Four of Thailand's best-known entrepreneurs take turns in the hot seat this month as guests on CNBC's weekly business programme "Managing Asia".

CNBC anchor and host of the cable TV show Christine Tan will be chatting to Somprasong Boonyachai of AIS, the Mall Group's Supaluck Umpujh, Thai Beverage's Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi and William Heinecke of the Minor Group about their visions, their strategies for guiding their companies through stormy economic waters and they lessons they have learned.

The four CEOs were picked from a shortlist compiled by Tan and her producer.

"We chose the ones who won awards or have made a significant contribution to the country's economy, or are most talked about," says the vivacious Tan, who was in Bangkok last month to tape the one-on-one interviews.

"'Managing Asia' is like a crash course MBA. I talk to CEOs and business leaders all over Asia. They share how they manage their people, positions, competition and growth. The show aims to give viewers a picture of how to run a company in half an hour."

The Singapore-born Tan started her career as a reporter covering everything from refugees and crime to social events and business.

After two years in the field, she landed a job as a business producer for national television and later went on to present the current affairs show "Money Mind".

"The business beat has always been more fun for me because facts are facts, whereas in politics, there is a lot of playing with words. In business news, no means no. And there's always a reason why a company does one thing or another," she says.

Interviewing leaders who value their time above everything, Tan says her greatest challenge is to ask the right questions. That means a lot of homework.

Prior to each interview, Tan will go through a stack of information on both company and the CEO. It is harder, she says, when the company isn't listed, and particularly if it's a family business.

"That means I have very little information and there are many more phone calls to make to dig up more info.

"By the time I'm ready to sit in front of him, I must know him inside out. It's vital that the CEO feels I know him well and that it's worth talking to me."

Another challenge for her is drawing the CEO into a conversation that will reveal the person inside.

"My job is to bring out the personality. What's the person really like. Is he a tough boss? What are his challenges? What are his motives? Everybody wants to know how he thinks," she explains.

But it can get tedious. Some CEOs think the show is a free showcase for their products and the company.

"They think, 'this is CNBC, wow, great publicity for free!' So they try a hard sell. People can spot that," she says.

The best interviews, from her perspective, are the ones that come from the heart. "When they are really honest, you learn from them."

After more than seven years with the show, the 37-year-old anchor has travelled all around the region more times than she can count. Yet she still loves every minute.

When she feels stressed, she just goes home and talks to her husband.

"My husband is a funny guy, and I mean in a good way," she laughs. They go for a long walk and discuss what's going on. It is nice to have somebody with whom you can share."

Despite having gained so much insight from the entrepreneurs, Tan has never considered starting her own company.

Perhaps one of the reasons is because she wouldn't have time. Last year, she was given a new challenge, anchoring "Worldwide Exchange", the business news programme that covers the close of the trading day from Asia, the middle of the trading day in Europe and pre-market action in the United States.

The programme identifies the big story of the day and monitors its impact in the global markets while also providing live on-location reports from key business centres around the world.

Five years from now, Tan sees herself surrounded by her loved ones. She hopes she'll still be doing the job she loves.

"I enjoy it every much. I love my job and the people I work with. It's a constant buzz, with new things to learn all the time.

"Nothing ever stays still," she says.

"Managing Asia" airs every Friday at 5pm with repeats over the weekend on CNBC (UBC 44).

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation