[W Forum] The Era of Transition, Next-Generation Female Leaders

The 2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum, hosted by Asia Economy, has quietly reached its 10th edition and was held on the 27th of last month. Having participated as a mentor for eight years since 2014, I have noticed that each session reflects the trends of the times through the composition of speakers and changes in themes. This time, the diversity in age groups and expertise among the mentors stood out. The main theme of the forum was "Era of Transition: Change of Leaders."

I met a first-year university freshman as a mentee. It was very enjoyable to talk with such a fresh student. Suddenly, I recalled the memory of hosting the 2013 International Congress of the Medical Women's International Association in Seoul and conducting a mentoring program with female medical students. Even though medical students among peers have a relatively certain future, the concerns they expressed were very diverse and serious. One interesting question was whether it was okay to continue dating her current boyfriend who is not a doctor. No matter the place or position, everyone inevitably faces their own difficulties and serious worries, so life is indeed never easy.

Our generation, the baby boomers, lived through a period of cultural, technological, and social upheaval, if not the colonial era and war experienced by our parents' generation. Including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we have struggled to maintain our balance amid the whirlwind of rapid changes, stumbling but not falling. Rather than great success, perhaps it is commendable enough as women of this era to have given birth to two children and to have endured the struggles of both work and home life to this day. Although the role of a mentor can be burdensome, I have always attended with the hope that sharing tips on finding happiness amid countless setbacks and failures in life with younger people would be enough.

While talking with this year’s mentee, a 2021 first-year university student, about school life, I sadly learned that due to COVID-19, she has not officially been able to visit the campus since enrollment. Classes have been steadily conducted online, so there seems to be no problem in terms of knowledge delivery, but she has had no opportunity to engage in sincere conversations with new professors or friends. Nevertheless, this student had a strong pride in the field of biomedical engineering she chose and a firm direction for her studies. I was simply proud. I was happy with a proud expectation for the next generation growing up. As I always feel, when you sincerely listen and converse, young people with sparkling eyes eventually find their own answers. They are our hope who will lead new leadership in the new era.

I want to say, "Young people who will grow into capable women leaders who make us expect a happy future for our society, do not fear failure and endure to the end. But be sensitive to change." I highly appreciate the Asia Women Leaders Forum, which has steadily provided a platform for these beautiful young people to grow for 10 years, and sincerely thank the organizers.

Baek Hyun-wook, Director, Biomedical Research Center, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital