Realistic and Idealistic

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2009-09-13T18:27:00.014-04:00

For someone who needs to write continously, some sorts of formats are always needed to keep posted. So, here comes my Korean blog : "jenna.tistory.com"

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2009-05-15T13:34:00.022-04:00

My new Korean blog is coming soon. (My desire to become a professional writer got stronger after I participated in publishing a small practical book. I want to write a novel. What a strange desire for the person who chose to work for a global bank as a next career step...) =)

The book was published.

2009-02-24T16:46:00.024-05:00

Finally, the book that I wrote with other 5 MBA students in Wharton, Kellogg, Harvard, MIT and Chicago was published.

http://www.kyobobook.co.kr/product/detailViewKor.laf?ejkGb=KOR&mallGb=KOR&barcode=9788974425586&orderClick=LAG

Writing is my greatest pleasure and MBA is one of my transformational experiences, so I am happy to write about it. But as I am still very young, I don't think that I have something to talk about sucessful career and life. I just hope that this book gives some useful insight or information about MBA in USA and attract talented Korean students to Columbia Business School.

Network or Social Circle

2009-01-21T18:33:00.028-05:00

When I was a university student, I didn't know at that time how much resources that I was surrounded by. SNU is home for the best students, so there were so many things to do on campus. I watched good movies and had hot debate in History department, I learned acting in Humanities department's theater club, I read Selfish Genes in a small group in Natural Science department, I easily visited corporations and met executives in Business Administration department, I had friends to march together to against Iraq war, and most importantly I always had so many smart people whom I could have serious talks with.

After graduation, what I missed most was that social circle or network however I call it, since at work, I could find people whom I work with, but couldn't find people whom I socially mingle, spur intellectual curiosty, and have great conversation. Now back in university again, I appreciate more whenever I have the opportunities to do some interesting projects and meet great people to interact with. I hope to keep finding this valuable social circle even after graduation.

So what project is it this time? That's the secret that I would like to announce hopefully after 6 month. :)

End of vacation: Good news

2009-01-17T09:50:00.042-05:00

1. I got a job offer.

The best thing about this is that my parents will be relieved. Yes, I am definitely happy too since this was a long process and I always told myself that it is ok to make every decision for myself as long as I am satisfied, but in the midst of the financial crisis, I could feel how they were worried about me. When the exchange rate sored and my financial assets were shirinking, I told them I still could finance all the expenses with the scholarship and my savings and I would try to reduce my spendings a little bit. What I heard from them is "Don't worry about that. We can give every support for you." Well, I do not plan to receive anything from them and I realize that now is the time that I start to give everything back to them, but the realization that I was getting the full support from someone really touched me. I got a job offer in a global bank in this financial crisis and I hope that this fact makes them feel good though I am still not sure where I would end up working.

2. I did Peer Advising for a week and it was so rewarding.

The best part of Peer Advising was building a strong bond with fellow PAs. Most of us were 2nd year students and as we became 2nd years, many of us started to hang out with only close friends. Americans hang out with Americans, Internationals hang out themselves. PA experiences again made me try to work and socialize with people who have different backgrounds and cultures, and this time it was more relaxing and enjoyable! I was always a serious work-type person who tried to pour everything I had when I worked in a group, but this time, the result was not only the great PA homeroom results but also a strong bond with other fellow students. After the week, I individually emailed my favorite fellow PAs by putting all the words that I wanted to deliver to them, and the messages that I got back from them were so touching. Before this week, I always felt that conversations with Americans are a little bit superficial and hollow, but I got to know that I could have genuine conversations with them if I try. I think that because it is hard to keep trying to go across the cultural barriers, people tend to give up those trials after some amount of time. But I belive that the emotional bond is so important to work together, make a better result, and make each individual life more satisfactory. So this week was very rewarding in that I worked in a very diverse group environment and had some impact on others. Additionally, I did the final round interview on Wednesday in that PA week and everyone in my PA team wished me good luck before I left the room. I believe that one of the reasons that I got the offer is that these people supported me from their hearts.

My best friend's letter

2008-12-24T14:33:00.013-05:00

"You seemed like achieving whatever you want, but you really didn't seem like loving anything or any person so much. You complained about your father who cared only about getting to the top instead of enjoying the process to go there. But you know what? That's exactly your characteristic which drove you to the point at which you stand now. I remember that you contstantly moved to achieve something or to go to the next step. You are telling me that you are lacking of something and that makes you unstable, but how about converting your desire into something productive? Imagine what you are really into and what you truly desire. It also helps to have a good relationship with a good person.

We haven't met such a long time, but if we meet again, I will be glad to see you however you look like."

It's ok that I become more emotional, I behave as I like, and I do more what I love. Old habit would not go away immediately, but I was relaxed as I heard from her.

Thanks, my sociology major

2008-12-14T21:48:00.010-05:00

Sorry for my original major, business admistration at SNU, but I appreciate my sociology major much more than my business major. For the emerging country like Korea, it was much more important to understand the society as a whole than apply the irrelevant corporation theory in the American books to each corporation. (It doesn't work at all.) Pitching my opinion and enjoying the exciting conversation today, I got to know where my organized thoughts and pursuasive assertion came from. I lived with hundred of books and hot debates in the sociology department in my third year at college. So precious time when I look back even now.

Holiday plans

2008-12-05T19:02:00.013-05:00

Going to one week trip to South America, starting part-time work at a hedge fund, doing one week intensive peer advising for the incoming students, and reading and reading a bunch of investment books and articles.

I appreciate how I am lucky to come to Columbia and New York, a perfect place for me.

Interview or chatting?

2008-12-04T11:23:00.022-05:00

I nowadays find how I like to chat. The opportunity that I sit with someone and talk for one hour over serious topics rarely comes, so whenever I hate standing and talking about irrelavant subjects and moving to another person just after 5 mins, I find that interviews are much better in satisfying my communication needs. So I couldn't tell whether I was doing interviews or chatting.

I don't like phone talks though. I need someone who smiles and reacts in front of me. Group talks also hardly satisfy my deep communication needs.

It would be ideal that I have one person that I can share everything with and have as many house parties as possible to invite all of my friends and my partner's. Is it a too big dream to come true?

How dependent am I?

2008-11-30T10:04:00.026-05:00

From childhood, I have rarely been dependent on others. My mom got home back late, so I didn't have someone who I could chat with to deliver all the things that happened in that day. Even one day, when my elementary school teacher treated me unfairly, while crying a lot on the way, I stopped crying when I got home. I wanted to bring only good news to home.

When I got a friend who cried a lot and needed me to be with, we appreciated our interdependence. But even at that time, I wasn't dependent at all since when I was crying badly, I couldn't call that friend.

So I am gald when I now find myself be totally dependent on my friends who stay with me for a certain amount of time. I accept the limited time period as my speical vacation which everything will go away once it ends, and I endlessly deliver all my feelings and emotions that I was reluctant to share with others. I learn how I am the person who wants to be with someone that I can be dependent on all the time. So my special vacation ended and I was left in the big single room alone, but this time, it was not very empty.

New York: who praised a single life in New York?

2008-11-25T22:03:00.027-05:00

In such a big city like New York, people are busy and it is hard to just make one peaceful appointment. People are going in and out continously, and acquaintants that you couldn't catch up a while are just forgotten. Deep conversation is not exchanged since you cannot deliver your true feelings to someone who is not with you for a substantial amount of time. You keep talking to strangers.

Seoul is also a big city, but there is no loneliness. People are busy, but they are always surrounded by familar neighbors. There is no chance to be lonely.

One night, I wrote a letter to my once a close friend, waiting for any reply. If we met after we were more grown up, maybe we could go through a healthier relationship. Or, maybe we wouldn't be closer enough to hurt each other. But couldn't we try it again with our more stable emotional condition?

Nowadays, I miss people who had siginificant impact on my emotional development and dream about meeting them again, who now live thousand miles away. But I am not sure if I have any courage to contact them once I am in Seoul.

New York is such a city that you should handle this emotional challenge.

Meeting with celebrity

2008-11-21T00:06:00.027-05:00

Korean Business Association hosted Professor Un-Chan Chung, one of the most influential economists in Korea. He was a president of Seoul National University when I was a college student there, so I never imagined that I would talk to him personally some day. Walking by the professor to Uris Hall and talking to him like a friend, I was amazed at how this celebrity could be so humble and friendly even to me, just a small student who is much younger than him. During the lecture, there were so many journalists, economists, and professionals who just wanted to have any chance to get recognized by him and listen to his political standpoint. After being connected to him personally, I felt how hard it would be to manage such an intensive level of questions and such a large number of people who were trying to be close to him. But being surrounded by so many people, this professor never forgot the students who did all the work. I was amazed at his consideration again.

I understood what helped him to go up to the current position. Looking at this strong role model, I decided to equip myself with true competency. Also, I decided to learn to manage myself and others with my full heart whichever level I would be at. Never be arrogant, and never be incompetent. This message was what I learned by organizing the event and meeting with him.

I am happy when I help people out!

2008-11-06T22:30:00.018-05:00

One of the exciting things when I am doing well is that I can have more opportunities to help people out. I can use my skills and abilities, share my knowledge, come up with solutions together, suggest alternatives, be energetic in motivating others, be positive about their abilities. I really like getting to know people and helping them out. When I am not doing well, I just don't have any room to look after others. So, I hope that I do well. If I am not doing well, I not only have to fight to take care of myself, but also lose this great pleasure.

But this is the time to go out and get help from others desperately. And fortunately, I found that being advised and helped from others are also very pleasing experience.

People are dying because of the stock market?

2008-10-26T23:40:00.015-04:00

When the market is down, in the United States, CNN and CNBC show the way to protect your money. In Korea, the major news channels show the brokers and branch managers who commit suicide, saying that they were sorry about not protecting their customers' money. I am scared of seeing the news telling more people are going to die due to the market's downturn. People are dying because of the number which goes up and down sometimes irrationally? Oh my God...

Interview, Interview, and Interview

2008-10-21T20:18:00.015-04:00

1. I should make strong rapport with people in the team.
2. I should become a good speaker who can pinpoint the key points of the attributes that are matched with the job and elaborate them with interesting examples.
3. I should be naturally enthusiastic about the work and can deliver my energy.

Don't be pushed. There are not many jobs that can fulfill these criteria. I should wait until I finally find the right one by going through these trials and errors.

Can we save the world economy?

2008-10-20T21:52:00.021-04:00

I attended this event organized by The Earth Insitute at Columbia University after waiting in a long line with other public. I was just excited about meeting George Soros, Jeffrey Sachs, and even the famous CNN person through the event though I had a lot things to do for my interviews and mid-term exam.

I already met Jeffrey Sachs in the other lectures and as far as I remember, he was so calm and organized in delievering his opinion. I couldn't imagine that he is so angry and emotional about the current financial crisis. If you have a deep passion in the subject, you cannot hide your energy. If you want to deliever your opinion that you truly have faith in, you cannot get rid of your emotion. When Prof. Sachs was telling us how he thought badly about the current education which is only focused on training the students to look at the surface, say price, and not the reality behind it, I knew that he was a little bit up. When Prof. Sachs was asking us if we wanted to have the society rather a group of individuals who hate each other, the audience couldn't help applauding. I observed how the person looks attractive when s/he tells us what s/he truly believes in. The respected figure deserves the love of the public not only because he is smart but also because he is really passionate about what he is doing.

