Panthers of ISKL #303: Cayly Chia - The Events Specialist
I think ISKL does a good job of trying to create well-rounded people. It can be challenging to be well-rounded, and even more difficult to advocate for aspects of ourselves that society has yet to appreciate fully.
Meet Events Specialist, Cayly Chia, a true Third Culture Kid with a fascinating journey that spans continents, who brings a unique perspective and international student experience to her role.
From her roots in Malaysia to her time in Beijing and Manila, and her college years in Chicago, USA, Cayly’s path has been anything but ordinary. Now, as a familiar face at ISKL, she's one of the wizards who helps turn big ideas into reality, from major school-wide events to the smaller moments that make every day special.
Here is Cayly’s story:
Can you tell us more about yourself?
As with most international alumni students or Third Cultural 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, doing IB 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 Alumni) told me there was a temporary position at the MS/HS 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 Marketing department was an interesting mix of many things I’d learnt 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 an Events Specialist in the Advancement Department. What does a typical day look like for you? We’ve heard you’ve been described as the ‘AI’ of the Events team - what do you think people mean by that, and would you say it’s true?
In the Events Specialist role, my job is to help coordinate with organizers to create and manage events around the school. I’ve had a hand in supporting various events, including faculty meetings, external events (EARCOS, the 24-hour race), IASAS, and HS Graduation, among others. The biggest chunk of my job so far was to support the 60th Anniversary events last year.
Regarding the AI comment, I’m quite surprised, haha! It seems like I come off as the kind of prompt you would put in to make things easier. Maybe they mean I'm like the person who takes vague requests like “we need a thing for the parents” and somehow translates that into “40 chairs, 3 round tables, coffee station by the entrance, and directional signage printed by Tuesday!”
I try as much as possible to utilize my background and the tools we have (Google Suite, Canva, Adobe Illustrator, etc.) to create visuals for setup plans. Since the Events team coordinates between many different people, it’s often helpful to provide different routes to understanding and standardizing specific processes.
Can you tell us about anything exciting or interesting happening at ISKL that you’re a part of?
Well, this is my first “normal” year at the ISKL Events team, following the 60th Anniversary celebrations, so I’m interested in seeing how I might continue to streamline our Events processes.
I’m also excited to continue the legacy of our Staff Association! Before I was in the Staff Association, I remember enjoying some of the events and sweet gifts from the previous group. It was an incredibly busy year for our cohort, but I’m happy that we now get to plan and bring these same delights to our staff.
Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?
Like many people, I have a wide range of interests. I love coffee, gaming, art, and some sports - I recently got into running and volleyball - some interest in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), however, I have never ventured beyond the YouTube channels.
After work, you can most likely find me in the gym or couch-potatoing with a good TV series. On the weekends, I try to catch some events in the city or maybe catch up on some sleep.
What is your most memorable moment so far at ISKL?
I enjoyed all the activities leading up to the big annual dinner, but 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.
Who or what inspires you?
My department, the lovely colleagues I work with,and even some of the students I’ve met throughout my time here. When I first came and chatted with people about their time at ISKL, they all said the same thing: That it was the genuineness of the people that made ISKL special, and I feel that comes through.
Which Panther are you?
🐾 The Most Onz Panther – (Onz means nothing is impossible)
Share why you chose this superlative and how it shows your Panther spirit!
I really love the Baik Panther merchandise, but that’s my opinion, and that’s up for other people to decide. I'm considered the "Most Onz" because I always try to engage with new projects and see how we can improve them. I believe nothing is impossible when you’re willing to dive into stimulating conversations about new challenges!
Tell us why ISKL is special to you:
I Suka (Like) ISKL because it reminds me of what truly matters at the end of the day: connections with people, pursuing my passions, and working hard to balance both. I think ISKL does a good job of trying to create well-rounded people. It can be challenging to be well-rounded, and even more difficult to advocate for aspects of ourselves that society has yet to appreciate fully.
What does ISKL’s vision, “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 enhance your strengths, improve your weaknesses, and ultimately 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 have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, 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.