Dr. Sonam Tobgye has a PhD degree from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia and has been nominated for a University Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award. He undertook his PhD study on, “Digital Transformation in Bhutan: Culture, Workforce & Training” within the framework of GNH. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Commerce/Business from the University of Delhi, India. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Management and Accounting from the University of Calgary in Canada.
He had been a university lecturer at Sherubtse College in Bhutan (then an affiliate College of Delhi University when Bhutan did not have its own university) and taught Delhi University B.Com (Hons) program courses. Beyond Sherubtse College, Dr. Tobgye has held senior managerial positions in the State-owned Corporations in Bhutan. Manager in Accounts with Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, Senior Finance Manager with Chukha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd., Chief Investment Manager with National Pension & Provident Fund Bureau, General Manager with Bhutan Board Products Ltd., Deputy Managing Director and Officiating Chief Executive Officer with Bhutan Postal Corporation Ltd. were some of the positions that he held in Bhutan’s Corporate sector. In Australia, he is currently working for Data Scientists Pty. Ltd and Janna Australia as GNH Consultants. He is also teaching at International Institute of Management Pty. Ltd, Brisbane.
Dr. Tobgye has attended several international conferences/seminars and has published articles on GNH and GOH (Gross Organizational Happiness). He presented a paper on GOH at the International GNH Conference in Bhutan in 2015 where participants from 60 -70 countries were presented. He talks about well-being and happiness as the ultimate purpose of life. He also talks about a new vision for business and asserts that the brawn and the brain of entrepreneurship should be intertwined with the sense and sensibility of ethics to take this world forward from the ethical morass that is world is presently suffering from. He is of the firm notion that most of the troubles that this world is suffering from is on account of growing sterility. According to him, GNH is a holistic, sustainable and inclusive development model characterized by the right balance between equitable and sustainable livelihood, ecological conservation, good governance and a dynamic and thriving culture which in turn, fosters the sense of sufficiency and contentment promoting harmony and connectedness with nature, others and ourselves – the essence of true happiness. The human aspiration for happiness, arguably transcends all the dividing contours of society and has the power to unite all of humanity.