After meeting them, I again went back to think about a true myself amid in this crazy recruiting season. How do I see myself in 5 years and 10 years? Could I be proud of myself? Could I deliver my passion not in terms of doing the business but in terms of doing what I believe to help me and people in this world? I don't want to be purely idealistic in designing my future but I don't want to give up my true passion to adapt myself to this competitive environment. But the balance between these two goals is always difficult since I had to fight to acheive these goals from my undergraduate.

Bail-out & Recapitalization

2008-10-04T10:09:00.048-04:00

My country had a financial crisis in 1997-98. How Korea got out of the crisis so quickly is now frequently addressed.

One important action: Government put a lot of money into the troubled banks, sometimes selling them at very cheap prices to Lone Star and other foreign funds. Those foreign funds just flew away without paying any tax after they resold Korean banks to the government. The deals were so sweet for the foreign funds because Korean had no knowledge in dealing with these financial deals. This type of bargain would not happen again, like the easy and dangerous CDO transaction would not exist in the future. Anyway, the government action recapitalized the banks fast and Korea's economy returned to the right track within a short time.

Korean were very fast in acting in a right direction. They knew that this was an urgent event and trusted the government's action. It is true that Korean union or civil movement against the government is very famous. At the time of FTA agreement importing the US meat, virtually all people went to the street to go against the government's policy. However, Korean are smart enough to know when to work together and when to disagree each other. As Korea achieved the miracle of Han river over the 50 years under the strong government's plan, people again supported the government policy by donating their jewerly and working very hard to get out of that trouble. And then Korea is now reported again as the right example.

Now America is in trouble. American are arguing whether the bail-out policy is good or not. I think that this argument reflects that America is such a powerful country. If they lived in a small country like me, they didn't have time to argue over it. Also, American has all the key economic and finance people who know which direction to go. Even with little knowledge about global economy and finance, Korea could get out of the trouble. So I don't doubt that America will get out of this trouble finally.

When I was young, I was mad at the powers who just played in Korea's financial market when we were in a deep trouble. But now, I think that I have to get the right knowledge and skills to help myself or society. Now, with the advanced knowledge about financial market, Korean will not allow foreign funds to gain unjustified profits at the expense of the taxpayers' money. American taxpayers will watch how their money is spent. With knowledge, skills and experiences, you will equip yourself with power. So learn, learn and learn everyday rather than be stressed out amid this crisis.

Three criteria

2008-10-02T21:44:00.021-04:00

It is disappointing that I cannot say that I will definitely work in the specific industry. Well, I used to say that I will go for a certain field, at least a month ago, but nowadays, it is really hard to say anything. How can you say that you will do something in a year when you see everything is just so much different than a day before? The 2nd-year MBAs, however, have to decide which job to pursue. So here are my selection criteria.

1. Analytical Job>Sales Job or Operational Job
2. Global Perspective
3. Cultural fit

Many MBA jobs are sales or operational job. But I am a hardcore analytical person. That's the area that I am sure that I can do better than anyone else. There are not many jobs that the analytical abilities are really the core of the success. There are not many jobs that continously challenge my intellectual curiosity and require me to keep up with the change. I naturally pursue to gain new knowledge everyday. My room always becomes full of books and magazines. I have to keep meeting new people and injecting new perspectives into my brain. I will die if I have to work in the situation where many results are the revision of the previous projects or anything critical is no more generated.

In addition, I cannot give up global perspective. As I started to study and live in New York, my world became so large. I love this environment. I now can have more objective view on my country's particular phenomina. I can better understand what's going on the global economy. I don't want to limit myself in the very narrow world again. As you see more, you know more. So, the things that I now see are so much different from the things that I used to see. I will die if I have to think and act like only Korean.

Cultural fit isn't something that I can know before I meet people there. So, I keep attending the corporate events and try to figure out the real culture. Interaction with same-level people is important, but for me, the top management vision and phliosophy is also very important. I want to make sure that I am working for the right organization. You might think that it is too idealistic to set the top management vision as the criteria for the job selection, but MBA graduate is on the mangement track in most organizations. In other words, executives are not the people who are very far from MBA graduates. If their vision is not strong enough, their organization or industry will be gradually disappearing. Do you want to be with them? So check it out before you make a right bet.

Intensity

2008-10-01T23:10:00.014-04:00

After working at asset management in summer, the stock market became large part of my life. It became my habit to check major US news in the morning and go back to Asia market in the evening. The outside world dramastically changed at least to me after I became the person who lives with every up and down of the stock market. Analyzing the market activities and reacting to them involve intensive thinking process. The reason that I loved my summer job was that the job required me to become the first person to catch the change and analyze the fundamental reasons behind the scene. I loved the characteristics of the job which requires to be highly attentive to the movement of the global economy and involved heavy analysis.

I am not sure it is because I am recruiting or I am studying in MBA or I have worked in the stock market that I cannot keep my eyes off from the every economic news. I feel huge intensity like someone who just swallowed red pill and got to know there is a "real" world. I cannot be relieved from understanding what is really there, where this market is going, and how this whole picture will be changing in the future. That's not just because I need to catch up with the market for my job search, but because I cannot stop being curious about the change and the phenomena of this world.

Well, I can say that this is a great learning experience for me, but the tension that I have to manage is getting bigger.

It's your fault!

2008-09-20T11:07:00.028-04:00

In one of the classes during the last devastating week, a professor asked if there was someone who interned at Lehman. A couple of students raised their hands, who were hurted again by listening from the professor: "It is your fault."

Studying with Lehman's balance sheet which is full of 'garbage', I wondered why anyone couldn't say that this is garbage before Lehman collapsed.

You should remember that you are responsible for making every right choice for yourself. Who can you blame for working at such a prestigious firm? If you didn't have any good reason to select your job other than its 'name', it would be hard to get it over and go ahead in this disaster.

So make sure if you feel comfortable for working in that environment. If it is not, then there is something wrong in that workplace, though it looks like a minor issue compared to the salary you gets. It is not minor at all.

