"A Single Genius Supports 100,000 People"
Sensing Sensitive Changes, Turning Crisis into Opportunity
[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Chairman Lee Kun-hee of Samsung is regarded as a business leader who implanted world-class DNA in South Korea. Chairman Lee's management spirit, which keenly sensed change and turned crises into opportunities, played a role in leading Samsung and the South Korean economy. In this context, the term "world-class company" was also an essential keyword in his sayings.
At the Samsung Group chairman inauguration ceremony in December 1987, Chairman Lee said, "Through future-oriented and challenging management, we will grow Samsung into a world-class company." He expressed his ambition to expand the advanced technology industry sector further and accelerate Samsung Group's globalization through the activation of overseas businesses. Chairman Lee emphasized, "We will educate talents needed by the nation and society and ensure they have the best human relations and highest efficiency."
In 1993, at a hotel in Frankfurt, Chairman Lee declared Samsung's new management, which is regarded as a beautiful statement emphasizing reform for corporate growth. He said, "In the era of globalization, if you do not change, you will forever be second or second and a half class. Even if you do well now, you are only one and a half class," adding, "Let's change everything except for our wives and children."
Chairman Lee also stressed the importance of product design competitiveness. In the same year, he emphasized, "Design will become the most important thing in the world going forward. It is moving toward individualization," and in his 1996 New Year's address, he said, "Design should go beyond decorating and embellishing the appearance of products to embody the company's philosophy and culture."
He advocated innovation to nurture core talents. At a subsidiary presidents' meeting in April-May 2002, Chairman Lee said, "Even if profits decrease, it is more important than anything else to carry out work that contributes to society," and added, "Let's reflect in the president's evaluation criteria how many core talents have been recruited, how much the president is taking care to recruit them, and how much effort is being made to develop the secured core talents." This spirit is summarized by his 2003 interview with a media outlet where he said, "One genius supports 100,000 people."
After returning to management in 2010, Chairman Lee said, "This is the real crisis now. Global top-tier companies are collapsing," and urged, "There is no time to hesitate. Let's move forward only."
He also worked to strengthen female workforce. At a women's executive luncheon in 2011, Chairman Lee said, "Female executives must become presidents. While they may not be able to fully demonstrate their capabilities as executives, once they become presidents, they can fully realize their intentions and abilities, so they must become presidents," providing opportunities for promotion.
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