Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(10)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

Without the experience and subsequent network, it would be much tougher to arrange the possible interview with Dr. Nonaka. 

All above could explain why EWKLP remained important both to me and my organization. From the bottom of my heart, I wish 3 months stay in Hawaii would be of great significance to my work in the future, too.

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(7)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

In other words, articles of the section will be like the MBA school lecture printed on the newspaper. The member selection process went through several steps and I was chosen as one of the final members of the section. Without EWKLP certificate, it would be highly unlikely that I would work for the department. 

Regardless of my willingness to join the section, it was a sure thing that Hawaiian experience provided me with another chance to show off what I studied at JAIMS and to devote my company with fresh and intriguing ideas. 

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(6)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

Whenever it happens, looking back on good days in Hawaii, I smiled with pride and explained them the tacit knowledge. In doing so, what I learned at JAIMS will be penetrated into the entire Korean media industry and play crucial roles in enhancing the quality of articles and even spreading the importance of knowledge management into all sectors of the Korean society. 

In addition, EWKLP brings me new opportunities, which was not easy or time-taking to get before. After returning to work, out of the blue, I was assigned to a newly-lunched department of my company, 'Corporate Management Section'. The new section covers corporate success or failure stories, global business trend and interviews with academic or corporate gurus in the business field.

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(5)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

And it is non other than catching up with the most recent trend of advanced MBA education in the world. If not staying in Hawaii, I probably can’t have this persuasive view. Not only for articles, but also for brainstorming and daily conversation at work, the role of EWKLP training means a lot and makes me to intellectually grow as time goes by. 

And needless to say, it distinguished me from other Korean journalists who covered similar area with me. After reading my unusual but sophisticated articles, colleagues both at my organization and other companies asked me what’s secret of my excellent coverage. 

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(3)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

Now let me explain why I can positively link 3 months stay in Hawaii and my work. More than anything else, I’d like to point out EWKLP definitely widens my horizon on various fields of the global society. As a journalist, my main job is to provide high-quality articles for subscribers. 

In this globalized world, the importance of global contents can't be overemphasized. And it means that I have to produce more and more globally insightful contents. In this regard, EWKLP allows me to have worldwide views which, to some extent, I couldn't think of before flying to Hawaii. And it led me to develop fresh and up-to-date ideas when I wrote articles.

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(2)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

Secondly, I'd like to make special comments on friendship. In the individual page of the yearbook, I wrote down, “Let's keep our thicker-than-blood friendship for good!” Truly speaking, it is exactly what I felt from the 19 dear classmates. From the day one, we were just like long-time friends. 

And as time went by, this friendship grew more and more strengthened. Thanks to precious friends, I carved enormous valuable memories deep in my heart. In some way, more than EWKLP curriculum itself, I appreciate spending 3 months with 19 wonderful friends.

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity(1)

Heightening Work Experience and Bringing New Opportunity

After coming back to work on February, I have been noticing what I wrote at the first Fujitsu scholarship assignment is being realized step by step. Summary of my first assignment goes like this: First of all, thanks to EWKLP program, my global horizon was amazingly broadened. Course works, group discussion and presentation, field studies, outdoor activities and travelling combined together, really worked to widen my global sights on various issues. 

From Switzerland, England to Chinese, Japanese and South American backgrounds, faculty diversity gave the entire class a big hand to share different values and gain global perspectives. Just like the instructor profile, course work profile was also colorful. The fact that not all instructors are full-time professors rings a big bell to me.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(10)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Last not but least, comparing other corporate scholarship programs, Fujitsu scholarship assignments seems much. I understand each company has different point of views on their scholarship policies as part of its CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) activities. However, even requiring an additional assignment after students go back to their home country sounds not a reasonable idea. Once given, it could be better to leave the scholarship entirely in the hands of students. 