I am done with the first year in MBA

2008-05-21T10:38:00.058-04:00

Before I started MBA, I was so excited about so many opportunities that it would bring to me. I was not sure about which direction I ended up choosing, but I thought that I might revisit what I missed during my college days and start my career search and self-awarness process again.

I spent 3 years in the big corporation with rigorous culture, struggling mostly with men and spending all nights in the office. I was competent enough, active enough and agreesive enough to find my position in the organization, but there was some missing part. I couldn't genuinely satisfied with my life and career. I endured that time by justifying it as the necessary work experience for the future.

So, I came to MBA based on my choice and my financial independence. Luckily, with huge scholarship from a foundation, I have no debt to pay back the enomorous money that I am spending now. I also have no obligation that I have to follow after graduation. With such a freedom, I realized that every choice I now make is really my choice based on my preference, disposition, and competency.

As a result, during the one year, I have learned that I am not really matched with a couple of career options. I had to learn this fact painfully because I often found myself still hegistating among largely different career options. What about landing the promising jobs that everyone wants to get and fullfilling my self-esteem? What about trying something very risky and proving I am a courage person who can really persue she wants to do? Several scenarios come to me from time to time, making me attend all the different types of reception and develop some dreams in different areas. But after one year, I now know that MBA is not the place that I can do all the experiments. Shut down some opportunities. You cannot pursue it as your permanent career by putting only 20% of your total efforts.

So I decided to spend my internship in the job which is described as analytical, independent and fast-growing in my country. For people outside finance career, it would not look as a huge change from my previous job. What's the difference in banking, investing or financial advisory? But even these seemingly similar three careers determine my everyday happiness and future possibility hugely differently. In that sense, I am very confident and excited about my choice though I had to go through all the different directions initially and got tons of ding letters from the companies that I applied for. This is the first time in my life that I really searched the diffferent career options extensively and chose one of them which fits with my personality for myself. So I now realize what I missed during my college days. Diggin into social issues and developing the areas that I am personally interested, I didn't have enough chance to think about what I want to do as my everyday job. The tasks that I indulged in my college days should have been done in my high school days. And the tasks that I am doing now should have been done in my college days. So my current struggling days are the result of my childishness in the past. But it is ok since I feel like growing in my pace.

The practical spirit of American society and MBA culture taught me one important thing: the importance of your everyday job, the balance of stability and riskiness, the personality fit with the job. Everyday job is not something that you can do one day and say that you enjoyed experiencing it. It should make you happy despite its repetitive characteristic. You have to go to the same place in the every morning, and find someting rewarding in that place. It resembles a steady relationship. You start to meet the same person, do the same activities with him, and you still find a new, live and happy time with him. The job should like this. You should find someting interesting and fullfilling your desire in the repetitive tasks. And, like the relationship match, which job really satisfies someone basically depends on the individual's disposition and characteristics.

So I am happy with my journey for the last one year which allowed me to look into the career options and myself again. Changing oneself is coming with no expense. So congratutions on being done with my first year though some part of it was too painful to remember. I hope that after starting to work, I can say that this is the first time that I really love my job.

My second published writing

2008-05-02T15:18:00.013-04:00

One day, I will publish my book.

http://webzine.miraeasset.com/html_2008_04/

Go to "Miraeasset Story" -> 글로벌 특파원

I am seeing many attractive girls in this City.

2008-04-30T23:04:00.050-04:00

I have met many smart girls. With better education and more time spending on learning, these days' girls not only have a good grade but also have a high level of knowledge.

I have met many beautiful girls. Smart girls with high self discipline even know how they can look more beautiful. With basic efforts on taking care of themselves, many women look so pretty nowadays.

Finally, I got to meet many attractive girls in this City. How these girls are different from the girls in the above two categories?

These girls dance on the chair for pleasure until the waiter orders them to get down...
These girls know how to control this City's guys who always want to hang out with so many young girls...
These girls choose to go their own ways and engage in the jobs that they love...
These girls talk about their husband and children in the open career sessions...
These girls do not make things complicated, be open and candid, and cannot hide their energies...

Why the above smart and beautiful girls that I have seen until now could not become these attractive girls? Why these capable girls had to be restrained and prevented from the behaviors that make this City's girls become so attractive?...The fine line is between the people who enjoy as they truly wish and the people who try hard to achieve the goals...though I am not devaluing the hard efforts that you are putting everyday.

Meet people in Columbia

2008-04-27T12:39:00.020-04:00

Happy with being in Columbia!
I can face and ask questions to the people such as Joseph Stiglitz, Jefferey Sachs, and Paul Auster, who I have met only in the books. This is such an amazing place.

http://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/ipd/pub/Symposium_agenda.pdf
http://www.columbia1968.info/

Professor Rakesh Khurana on the founding of business schools

2008-04-24T23:07:00.017-04:00

Professor Rakesh Khurana from Harvard Business School visited Columbia Business School and questioned the fundamental objective of the business school.

The classroom was so crowded with so many faculty members who were embarrassed whenever the Professor Rakesh Khurana addressed the core issue of the "management education".

The most interesting lecture that I have ever had in Columbia Business School...(hopefully have some time to articulate my thoughts after finals...)

Strong tie is dangerous.

2008-04-07T18:34:00.083-04:00

When I was a high school student, I read "the romance of the three kingdoms" again and again. Well, it was kind of the approved book that I could spend some time on reading. Korea's high school days are famous for its toughness. All the students could not do anything beside studying. At that time, one of my biggest pleasures was borrowing some books from my school's small library and finishing them very fast. "The romance of the three kingdoms" were unique books that were put in our livingroom's shelve. I think that's because of the fact that it had been nominated as the most favorite book among Seoul National University students. With the hope of all parents who want their kids to go Seoul National University, I was officially allowed to read those books until all the ten pieces were literally worn out.

