The New TBI: The Sweet Taste of Freedom

The new ‘break-off’ TBI, The B*ston Institute, is proving that there is life after The British Institute. With the dead hand of Luke, Mariam and Reza lifted, the new school is doing well, with student numbers up 30% since the break. Why is this the case? Well, you need to understand this crucial fact. Luke…

Welcome to The Boston Institute, Malang

The former branch of The British Institute (TBI) Malang has now re-opened as The Boston Institute (TBI) Malang. As we told you several months back, unsatisfied with the  performance of Luke Preece and Mariam Kartikatresni at The British Institute, the joint-venture partners decided to end that unfruitful relationship go it alone. And what a great job they are…

Mariam’s Ousting Part 2. The Advisers from Hell

In yesterday’s post we discussed the role Mariam’s narcissistic rage had played in the demoralization of TBI staff. With this nasty and self-regarding woman persecuting her detractors and critics and scapegoating her underlings, anyone who worked under Mariam came to fear her moods and tantrums. A lot of capable people left, shaking their heads at…

How Mariam Crippled TBI (Part 1 of 3)

Most expats who work or have worked for TBI will have only a very superficial knowledge of who Mariam even was. As we said long ago, the business management literature says that one of the surest signs you have a bad CEO or Director is that key personnel go long periods without even seeing her.…

Mariam’s ‘Promotion’ from TBI Director to the Director of a Broom Closet

Michelle has oh-so-predictably rocked up this morning and boasted that we are losers because we don’t know the inner politics of TBI anymore. This has become something of a ritual for Luke Preece as his former dominion rapidly collapses. When his horribly unpopular stooge Scotty got demoted from the School Manager rule at Riau we…