Turning into a global and concerned citizen

You studied at PNU in South Korea. How did this undergraduate experience prepare you to join the Global Economic Transformation & Technology?

To be completely honest, during my undergraduate years, I didn’t have any clear plan for my future, including my master’s degree. Throughout my undergraduate years, I have had diverse experiences in different countries. For example, I became a Chinese speaker while staying in Shanghai. I interned at an NGO in Salzburg, and traveled with my friends across Europe. All these moments in my life allowed me to meet different people, learn about different cultures, and face different challenges. All this prepared me to join the EDHEC Global MiM.

During your undergraduate studies, through the GETT programme, your internships, you travel the world. How do these experiences change you and your perspectives?

I tend to be challenge-oriented and enjoy trying new things.

During the gap year, my first internship in Africa was very challenging. This continent was new to me. Making a decision to go to Africa was not an easy choice. But I’m glad I seized the opportunity to learn about life in Africa while gaining professional experience.

You are in the midst of professional immersion year. You have been working in Africa and France. What can you tell us about your internships? The process to find them?

There was only one criterion while searching for an internship for me. The internships should allow me to gain a new experience in a new place.

The first one was an opportunity at Jumia as a project manager. I had the opportunity to manage a whole business unit with the new project I designed. Based on on-site research, I suggested a customized project for Africa. I improved the project with in-depth data analysis. Thanks to this successful project, we were able to grow my team from 10 to 50 people.

Currently, I am working as a data analyst at Back Market. I analyse data to improve performance and automate procedures throughout the whole business for the Korean, Japanese, and Australian markets. As these markets are all new for Back Market, I am thrilled with every single sale we get.

How has this professional immersion year impacted your job aspirations? What are your career goals?

While working in Africa, I gained experience in business management. While working as a data analyst, I have learned more technical skills such as programming. I can’t pinpoint my career goal at this moment, but I would like to become an expert in machine learning, automation, data analysis, and AI. Therefore, while studying at Berkeley Haas School of Business my last year of study, I want to equip myself with relevant skills and have a clearer professional goal.

Do you have any advice for prospective students choosing the GETT programme?

It’s essential to be open-minded. There are many opportunities to seize. I  hope they can fully take advantage of it.

EDHEC’s motto is make an impact. How do you intend to make yours?

I spent my childhood in a poor family. With many people’s help, I finished all my studies and saved money for my master's. In Africa, I witnessed real poverty among children. As I received much help from others and had precious opportunities to learn even now, I would like to make an impact while improving their lives.

If you had three words to sum up your experience, what would they be?

Challenge-oriented. Open-minded. People.