I thought that I kept reading "the romance of the three kingdoms" at that time because I was no alternative to enjoy. But I now figure out that the book was really my favorite due to its theme. After keeping away from it because of the criticism toward its conservatism, I now miss it again and remind it of delivering the great lessons in interpreting the world. How each individual's characteristics is shining in that highly political situation!

I think that Asian community's distintiveness is well shown its favor of Yubi and his people. Many readers praised Yubi's humanistic character and his people's royalty toward him. Many readers judged that Jojo is too rational and inhumane. What does it mean that the entire fiction was written by reinterpreting the history and bringing the minor characters into the new main characters? Yubi's country was much smaller than Jojo's country and Jojo was much more powerful than Yubi. Partly, it comes from Jojo's better leadership, better negotiation, and better people skills.

But most readers highly value Yubi as a leader who draws true loyalty from his people. They are touched at the scene when Gwanwu, the subordinate of Yubi, turns down Jojo's tempting suggestion. What a loyalist he is! He turns down all the good house and good food provided by Jojo and goes back to Yubi. But could we say Gwanwu went back to Yubi because of his faith in Yubi's leadership? Isn't it because Gwanwu was more clever than Yeopo, who continously betrayed his bosses and ended up being nowhere to go? Isn't it because Gwanwu knew that he would be better treated under the umbrella of Yubi, who might allow Gwanwu to exert even unjustified power which would be completely impossible under the leadership of Jojo?

My mother tongue has special vocabulary which would not be translated into English. This emotion arises from strong ties among people. This emotion leads to taking care of each other from hearts. This word represents the biggest reason that I love my country and many foreigners fall in love with my country. This word even could explain how my country achieved the economic development in a very short time. This word could represent Asian culture's uniqueness in contrast to Western culture in terms of treating people. This word might explain why people are crazy about Ganwu's behaviors toward Yubi and are generous about Ganwu's immoral and unreasonable behavior in later times.

But I think that it is time to be less generous to "humane, but unreasonable and immoral behaviors". The attitude being not judgmental toward people who we love have generated so many side effects. How can you draw the line between your loved people and your enemy? Wouldn't you believe that most people you meet in your life are nice enough and deserve to be well-treated? Then, why do you want to apply the favorable rules to the limited circle of people? Have you ever thought about the people out of your defined circle? What if you have in the position of having greater power than them and they are unfavorably treated just because of your status?

The biggest reason that I love American society is that this society is very sensitive about being fair. As an Asian, I believe that Asian society would become better if we are more careful about maintaining fairness and sticking to the rules.

Chazen Korea Trip

2008-03-22T20:01:00.042-04:00

From my university days, the moment that really touched and changed me occurred when I put all the energy in one project and get it done successfully. Finishing Chazen Korea Trip, I felt the same enthusiasm that I had when I deeply indulged in acting an authentic historical character in college. Those days would never come back, but might be replicated if I am really into something.

After coming back from the trip, nothing outside myself ever changed, but everything inside myself greatly changed. I learned a lot from my great co-organizers (all of them are like my big bros and sister) and became sincerely open-minded to my American friends.

The organizers got the greatest feedback ever, every participant is still missing the trip and each other, and I exprienced a big enjoyment helping me smile and talk to people from my heart.

More pictures are available at Jenna's facebook.

Investment Management - How to perform well?

2008-03-05T20:10:00.002-05:00

The 3-P's (Philosophy, Process and People) are often used to describe the reasons why the manager is able to produce above average results.

"Philosophy" refers to the over-arching beliefs of the investment organization. For example: (i) Does the manager buy growth or value shares (and why)? (ii) Does he believe in market timing (and on what evidence)? (iii) Does he rely on external research or does he employ a team of researchers? It is helpful if any and all of such fundamental beliefs are supported by proof-statements.

"Process" refers to the way in which the overall philosophy is implemented. For example: Which universe of assets is explored before particular assets are chosen as suitable investments? (ii) How does the manager decide what to buy and when? (iii) How does the manager decide what to sell and when? (iv) Who takes the decisions and are they taken by committee? (v) What controls are in place to ensure that a rogue fund (one very different from others and from what is intended) cannot arise?

"People" refers to the staff, especially the fund managers. The questions are, Who are they? How are they selected? How old are they? Who reports to whom? How deep is the team (and do all the members understand the philosophy and process they are supposed to be using)? And most important of all, How long has the team been working together? This last question is vital because whatever performance record was presented at the outset of the relationship with the client may or may not relate to (have been produced by) a team that is still in place. If the team has changed greatly (high staff turnover or changes to the team), then arguably the performance record is completely unrelated to the existing team (of fund managers).

- Wikepedia

Maximizer vs Satisfier

2008-02-06T19:53:00.003-05:00

When I read the article about "Maximizer vs Satisfier", I thought that I should become more a satisfier in the future. Though the maximizer tries hard at every point of her life and usually gets a better job and higher salary than the satisfier, her level of happiness is lower than the satisfier because she always thinks about a better opportunity that she couldn't get in the past. Therefore, ironically, though the maximizer is always driving herself to the highest point, she hardly satisfies with her current status.

I thought that these characteristics were common among people who have high motivation and ambition. But I thought that people like us have to appreciate what we already have and learn to enjoy the present rather than being prepared for the future's success at every point. But what I found myself is that I am driving myself more and more to the maximizer and couldn't stand any non-maximizing choice.

I am not saying that I cannot stand with not having the most prestigious job or higher level of life. Who ever could judge which careers or activities are better than others? But I might not stay anymore with the job that I like less or the activities that I don't find much value. I would like to make every point of my life the most satisfactory moment.

So am I pursuing to be the maximizer and the satisfier at the same time? I don't know. But one thing that is true is that I don't want to go back to the previous status and I want to acheive a better me, better life with better satisfaction. It truly needs a lot of efforts to become the maximzer who has a lot of satisfaction.

My New Year's resolution

2008-01-02T13:29:00.000-05:00

1. Achieving my next professional growth
2. Communicating frankly and socializing enjoyably
3. Balancing my professional life and private life
4. Exercising regularly
5. Developing my taste among a broad range of English books
6. Getting to know politics, social issues and cultural phenomena in this society
7. Exploring Africa, South America and Southeast Asia

A new president in Korea

2007-12-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

The pressure to show short-term results often occurs when companies start to mature and begin a transition from high to low growth. Investors clamor for high growth. Managers are tempted to find ways to keep profits growing in the short term while they try to stimulate longer-term growth. Usually, the short-term efforts make achieving long-term growth even more difficult, spawning a vicious cycle.

- Valuation: measuring and managing the value of companies

It might sound awkward, but I am worried that the unprecedented support for the new president in my country is driven by the phenomenon similar to the above pharagraph.

I got "H"(Honor) in Corporate Governance

2007-12-26T11:17:00.001-05:00

In the mid-term, I got the lowest score for Corporate Governance among the entire class. I studied hard for the final just to avoid "P" and finally when I got the grade, I couldn't believe my eyes. Is it really "H"?????

Well, let me tell you that this subject was my favorite during the first semester. However, it was painful to read all the reading materials and just keep up with the lecture. Whenever other students stated their opinions, I was just sitting there admiring their maturity. Though they are mostly second years and I am a first year, could I articulate my opinion to the same level with them, hopefully next year? I was challeged whenever I attended the class.

One thing that I got from the class except the surprising grade and the challenge is that I grasped how the corporate system in the US works. When I was in college in Korea, I wrote a paper about comparing capitalism among different countires. I didn't intend to deal with different countires per se, but when I tried to explain the adopted governance system in the major big corporation in Korea, I couldn't help brining the other countries' examples. In Korea, the ideological fights are always based on how the systems in other major countries work.

The conservative parties in Korea tend to use the US system as their idelogical basis. But through the class, I got to know how this basis has been misrepresented. For example, shareholder's value maximization works here. But it is not about conservative or progressive view at all. It is just a principle that people living "in this country" agreed upon as a way of running their corporations, which is called as "corporate polstar".

The professor used the term "in this counrty" a lot in the class. Some students wondered why Japanese or European corporations work that way and how stupid they are (in their views). But the respectful professor keeps objective stance trying to deliever what the basic assumptions are different among these countries. The problem was that I couldn't stand any party since I was so much used to being in a situation where these reasons are used to defend certain political and ideollogical views. I couldn't get myself out of the social contexts in Korea and develop objective view to interpret the cases. And as you know, if you could not express your own view to interpret the siuation, you just become "dumb" in the US class.

Anyway, like the powerless poet who agonized and didn't know what to do during the colonized period in early 20th century, I was in class without saying much about the topics and screwed up my mid-term not knowing how to answer the case where the board of directors is forced to sell the corporation to the hedge fund who urges the corporation to give up their socially responsible polices. But at last, I learned how to seperate objective judgment based on the geneally accepted assumptions in this country from my obssesion with political correctness. It was hard training to get adjusted to not only how the corporate governance works in this country but also how to establish and insist the views and judgments in this country.

What this society requires me to do

2007-12-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

There are many things that I have learned studying and living here, but the most important thing is to develop my own basis to look at the things, express my opinion about what I think and why I think like that, and make the best decision based on my own judgement.

This society continously requires me to have my own value system and insist on it whenever I am exposed to certain subjective situations. If I don't have my own principles to deal with the situations, I might be in danger someday. Here, nobody protects myself from possible outside danger. It is the individual who is responsible for his/her life, so I am kind of forced to find what I like to do and how I would like to organize my time, which means that I couldn't rely on the undecided and irrational group behaviors to delay my own judgment.

It is true that "what I like" is sometimes very ambigous even to myself and I couldn't always behave as a "rational" person in the every situation. But if somebody asks why you chose that major, why you chose your first job, or even why you decided to attend the party last night, I couldn't defense myself saying that I didn't have any special reason to do that. I should answer that I did those actions because "I liked to do"

Isn't it so obvious that you have to be responsible for all of your decision-making if no "group", "community", or "outside pressure" ever forced you to do that? Isn't it so nature that you engage in what you like to do where you are allowed to do whatever you like to do? These are what this society wonders if I am complaining about my life. It's not always true that I can do whatever I like to do here, but it is also true that I cannot just sit down and complain about what I had to sacrify. Because they will never understand why you could not control your own life and exercise your right in the every moment.

So, sadly or happily, I cannot use that execuse anymore.

How to balance work and life?

2007-11-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

Let's say this is a crazy point of life, only to struggle to prepare for the future. But when can I really keep the balance in my life? After starting my career, every time of my life was dependent on the schedule of the project or the company. Starting to prepare for MBA, I worked during the weekdays and studied during the weekend. Now again, I study during the day and prepare for my career during the rest of the time. I am not complaining that I am too busy right now. What I am worried is that if I don't find how to balance between social life and private life, I will continuously lose my balance, always sacrifying my private life and leisure for work. The world that I looked through another girl's blog who currently studies in New York seemed so different from the world that I belong to. Am I really within the same city with that girl, New York, where everyone ever dreamt of? At least, shouldn't I have time to read my favorite books, play sports, eat delicious food and have a chat with my lovely people, feeling this attractive New York's autumn?

Cancer Fundrasing

2007-11-10T11:01:00.000-05:00

On a bright Sunday morning...with lovely clustermates in a central park...

Microlumbia fund:student-run microfinance investment fund

2007-11-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

Microlumbia is short for microfinance at Columbia. The fund will raise money and invest it in a range of microfinance opportunities such as direct placements, shares and individual loans. Our main goal is educational, so expect a lot of hands-on involvement and close inspections. At the same time, we also want to maximize the financial and the social return of the money we invest.
- From The Bottom Line, October 10, 2007

So I just started working in the business development team in Microlumbia. I am so excited about this entrepreneuir opportunity. Starting-up is slow, but I might see something until I graduate Columbia?

