[W Frontier] CEO Jang Seo-jeong: "I Learn from Everyone Building Their Careers as a Profession"

CEO Jang Seo-jeong Talks About 'Mentor'
"I Learn Even From Juniors and Team Leaders"

Jang Seo-jeong, CEO of Jaranda, is being interviewed on the 9th at the office set up at Justco in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Jang Seo-jeong, CEO of Jaranda, has countless mentors. She enjoys learning through communication and receives help from many people, ranging from junior team members to Jaranda teachers. Jang said, "I received help evenly from junior team members with 1 to 2 years of experience at Jaranda to team leader-level juniors," adding, "There are so many people from whom I can learn good ideas and attitudes."

She learns working methods from mid-level team members with about 10 years of experience. Jang explained, "Compared to CEOs of other companies, I learn a lot from team leaders who lead a team, especially those with 8 to 10 years of experience. They work efficiently, have clear roles, achieve results, and manage themselves well."

She emphasized, "Now, I learn a lot from people who build their careers as a profession rather than just a job," and added, "I respect their expertise in their profession and their attitude toward work."

When selecting teachers for Jaranda, Jang also looks at "which field they excel in." She said, "There are university students with solid curriculums and teachers who are 67 years old but still active as English teachers," and added, "I focus more on the 'areas they can handle' rather than professionalism."

Jang also shared an episode with a teacher who took care of her children. She said, "A teacher with a mechanical engineering background spent time with imaginative children, which sparked their interest in writing and drawing, and after graduation, they got a job as a marketer," adding, "I felt very proud when I heard that Jaranda became a turning point in their life. I also gave advice on advertising-related work and copywriting jobs at IT companies."

Jaranda is not just a matching platform but also a place that provides new communication opportunities. Jang said, "Teachers who are job seekers or university students meet parents who are active in the workforce before starting their careers, and older teachers give advice to parents," adding, "It is an opportunity for both parents and teachers to meet people from different generations, and when they are from the same generation, they share the perspective of raising children together, which provides good insights," she said.

Sixty percent of Jaranda’s teachers belong to the 2030 generation. Jang stated, "I think the 2030 generation works based on values. Taking care of children is related to personality," and added, "Teachers who have worked at Jaranda receive certificates of activity, which they can include in their resumes. It serves as proof of diligence and sincerity."