In spite of some shortfalls, in general, EWKLP and Fujitsu scholarship is well-organized enough to realize my goals which I dreamed back in Korea last year. Once again, I truly appreciate all JAIMS staff and Fujitsu personnel for letting me broaden global horizon and build up rich friendship. And I hope JAIMS and EWKLP will make more distinct presence in the international community soon.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(8)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

However, from the day one, we were just like long-time friends. And as time went by, this friendship grew more and more strengthened. What we shared most was class. We talked, discussed and presented almost all topics. However, at the same time, we played hard and enjoyed plentiful outdoor activities such as travelling, marathon, table tennis, surfing and swimming. 

In short, we were none other than a family. Thanks to precious friends, I carved enormous valuable memories deep in my heart. In some way, more than EWKLP curriculum itself, from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate spending 3 months with 19 wonderful and splendid friends.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(6)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

In this time of economic downturns when CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) seek more business opportunities from liberal arts, non-business curriculums made EWKLP classes richer and richer. Moreover, the fact that not all instructors are full-time professors rings a big bell to me. Some instructors are involved in real business practices such as consulting, leadership and legal industries. Also, some of the guests run their own business globally. 

In that even full-time MBA education pays more and more attention on real work experience these days, through non-academic instructors, delivering the hot issues of the outside world is remarkable merits of EWKLP. In doing so, not only EWKLP succeeded in differentiating itself from similar scholarship programs, but also students could balance between the 'Gemba' and textbook theories and models as a professor Ikujiro Nonaka pointed out during his class. These lessons approached me as something more global, timely and practical.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(4)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

First of all, thanks to EWKLP program, my global horizon was amazingly broadened. Honestly specking, it was not my first time to go abroad. Since I joined the media industry, I have been to more than 20 countries on business trips even to South America and Scandinavian countries. However, it was the work which counted the most on business trips. 

In other words, I rarely had enough time to look around the place and taste the local atmosphere. As a result, most times, I made myself be just satisfied with only scratching the surface of the unfamiliar culture. But this time was a huge exception. Course works, group discussion and presentation, field studies, outdoor activities and travelling combined together, really worked to widen my global sights on various issues.

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(2)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

In addition, EWKLP will serve a good chance to promote Korea to foreign friends. In spite of strong economic size and potentials, Korea is one of the undervalued countries in the global stage. Some business sectors such as semi-conductor, shipping and automobile industry, Korean companies are leading the world. By actively introducing Korean companies and their success stories to classes, I want to let EWKLP participants know more about Korea. 

At the same time, I will do my best to be more aware of neighboring countries. These may create new business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region after EWKLP students go back to their home. Amongst the participant countries, it is also anticipated that improved image on Korea will enhance nation-level relationship. 

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship(1)

Broadening Global Horizon and Establishing Rich Friendship

Before coming to Hawaii, in my application forms to JAIMS(Japan-America Institute of Management Science), rough expectation on EWKLP(East-West Knowledge Leaders Program) went like this: EWKLP will be of great significance to me. By studying various subjects of business, I can not only deepen my knowledge but also harmonize my experience, as a journalist, with theory. That could explain why lessons from EWKLP will lead me to make more profound articles on business practices. 

I have little doubt that 3 months in Hawaii will absolutely help me realize my lifetime goal, contributing myself to my country. In this time of financial crisis, insightful articles can make people happy. It can change the world, too. State-of-the-art business cases will also give new ideas to business leaders in Korea with whom I have had firm relationship. Interviews with CEOs and corporate management convinced me that they are dying for new and practical business principles.

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(10)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

Putting the title of a filed study in the shade, energy and vitality was rarely noticed on the sport as if reflecting gloomy economic situation in Hawaii. Last not but least, comparing other corporate scholarship programs, Fujitsu scholarship assignments seems much. 

I understand each company has different point of views on their scholarship policies as part of its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities. However, even requiring an additional assignment after students go back to their home country sounds not a reasonable idea. Once given, it could be better to leave the scholarship entirely in the hands of students.

In spite of some shortfalls, in general, EWKLP and Fujitsu scholarship is well-organized enough to realize my goals which I dreamed back in Korea last year. Once again, I truly appreciate all JAIMS staff and Fujitsu personnel for letting me broaden global horizon and build up rich friendship. And I hope JAIMS and EWKLP will make more distinct presence in the international community soon.

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(9)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

Thanks to precious friends, I carved enormous valuable memories deep in my heart. In some way, more than EWKLP curriculum itself, from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate spending 3 months with 19 wonderful and splendid friends. 

Looking back on, there are things which I hope to be improved or fixed in the near future. For example, I still can’t fully understand why students have to submit a key learning report per each class. Some class lasted only 2 or 3 hours and contents were not clear as well. 

Under this circumstance, requiring a key learning report is asking too much. Students may have strong temptation of cooking up stories. Additionally, a couple of outdoor activities such as visits to Swap Meet and Honolulu Zoo were way from expectation. 

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(7)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

In that even full-time MBA education pays more and more attention on real work experience these days, through non-academic instructors, delivering the hot issues of the outside world is remarkable merits of EWKLP. 

In doing so, not only EWKLP succeeded in differentiating itself from similar scholarship programs, but also students could balance between the 'Gemba' and textbook theories and models as a professor Ikujiro Nonaka pointed out during his class. These lessons approached me as something more global, timely and practical.

Secondly, I'd like to make special comments on friendship. In the individual page of the yearbook, I wrote down, "Let's keep our thicker-than-blood friendship for good!" Truly speaking, it is exactly what I felt from the 19 dear classmates.

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(6)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

As a management institution, to some extent, business related subjects are mostly stressed over the whole curriculum inevitably. However, time to time, non-business subjects, to name a few, philosophy, anthropology, Buddhism and Confucianism, decently covered as well. 

In this time of economic downturns when CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) seek more business opportunities from liberal arts, non-business curriculums made EWKLP classes richer and richer. 

Moreover, the fact that not all instructors are full-time professors rings a big bell to me. Some instructors are involved in real business practices such as consulting, leadership and legal industries. Also, some of the guests run their own business globally. 

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(4)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

First of all, thanks to EWKLP program, my global horizon was amazingly broadened. Honestly specking, it was not my first time to go abroad. Since I joined the media industry, I have been to more than 20 countries on business trips even to South America and Scandinavian countries. 

However, it was the work which counted the most on business trips. In other words, I rarely had enough time to look around the place and taste the local atmosphere. As a result, most times, I made myself be just satisfied with only scratching the surface of the unfamiliar culture. 

But this time was a huge exception. Course works, group discussion and presentation, field studies, outdoor activities and travelling combined together, really worked to widen my global sights on various issues.

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(3)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

These may create new business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region after EWKLP students go back to their home. Amongst the participant countries, it is also anticipated that improved image on Korea will enhance nation-level relationship.

Against this background, it is not an easy thing at all to find out proper words or expressions which best describes my 3 months stay in Hawaii. After nights of twist and toast, I finally came up with two ideas; Broadening Global Horizon & Building Up Rich Friendship.

Needless to say, life at JAIMS and further in Hawaii was 'Golden Period of My Lifetime' mainly because I learned global perspective and met 19 gorgeous friends at the same time. And the expectation that I sincerely had deep in my heart back in Korea, dare to say, almost achieved during the past 3 months.

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship(2)

Broadening global horizon and building up rich friendship

Interviews with CEOs and corporate management convinced me that they are dying for new and practical business principles. In addition, EWKLP will serve a good chance to promote Korea to foreign friends. 

In spite of strong economic size and potentials, Korea is one of the undervalued countries in the global stage. Some business sectors such as semi-conductor, shipping and automobile industry, Korean companies are leading the world. 

By actively introducing Korean companies and their success stories to classes, I want to let EWKLP participants know more about Korea. At the same time, I will do my best to be more aware of neighboring countries.