Author Hwang Sun-woo: "Instead of Humility, Promote Your Achievements... Personal Branding Is Also Part of the Job"

Membership for Women Leaders 'K-Woman Club' 1st Session
"Show Presence in the Organization to Get Promoted"
Avoid Undervaluing Yourself in Self-Evaluations
Dare to Challenge Rather Than Not Trying
Active Networking from Juniors to Executives

Hwang Seon-woo is giving a lecture on the topic "Workplace Relationships, Showing Myself in the Organization" at the "2023 K-Women Club Seminar" hosted by Asia Economy on the 29th at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

"Ladies, do not be humble. In the workplace, ‘self-branding’ is also part of your job. To get promoted, you need to assert your presence."

Author Hwang Seon-woo emphasized at the ‘K-Women Club’ seminar hosted by Asia Economy on the 29th at the Yeouido Marriott Hotel that "promoting your achievements and branding yourself are important parts of your work." The K-Women Club is a membership program for women in their 20s to 40s who want to build their careers well. The first seminar of the three scheduled this year focused on ‘Workplace Relationships and Showing Yourself in the Organization.’ Participants from Seoul, the metropolitan area, and Ulsan exchanged business cards and greeted each other even before the lecture began, then took out tablets and notebooks to diligently take notes and listen attentively.

Hwang opened by saying, "When women actively lead relationships or work at school or company, they are often labeled as ‘pushy’ or ‘showing off.’ Even if they grow up in non-discriminatory families, their sharp edges are pruned, making them hesitant to show themselves." She advised against this attitude, stating, "Showing your achievements is different from bragging," and added, "You need to assert your presence within the organization to get promoted." Hwang further explained, "Those who want to be promoted are given executive qualifications," and "Opportunities come to those who love the organization, want to work there long-term, and can appeal that they can handle greater responsibilities."

However, the desire for promotion and asserting presence at work are distinctly different. The latter simply means being ‘someone others want to work with.’ Hwang advised, "Ask yourself if your colleagues want to work with someone like you." She explained, "Even if opinions differ, people who can complement my weaknesses, strive to resolve conflicts, communicate well, and are proactive are evaluated as ‘Iljaller’ (people who work well)."

Hwang Seon-woo is giving a lecture on the topic of "Workplace Relationships, Showing Myself in the Organization" at the "2023 K-Women Club Seminar" hosted by Asia Economy on the 29th at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

In particular, Hwang pointed out that although the hiring of women and working environments have improved, the process of promotion to leadership positions remains structurally disadvantageous. The proportion of female executives still remains around 5%. She said, "Past experiences where women could not work after childbirth still negatively affect women," and criticized, "Unmarried women, such as those living alone, are not expected to work long-term unless they express it."

Hwang also emphasized not to undervalue oneself when writing self-evaluations. She said, "You should not expect the evaluator to recognize you," and repeatedly stressed, "You must know your own value well and be someone who demands it."

For women to create an environment where they can work long and climb high, they need to support each other. She said, "We are influenced by structurally internalized biases whether we want to or not," and "The more female leaders there are in an organization, the more we can break free from the ‘female leader’ frame and work authentically."

Women often reflexively say ‘No’ when receiving compliments. Hwang advised, "Respond cheerfully with ‘Thank you, I will do better,’" and said, "It is better to boldly move forward than to avoid trying to prevent mistakes."

Hwang Seon-woo is giving a lecture on the topic of "Workplace Relationships, Showing Myself in the Organization" at the "2023 K-Women Club Seminar" hosted by Asia Economy on the 29th at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The networking session following the lecture was lively at every table. Attendees shared difficulties they faced at work and exchanged practical advice for their careers.

Park Eun-jung, director at RSN and the only female executive in her company, said, "When I was appointed as an executive, I was asked if I could give up my family, and I felt that question was asked because I am a woman, which made me think I should not leave the company." She added, "Half of my team members are women, but there is a stereotype that it is a support organization, so I felt I need to nurture more juniors."

Participants also discussed communication methods within organizations and ways to showcase achievements. One manager-level participant said, "I used to hesitate to assert myself because I thought it seemed pushy, but now I think I should do it properly, and I have learned to view my weaknesses as strengths." Lee Jae-rim, a participant in her 20s, said, "When writing my resume, my weaknesses showed more than my strengths, so I spent a lot of energy overcoming them, but now I think it’s good to see things differently." Ha Soo-min, a newly employed rookie, said, "It was good to gain insights and I was able to draw a roadmap for the future," adding, "It was a program I wanted to listen to with my mother, who has been a working mom for a long time."