[2020 Women’s Forum] "Work is a Long Journey... Embrace Bold, Big Dreams"

Over 30 Mentors, Over 120 Mentees
A Unified Voice of Support, Solidarity, and Empathy
"Pursue the Best and Just Do It"

On the 28th, Park Hyung-joo, President of Ajou University, is giving a lecture at the '2020 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] At the '2020 Asia Women Leaders Forum' held on the 28th at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, warm words of comfort, encouragement, and solidarity were exchanged. Mentors who have attended the event since its first edition shared their reflections, saying, "It was a valuable time to share precious experiences with mentees of the same generation." This year marked the 9th edition of the event, where about 30 mentors and 120 mentees listened attentively to each other.

Baek Hyun-mi, General Manager (Executive Director) of Lotte Signiel Busan, said, "I started working here (Sogong-dong hotel), and I began my life as a hotelier learning greetings in this lobby, so it brings back many memories. I have been coming as a mentor for four years, and every time I come, I gain a lot of insights." She added, "It was a good time to share meaningful experiences with the mentees." Ryu Han-joo, CEO of Re:Seed, said, "The speakers' stories felt like a summary of what we women need to overcome." Lee Hyun-ah, Head of AI Service Division at SK Telecom, said, "I have always thought that the most important things in life are health, what you want to do, and people who share your values, but listening to the presentations made me realize that having a purpose is also important." She continued, "In my field, I believe there is no best, only optimal. I want to convey that pursuing the optimal in any situation is the secret to success."

Various advice about working life was also shared. Bang Soo-yeon, CEO of Headhunt Korea, said, "When working in an organization, you often see other people's problems but tend to overlook your own. I hope people think deeply about how they contribute to the organization and how they are perceived, and approach relationships with that in mind." Baek Hyun-ok, Director of the Biomedical Research Center in the Clinical Nutrition Department at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, advised, "I want to say don't give up, even if you go slowly and steadily. By changing your mindset, you can see the same work differently and view difficult tasks positively." Jin Eun-sun, Design Center Director (Executive Director) at Lotte Chilsung Beverage, emphasized, "Working life is a long journey that takes 20 to 30 years. I hope people don't react sensitively to every little thing, think of hardships as part of the growth process, and endure until the end."

On the 28th, the mentoring team held an inauguration ceremony at the '2020 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Advice drawn from life experience continued. Lee Min-soo, Head of Advanced Energy Korea Branch, said, "While working at a foreign company, I think I lived each day trying to overcome my weaknesses." He added, "I tried to study history and humanities to understand the culture of foreign companies. I hope female juniors never limit themselves or set boundaries but keep striving continuously in their careers." Yeo Ji-young, Group Leader of SK Telecom Open Collaboration, said, "I want to tell female juniors not to fear new attempts and to throw themselves into them." She shared, "When I was in charge of T map Taxi, I obtained a taxi driver's license and even worked as a taxi driver from 5 a.m. The world won't change if you keep doing things the old way. If you want change, I hope you take action 'right now'."

Kim Mi-hee, CEO of Tutoring, said, "After starting a business five years ago and running a startup, what I felt was 'working mom leadership.' Working moms often act as the lubricant of the team and are good at embracing team members' weaknesses or mistakes. There are many similarities between parenting and leadership. The experience of childbirth and parenting can definitely be an advantage in one's career. I hope everyone has confidence," encouraging the audience. Lee Eun-sook, Director of the National Cancer Center and mentor leader of the 9th class, said, "I want to say that before executing work, don't overthink too much and that sometimes you need the courage to 'just go for it'."