Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
It was indeed a rare sight to behold: Seminar participants ignoring their iPhones for five hours. With very few exceptions, students and young professionals listened with undivided attention to inspirational speakers and panel experts on how to succeed in life and career.
The event, free and open to the public, was the 5th annual KOWIN DC leadership seminar. Some 120 students attended the symposium, held on April 5 at the George Washington University (GWU) Mount Vernon Campus. Korean Women’s International Network, DC Chapter (KOWIN), organized the event, with GWU Korean Language and Culture Program and the Korean Student Association as co-organizers.
Like sponge, participants eagerly soaked up words of wisdom from speakers and panel guests, many of whom, like IBM Senior Systems Analyst and IT panel moderator Sung C. Shin are seasoned experts in their fields. Ms. Shin advised the participants to wisely use the Internet and Facebook, and “not to waste your time” overdoing it.
Soo Y. Yee, Fairfax County’s Community Health Specialist at the Community Health Development and Preparedness, was the moderator at Health Care/Biomedical panel with Yongsook Victoria Suh as mentor.
“This is a good way for students to learn practical things,” Ms. Yee said in an interview. “They’re hearing that they need people skills–that without it, they will not go far. Cultivating good relationships is essential in achieving success in their career, and in getting that job promotion.”
“We’re really delighted with the interest shown by the participants,” said KOWIN DC President Young-Key Kim-Renaud, seminar co-chair with Miok Pak. Dr. Kim-Renaud is Professor of Korean Language and Culture and International Affairs, and Chair of the East Asian Languages and Literatures Department at GWU. Members of the KOWIN DC seminar committee also included Yunkyoung Kang, KangEun Jeong Olson, and Yongsook Victoria Suh.
How to Succeed
Symposium organizer Dr. Kim-Renaud introduced keynote speaker Alexa Huang as someone who triumphed against many different kinds of obstacles. “It is extremely challenging for foreign-born scholars to find a job, much less establish themselves in such a competitive field as Shakespeare studies, but she has established herself as a highly-respected scholar and teacher.”
Professor Huang shared her extraordinary story as an immigrant from Taiwan in pursuit of her dream, as well as her gender transition to a woman. She worked hard to find a voice of her own. Literature helped her find her own way to tell stories.
“If you want to achieve or change anything in your life, jump right in and start swimming,” she said. “The water may be cold, but standing by the pool will only earn us regret later in life.”
She shared her experience as an international student at Stanford. “During my second semester at Stanford, I was scared to death when I was assigned to be a Teaching Assistant at a Shakespeare class taught by a renowned professor. I thought I should turn down the opportunity and wait until my English was impeccable,” Alexa said. “But life is too precious for us to wait it out.”
Other lessons she shared with the audience: Look fear in its eyes and part ways with “old habits, old mode of existence, old comfort zone…We are on borrowed time, and we don’t have the luxury of living someone else’s dream.”
Professor Huang co-founded and co-directs GWU’s Digital Humanities Institute. She also directs the Dean’s Scholars in Shakespeare program and serves as the director of graduate studies in English.
Be a Team Player
Panel mentor Ms. Son Ae Filchak stressed the importance of being a team player at the workplace. She is a Telecommunications Specialist at the State Department’s Bureau of Information Resources Management.
“If your supervisor asks you to do something, say ‘Yes, I will do my best’ and then deliver,” she said. Doing so would show that you are a team player and dependable. “If they see your work and leadership potentials, after a few years, they will move you up.” She also urged the participants to use the Internet to their advantage, such as in a search on How to Write a Resume.
The program took place at Hand Chapel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ben Vinson III, Dean of the GWU Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, delivered the congratulatory remarks after Dr. Kim-Renaud’s opening speech.
Morning Panel Chair Yongsook Victoria Suh delivered a lecture on “Owning the Power of Leadership as a Woman.” She is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a diplomat of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She is on the staff of INOVA Fairfax Hospital and other hospitals serving Northern Virginia.
Integrity and seizing the opportunity were the themes of the morning discussions, with panelists Son Ae Filchak, Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, Jina H. Kim, and Kongdan (Katy) Oh. A class photo session concluded the morning session, followed by lunch. Afternoon Panel Chair Miok Pak delivered the closing remarks after a splendid wrap-up report of representatives from each panel.
Participants
The symposium’s theme was “Korean Women’s Place in the Sun: Celebrating Diversity and Enhancing the Culture of Inclusion.” But the program applied to anyone, male and female, who are in pursuit of a dream. Laura Uribe, a Business Administration and IT (Information Technology) junior at American University, enjoyed the learning experience so much last year that she came back this year.
“They are getting better and better each year,” she said. “I liked that we got perspectives on opportunities from both the private and the government sectors on IT. Also, the participants now are mixed. In the past, it was mostly women who came.”
EnconGlobal Inc. International Sales Representative Alex SW. Cho came prepared with questions to TV7 and Newschannel 8 Weekend Anchor Kathy Park at the media panel. He was also busy exchanging business cards and networking.
Ms. Park was the panel’s mentor, with Voice of America morning newscaster Jee Abbey Lee as moderator. She traced her early career and noted one has to be unflappable on TV. Both Ms. Park and Ms. Lee told the participants that viewers “only see a third of what’s really going on” in the studio.”
In the health panel, Phuong (Fern) Lue, cradling her one-month-old Sofia, said, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. This seminar gets bigger and better each year.” Ms. Lue is the vice president of the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
The Business/NGO/Charity panel discussion was lively and unique. It was conducted in both Korean and English, with Paula Park as mentor and Florence Lowe-Lee as moderator. The lady assigned to deliver a wrap-up report received a hearty applause for doing a magnificent job.
Session II Mentoring Session was chaired by Miok Pak. The panels were: Education, with Mentor Erin Aeran Chung and Moderator Jisoo Monica Kim; International Organizations, with Mentor Ye-rin Um and Moderator Jung Yeon Kim; Law, with Mentor Suyong Min and Moderator Sinyeon Kee; Journalism/Media, with Mentor Kathy Park and Moderator Jee Abbey Lee;
Health Care/Biomedical with Mentor Yongsook Victoria Suh and Moderator Soo Y. Yee; Information Technology, with Mentor Son Ae Filchak and Moderator Sung C. Shin; Arts/Literature, with Mentor Su Kwak and Moderator Sukza Park; Business/NGO/Charity, with Mentor Paula Park and Moderator Florence Lowe-Lee; and Government, with Mentor Grace Han Wolf and Moderator Hannah Kim.
KOWIN
Korean Women’s International Network was established in 2001 with the launch of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in Korea. Its mission: To promote networking among Korean female leaders around the world, to support their advancement in the global community, and to nurture international and professional expertise in the next generation of Korean women. There are over 130 KOWIN Chapters throughout the world. Over 2,000 women leaders have participated in KOWIN activities.
Founded in 2001, KOWIN DC Chapter is a branch of KOWIN Eastern Regional District (which has five chapters–DC, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas). Currently, KOWIN DC has over 50 members who are successful in diverse professions. Members include doctors, lawyers, educators, artists, business owners, bankers, government officials, representatives in international organizations and journalists.
KOWIN DC has been: promoting women’s comprehensive health (mental, physical, and cultural); providing mentoring opportunities for local Korean American women; providing support for the victims of natural disasters and sexual exploitation and abuse; providing support for the children’s well-being through global children foundations; and conducting fellowship programs for young Korean American women. KOWIN DC’s most prominent activity is the annual leadership and mentoring seminar for young Korean American women.