[2024 Women's Forum] "The Company Is a Tool for Employee Growth... Face Your Own Desires"

2024 Asia Economy Women Leaders Forum
'Women, Demand from Companies' Theme
Work-Family Balance Culture → Positive Cycle Enhancing Corporate Competitiveness
Women Leaders Start by Finding What They Want

For both men and women to demonstrate their capabilities in the workplace and to unravel the complex population issues facing Korean society, systems and cultures that enable work-life balance are essential. At the '2024 Asia Economy Women Leaders Forum' held on the 30th at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, Sandra Bintgetter, Vice President of Deutsche Telekom, emphasized that "the core of work-life balance is that employees must be able to manage their daily routines and flexibly adjust their time." She cited the key to Deutsche Telekom's active use of reduced working hours from frontline employees to top management as the introduction of a method that clearly communicates who does what and clarifies responsibilities.

Sandra Bintgetter, Vice President of Deutsche Telekom, is delivering a keynote speech on the topic "Why Germany's Largest Telecom Company Employs Parental Leave Takers as Part-Time Workers" at the '2024 Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy on the 30th at Lotte Hotel, Sogong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Domestic companies also agreed that when work-life balance systems increase employee satisfaction, a virtuous cycle is established where the retention period of talented employees lengthens and work concentration improves. Lee Ju-ho, CEO of Gounsesang Cosmetic, explained the background of the company's internal total fertility rate of 2.7 and an average annual sales growth of 36% by saying, "The philosophy that employees are not tools for company growth but that the company is a tool for employees' growth led to the expansion of work-life balance systems, which in turn became a competitive advantage for the company." Kim Min-jung, CEO of Ferring Pharmaceuticals Korea, said, "Eliminating unnecessary time and encouraging time with family increased work concentration," adding, "This effort contributed to the stable operation of the organization and steady sales growth."

Lee Boksil (second from the left), Vice President of the National Management Research Institute, and other panelists are attending the "2024 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on the 30th, discussing the topic "Corporate Culture and the Virtuous Cycle of Women's Careers." From the left, Juho Lee, CEO of Gounsesang Cosmetic; Vice President Lee; Minjung Kim, CEO of Korea Ferring Pharmaceuticals; Jungwoon Moon, Senior Manager of Talent Strategy Team at Lotte Holdings; Jiye Jeong, CEO of Mampyeonhan Sesang. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Moon Jung-woon, Senior Manager of Talent Strategy at Lotte Holdings, said, "Good policies such as mandatory one-month paternity leave for men reduced the loss of good talent and increased job seekers." Jung Ji-ye, CEO of Mampyeonhan Sesang, explained, "Introducing a flexible attendance system and enabling planning for company dinners or overtime as much as possible helped increase work concentration." Lee Bok-sil, Vice President of the Korea Institute of Public Administration (former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family), said, "Various systems such as telecommuting and staggered working hours must be intricately designed."

On the 30th, participants of the 'K-Women Session' pose at the '2024 Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel, Sogong-dong, Seoul. From the left: Choi Myunghwa, CEO of BlossomMe; Park Young-sun, former Minister of SMEs and Startups; Choi Yuna, lawyer; Park Miok, writer. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Advice on female leadership also followed. Park Young-sun, former Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "Overcoming fear is directly linked to achievement," adding, "The start is to find what you like, what you don’t get bored of, and what you can work hard at until the end." Park Mi-ok, the first female detective in the violent crimes unit, emphasized, "An employee who does not love me cannot love me. Make them fall for you and make them fall in love." Choi Yuna, a divorce specialist lawyer and known as the writer of the drama 'Good Partner,' said, "Just start," adding, "After starting, you can improve, study, and plan."

Author Jeong Yu-jeong is giving a special lecture titled "The Last Desire of Humans, Searching for Wildness" at the "2024 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by Asia Economy on the 30th at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Jeong Yoo-jung, who gave a special lecture titled 'In Search of the Last Human Desire, Wildness,' said, "Face your desires seriously," emphasizing, "Our genes carry the primal wildness from the beginning of time, and this is a precious weapon. Do not desire others' desires, desire your own."

In a session discussion themed 'Challenge and Growth,' four female startup CEOs gave similar yet distinct answers about the 'driving force behind their growth.' Lee Hye-min, CEO of Finda, said, "It is important to have a sense of purpose and understand why you have to work." Park Ji-won, CEO of Save&Co, cited "the process of challenging and learning through failure." Lee Hye-jun, CEO of Kai Health, emphasized "resilience" during the challenge process, and Choi Jae-hwa highlighted "positive thinking and imagination."

On the 30th, panelists of the 'Challenge Session' attending the '2024 Women Leaders Forum' hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, are taking a group photo. From the left: Park Ji-won, CEO of Save&Co; Lee Hye-jun, CEO of Kai Health; Lee Hye-min, CEO of Finda; Choi Jae-hwa, CEO of Bungaejangter. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung