What inspired or motivated you to pursue work abroad? Was this always your plan?
As an Korean-American immigrant I was always interested in living abroad but never had a concrete opportunity. In 2014 I was unexpectedly offered the chance to move to Tokyo and managed to stay in the region ever since.
Can you speak a little bit about your career and how it has progressed since graduating from UCLA?
I am very grateful to UCLA Anderson's MBA program as it gave me the platform to pivot from engineering into a rewarding career in consulting and data science. Since graduation my role has expanded from Hong Kong to the wider APAC region and now covers a diverse range of sectors from retail & luxury to financial services.
What do you think are the most important components of educating students to be culturally competent global citizens, no matter their major?
Rather than learning about specific rules and guidelines for each country/culture I think the most important thing is to be genuinely interested and empathetic with the people you work with. This approach and attitude is rewarding for yourself as you learn about diverse cultural nuances/differences but also gives you the benefit of the doubt as your counterparts will appreciate your willingness to understand and adapt.
Are you involved in any international UCLA alumni groups or support networks?
I am active in animating the UCLA Anderson Hong Kong alumni community and also serve as a mentor to the broader UCLA community in Hong Kong and in the US.