Engage in what I really like to do

2007-10-21T17:08:00.000-04:00

The first rule that I set in my life from now on is choosing the activities that I want to do and focusing on the selected activities in the long-term perspectives.

There are so many opportunities in MBA life. I can take classes what I am interested in, I can set my time spending on study, I can select to actively participate in the class or not, I can choose my main club activities, I can decide how I spend my weekend, I can set my own career direction, and finally I don't have to do something I don't want to do.

Unfortunately, I was forced to fulfill some responsibilities without much dedication from the job or from the social circle in the past, and it was convenient in a sense that I was always surrounded by people and didn't have to be worried about being alone or being thrown away from the community.

But, here, all the choices and responsibilities belong to the individuals' will and it is me who designs my daily life with full of satisfaction. Again, all the satisfaction comes along with long-term dedication and efforts. If I want to learn more from the class, if I want to have more sincere friends, and if I want to develop my extracurricular activities, why don't I smartly select the activities and stick to them until I see the fruits? Patience works in the every place.

Keep your friend outside business world

2007-09-03T13:30:00.000-04:00

Whenever I meet people who are in different study areas, I find that how I become narrow-minded if I try to interprete the world based on business mind-set. Though I was totally impressed by Kurt Vonnegut's essay one week ago, I couldn't find anyone in my department who I can share my interest with. Yesterday, at last, I found one who majored in literature and I talked to her enthusiastically about novels. I realized that I need someone who can share my interest other than business. I am fortunate enough to have friends I can talk over the phone in the states, but one thing that I hope is that participating in a small group outside business school and developing my interest. Maybe is it a good way to look for a book club in Meetup.com?

Diversity workshop

2007-08-23T19:45:00.000-04:00

Let's admit that I was more excited about studying abroad than studying business in MBA. My simple expectation turned out to be totally out of way in today's diversity workshop. How huge it is to learn management!

It shaked me so much and made me lose my way by facing the reality of discrimination, barrier and especially the typical minority's defense within the organization. It's all subtle issues, so there is no right answer, and what we do is to learn how to manage such difficult situations smartly. But in that very moment, the unique human being behind the sucessful manger just comes up and starts to fight with others, the organizaion and herself.

What I found is that I could not ignore the issue in my entire career. What I found more is that I don't want to be a just competent carrer woman who defends herself saying like "I has never been at disadvantage just because I am a minority." What I want to take into action is not only manage the diversity issue smartly but also address it and improve the awaraness courageously.

So, Here comes another responsibility. I might not be generous to me saying that, "You are struggling enough, so let's put these issues aside to manage yourself first." Remembering how hard it has been to fight with prejudice even for last 3 years could be the first step to go ahead.

My favorite place in New York!

2007-08-12T12:34:00.000-04:00

Let me take you to this place where you always listen to great music in a comfortable environment.

Summer course ends this week.

2007-07-31T21:56:00.000-04:00

It's always pleasure to meet great people and learn more about the world!

Morgan Stanley Women's MBA Symposium

2007-07-25T15:42:00.000-04:00

Let me briefly introduce impressive lessons that I learned from Morgan Stanley Women's MBA Symposium while meeting sincere, passionate and friendly senior business women.

1. During the interview process, be authentic you. You should be very comfortable in that enviorment and telling more about you. Show true you to the interviewer so that he or she knows your competitive advantage.

2. Perception is important. Important decisions such as compensation, promotion and new assignments are made while you are not there. Think about "three adjectives" that people describe you. These are how others think about you and factors that have huge impact on your career success in the organization. You should be consistent on who you are.

3. Find a mentor and a sponsor. A mentor is the person who can remind your good, bad and ugly aspects. This is the person whom you trust intimately. A sponsor is the person who promote your good, good and good aspects. Your sponsor is passociate about your acceleration in the organization and gives political and social capital to you.

4. Never forget the power of relationship. Build both internal and external relationship. Upper relationship, administrative relationship, peer relationship and external network are all important.

5. Learn to exercise your voice. If you don't say in the organization, chances are high that people think you are stupid. Make sure you are contributing vocally in the meeting. Don't wait until your male co-workers make their answers quickly.

6. Balance, balance and balance. You should have something else you are passionate for in your life besides work. It could be community services, singing or family. You should continue something that brings you joy and motivate you. Otherwise, you would be just fuctional to somebody in your workplace like your boss.

Every woman that I met had her own philosophy in work and life, her way to deliver her voice, and something besides work such as sitting on the board in a non-profit organization, making her own music CD and being a successful mom of her three kids. It was such a pleasure for me to see that successful career women insist that you should not give up your passion about social responsibility, interesting areas, and family in addition to career itself.

Columbia University

2007-07-23T22:44:00.001-04:00

Become an adult

2007-07-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

There would be several reasons that I love living here so much. Maybe it's because I am in New York, the most attractive city in the world, or I become a student again after three years of hard working, or I have unique chances to meet diverse people from all over the world. But the most important reason is that I feel like becoming an adult.

Does that mean that I has not been an adult until now? In a way, yes. After graduating university, I started earning money and learned to work responsibly in a company. But, in many other areas, I was allowed to act like a child. For instance, I had not been involved in doing family chores, just being dependent on my mom and dad. "You study(or work) hard, and we will take care of all other things" concept has continued even after I graduated a university.

On the contrary, living here alone means that I have to manage myself physically and emontonally. Starting from managing house chores, keeping my health condition healthy, planning an enjoyable weekend, and managing friendship, social network and romantic relationship all need special attention. I can't just let it happen. Instead, I have to check my schedule, my body condition, my own way of relaxing and enjoying myself.

I always liked the story in which a boy or a girl becomes an adult. My favorite novels, Herman Hesse's Demian and Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood basically deals with a boy who learns about the world and develops some solution overcoming his early depression. I love the process that the idealistic but childish ego interacts with the outside world and establishes its own space within the world.

