjoyable part is simply seeing people connect. No, I don’t mean having alumni “network” with each other every reunion. I mean when people genuinely find shared passions and interests they wouldn’t have normally done during their busy time in school, or build genuine friendships both locally and globally, and across generations. It’s a very human joy in witnessing just that.
The most challenging part would be perhaps the sheer scale of the task. Maintaining the connection between our current, busy school life and the reality of our alumni scattered globally. It’s a constant effort to support a community where those connections feel relevant and active.
Can you tell us about anything exciting and/or interesting that you are currently a part of at ISKL?
This role! There’s no shortage of events and cool moments happening around school. It’s hard to pick one, since events and initiatives can pop up organically outside of the annual happenings.
Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?
These days I’m cafe-hopping, playing pickleball, reading, and catching movies in cinemas. I particularly love horror movies!
Going to events in the city or going on a random art and design side quest. Otherwise, one random goal I have is to make nice latte art. No espresso machine at my desk, but if there are any coffee connoisseurs out there with a spare 10 minutes during lunch, I’ve got a V60 filter waiting for use.
Who or what inspires you?
A bit of a cop out to say the community, but it really is. The nurturing of passions and seeing that spark in people when they truly find something that speaks to them, or when they have worked hard to bring out that spark in others. The camaraderie of employees during hard times and how we celebrate our wins. A genuinely caring bunch!
What is your best memory (or most memorable moment) so far working at ISKL?
Still has to be all the activities leading up to the big dinner celebrating ISKL’s 60th Anniversary. The highlight was definitely watching the Middle School Band perform “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and the Varsity Boys' Basketball team win their first IASAS championship! After a whole year of planning, I was grateful to step out of my planning role and simply enjoy being an audience member after a year of hard work.
Which Panther superlative would your friends and family say fits you best?
I’m the Most Onz Panther (Onz means nothing is impossible) because you kind of have to be onz for anything if you want others to be onz too.
Tell us why ISKL is special to you:
I Suka (Like) ISKL because there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow, perhaps discover new things about oneself while watching students find their way in life too. That, and there’s always something cool happening around here. The school is busy!
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
It means to deeply understand yourself, your background, passions, and goals, to care for those around you, with the hope of a ripple effect that contributes to making the world a better place.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff member who always has an anecdote to tell, loves to share some insights into their passions and interests, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.