[Women’s Forum 10th Anniversary] "No Flower Blooms Without Swaying" Advice Poured Out in Special Mentor Talk

2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum
10th Anniversary Special Mentor Dialogue

On the 27th, a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary was held at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the left: Bae Soon-min, Head of KT AI2XL Research Institute; Ji Na-young, Professor of Child Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital; Yoon Yeo-sun, former CEO of LG Art Center; Kang Shin-sook, Vice President of the Guidance Business Division at the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives; Bang Soo-yeon, CEO of Headhunt Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seulgina Jo and Jihwan Park] "No flower blooms without shaking. Achieve step by step." "Follow your heart. The path of life lies within yourself." These are messages from female mentors who have walked their own paths, overcoming the walls of 'impossibility' with the title of 'firsts,' offered for their juniors.

On the afternoon of the 27th at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' held a special 'Mentor Dialogue' session for the first time to commemorate its 10th anniversary. Chaired by Yoon Yeo-sun, former LG Arts Center CEO and a mentor from the first group in 2012, the dialogue was held under the theme "10 Years with Women Leaders, a Tribute to Women Leaders Who Turned the Impossible into Possible."

Four representatives from the 10th mentor group participated as panelists: Kang Shin-sook, Deputy CEO of the Guidance Business Division at the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, a living witness who broke the glass ceiling in the 59-year history of the federation; Ji Na-young, the first Korean professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a pediatric psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins Hospital; Bae Soon-min, the youngest executive at KT and head of the AI2XL Research Institute; and Bang Soo-yeon, CEO of Headhunt and Headhunt Korea, a first-generation headhunting business leader in Korea. They poured out advice for mentees.

Kang Sin-suk, Vice President of the Guidance Business Division at the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, is having a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy on the 27th at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

◆ Significant Change in Women's Perception Over 10 Years... Yet the Glass Ceiling Remains

Over the past decade, the Asia Women Leaders Forum has firmly established itself as a representative networking platform for women in South Korea. Deputy CEO Kang, who has consistently attended as a mentor since the first group, said, "The path so far has never been easy. Breaking the glass ceiling often caused many wounds," but added, "I think the seniors who went ahead have become the dark night sky so that the juniors can become stars."

In particular, Deputy CEO Kang evaluated that perceptions surrounding women have greatly improved compared to 10 years ago. She quoted former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran for president and after her defeat said, "I didn’t break the glass ceiling, but I made a crack in it," and said, "I too will strive and support what role I can play so that juniors become the next generation of leaders."

CEO Bang also assessed the past decade by saying, "(Our society) is in a period of change. Recently, discussions about gender discrimination and reverse discrimination have surfaced, which can be seen as natural." He added, "It is difficult to change society overnight due to previously flawed education," but advised, "The role of the mentee generation here is important. I hope you lead the flow of change well." Especially, seemingly conscious of the recent prominent gender conflicts, he added, "A woman’s enemy is not men. It is herself."

Bang Su-yeon, CEO of Headhunt Korea, is having a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy on the 27th at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

◆ "Turning the Impossible into Possible" ? Advice from Mentors

The mentor representatives present that day are literally those who have "turned the impossible into possible."

Professor Ji, who came from the U.S. to attend the forum, cited the moment she most wanted to give up as about 20 years ago when she went to the U.S. without any preparation. She recalled, "Psychiatrists need to understand the (local) culture and speak English better, but I couldn’t understand what the patients were saying. The patients were bewildered, and I felt utterly miserable," adding, "That misery was because I felt I shouldn’t be here, that I was deceiving these people." She said she cried every day for about two to three months and even thought about giving up. But Professor Ji endured while crying. She smiled brightly and said, "If it’s something you really want to do, believe in yourself and endure. I overcame it and am here now."

On the 27th, a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary was held at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the left, Soonmin Bae, Head of KT AI2XL Research Institute; Nayoung Ji, Professor of Child Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital; Yeo-sun Yoon, former CEO of LG Art Center. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Bae, who has gone through an elite course of science high school, KAIST, and MIT and is a top-tier AI expert in Korea, also said, "I have doubted whether I was suited for science and engineering." This is why, during her studies at MIT, she engaged in various experiences such as analyzing the style of artworks rather than focusing on a single path. Bae mentioned, "Through these convergent experiences and multidisciplinary abilities, I was able to find my own path."

Professor Ji Nayoung of Johns Hopkins Hospital's Department of Child Psychiatry is having a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy on the 27th at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Bae Sun-min, head of KT AI2XL Research Institute, is having a special mentor talk commemorating the 10th anniversary at the '2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy on the 27th at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

What advice do they want to give to juniors dreaming of becoming women leaders? CEO Bang urged, "Look inside yourself and find what makes your heart beat," and advised, "Surround yourself with people who have wisdom rather than just knowledge, and who have a positive mindset." Professor Ji also emphasized, "If you follow your heart and do what you like and want to do, these will connect and lead to something being achieved," stressing, "The answer lies within yourself." Bae emphasized choice and focus to junior mentees, saying, "You don’t have to do everything well or be good at everything." Deputy CEO Kang smiled and said, "I hope you have the ambition to be the best," adding, "When it’s hard, pray. Is there a flower that blooms without shaking?"