Finance wasn’t my first career choice. I was an engineering student at Imperial College London and seriously considering a change when a simple dinner with an ICL graduate who was a professional accountant gave me the courage to switch courses to ACCA.
The desire to learn more about decision-making and financial management led me back to accountancy
Yet I didn’t move into accountancy straight away. My first role was as general manager of an education business called Story Education, which I started with my university friends. It was only after four years of rapid business growth and expansion that the desire to learn more about management systems, decision-making processes and financial management led me back to accountancy.
ACCA is an excellent tool for people who discover an interest in finance later on, as I did. It has been my ticket to meet, interview and work with great visionaries and entrepreneurs across all industries and overcome the structural barriers in organisations. ACCA has been and remains a door to many opportunities in my career journey.
I was able to get a position at Deloitte, then PwC Korea. These provided me with exciting experiences and knowledge. I was part of the statutory audit team for conglomerates such as Samsung’s overseas subsidiaries, KT Corporation and companies in the bio-sector, providing services such as IPO audits, valuation reviews, and compliance/internal control construction. It was a valuable time to learn and experience many different companies and their business models.
It’s a privilege to watch the company move an inch closer to success every day
Back in 2018, a short coffee chat with a former CEO of a major consulting firm changed my view of my career. He enlightened me about the concept of fear management in decision-making and my attitude towards my career, as well as how to deal with future opportunities. It was a mind-blowing experience that restructured my perspective on life. By understanding fear as a phenomenon and decision as an action, I have been able to approach important questions in my life and work with a more relaxed mindset, eliminating unstudied frustrations and enabling me to make more rational choices.
I’m now co-CEO of Cubelabs, a 3D-printing medical device company aiming to provide better healthcare solutions. I manage overall activities in the business, including day-to-day management, sales, and communication with investors and other external stakeholders. It’s a privilege to watch the company move an inch closer to success every day and provide better healthcare for patients in need.
My goal in 2023 is the successful completion of upcoming financing rounds and the construction of sales channels in Korea and other markets in South-East Asia. It is a difficult period for the economic environment, and it will be challenging. However, my team and I are sticking closely to our milestones and plans, and we’re optimistic about achieving our goals for this year.
Adding value is always my key idea, whether in or out of business. I firmly believe that creating value for the business you belong to is vital to develop a long sustainable relationship. Also, it is great to see the organisation’s members being positively affected by my activities and vice versa.