So, how couldn't I enjoy this embarrassing situation such as putting detergent in a cup connected to the dry machine, dropping rice over the floor, using bathroom cleaner in my room, breaking a mirror, etc. Don't blame me! I am just in an active learning process!

My first Happy Hour experience in Columbia Business School

2007-07-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

Informal social gathering is one of the most difficult parts for Asian. But I found out that it is not that difficult as long as I am positive, sincere and open-minded. Though I use imperfect English, people will listen to me if I deliever my thoughts with my true heart.

Some important tips that I learned today!
- When you join the group, don't hesitate. Approach the group, say hello to everybody, and look at each person's eyes in turns while telling your name and smiling. Showing friendliness and confidence are really important in making an impressive first impression.
- Start the talk with some simple questions. Say something about yourself. Don't wait until someone will ask about you.
- Concentrate on the group's talk for some time. Don't behave like a network jerk.
- When you leave the group, say clearly that you enjoyed a lot and you leave now.

But the most important part is that you really enjoy the talk and show true you!

Today, during 2 hours, among a bunch of people that I talked with, I am going to remember 2 people, a class of 09 girl who is interested in Social Enterprise, and a class of 08 boy who works for Hedge Fund for his summer internship and had a enjoyable casual talk with me.

Among a group of people, we always find the right people who share true friendship with us. This would not be much different here despite the language barrier because we naturally understand each other when we share important parts of us.

What is your dream?

2007-07-18T20:05:00.000-04:00

Before I left Korea, I received some touching mails. I love the moment that I can be serious about something. This time, let me introduce an email from Michelle.

There was a famous Korean drama whose name is KAIST. KAIST is the university where the smartest Korean engineering students study. There is a scene in which two main characters who are about to start studying in a graduate school have a talk with their professor. The professor asks these two guys who have recorded one of the best scores in undergraduate what their dreams are.

One of the characters, Minjae Lee, responds that going to the graduage school is his dream. The other one, Jeongtae Kim, is reluctant for a while and says that it is his dream to look for a dream.

People who have dreams look happy though they have troubles because of the dream, sacrify the other things, or have to find another dream in a certain situation.

From the time when I was accepted in the B-School to the day I leave Korea, I felt difficulties whenever I presented my dream. If it is my true dream, I should not be shy about showing my confidence, energy and passion. My short-term and long-term goal designed for MBA did their best. Then, what's next ,what is your dream, and how are you going to achieve it?

New York, New York!

2007-07-18T19:40:00.000-04:00

When some people ask why New York is so attractive, I would say because it is the symbol of freedom. It is hard to find anything to complain about living here. You just go out and you can get whatever you want. Nowhere in the world is like this city where capitalism and individualism have perfectly matched and prospered.

Samcheong dong, Seoul

2007-07-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

My independence

2007-06-14T07:51:00.000-04:00

Where does my strong independence stem from?

I thought that the reason lies in the birth order. A second daughter who doesn't get much attention from the family members just learns to be excelled in specific area by herself.

This might be one of the apparent reasons. But one day, when I talked to one of my friends, who is much older than me and a male, I realized that there are more reasons than that. He said to me, "Jenna, you are different from other Korean girls. You must have been very fairly treated when you grew."

Though I didn't understand the meaning of "being treated fairly", I realized that I observed fairness regarding roles of females and males in my family. In fact, I was never discouraged related to my career just because I am a daughter or never directed to the career which perceives more "suitable" to women. Instead, I was obssesively pushed to pursue a great career which has traditionally been recognized as men's domain.

Especially my father has driven his daughter to face the challenge, go abroad and keep the tough career rather than to marry a guy and live comfortably. His wish was recognized as conservative when I was a child or adolecent because I felt that I was forced to follow the career that he wants. But, now, his wish became progressive for a Korean girl in late 20's because many Korean girls in my age are more pushed to be married than being succesful in her career. How could he be so progressive while so many Korean guys in early 30's takes a conservative stance, asserting that "meet a good guy and live comfortably"?

My mom is another influential person on my independence in that she is never dependent on her husband. Not only is she economically independent, but also she competently deals with family chores. She is better than my father in practical and physical matters such as fixing the broken lights or dealing with some mechanical repairement. The fact that she takes such an independent position in my family might have a strong effect on my perception of being independent. She is not a weak woman who feels desperate and asks a help from my father.

Therefore, my independent spirit is orginally from my mother and my father. It could be irony that it is this independent spirit that made me escape from their influence on me. However, I believe that I could be more naturally dependent on other people if I could independently manage my own life. Now is another starting point.

Why MBA?

2007-06-09T21:20:00.000-04:00

I wrote down several reasons that I pursue MBA in my essay. However, what are my real reasons to pursue MBA?

To be honest, I didn't have much thought when I started preparation for MBA except broadening my perspectives, experiencing advanced culture and practicing English. But once I get a MBA degree, it would mean something more than those self-satisfaction.

I will be one of a few highly-educated professional business women. Whether I like it or not, I would be recognized as an effective and independent career woman in a business field. I chose and took this track.

To me, going to MBA means more become a financially and emotionally independent person than become a successful career woman at this moment. But, I have to take a deep breath and recognize that I assume some responsibilities which mean more hardship and challenge in my life.

I am moving away from the entry level which sometimes mean that I could survive only if I was a cute and smart young female. But, in the middle level, I have to be an aggressive and influential female manager to survive in an unfavorable, male-dominant environment.

So, I am asking myself.

Am I ready to make this transit beyonds simple childish excitement about going to the foreign country?

Hands on Disaster Response

2007-02-23T21:55:00.000-05:00

If you have some time, please give a look at this website and have a chance to join the special volunteer activity. I spent with them for my 7 days vacation in Indonesia. I came back to Korea with a memorable and rewarding experience. Here are some pictures that have been taken there!

http://www.hodr.org/