Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Current Position(s): Marketing Strategist, Pillar Foundation International (Nonprofit); Cofounder, Anemhoi Inc. (Startup)
Previous University: Catholic University of Korea
Undergraduate Degree: Business Administration and English Literature
Q: Why did you start with a graduate certificate before applying for a master's degree?
A: After my undergraduate degree, I wanted to diversify my business knowledge so I could pursue my professional goal of working in marketing. Because I had no prior experience studying abroad, I decided to begin my postgraduate education with the four-course graduate certificate program. I was confident this program would help me get acclimated to the U.S education system at my own pace. The graduate certificate program also served as a good transition to a master's degree program. I had the option to add-on six more courses after the completion of my graduate certificate degree to earn a master's degree.
After researching various options, I decided Northeastern would be the best fit because of its diverse and welcoming community. I wanted to be at a university where I could interact with and learn from peers with perspectives and experiences that differ from mine. I've always been interested in learning about various cultures, and I'm glad I have the chance to do this at Northeastern.
Q: What did you do during your Optional Practical Training year?
A: Through the graduate certificate program, I developed a growth mindset. I wanted to keep learning, so I decided to gain tangible work experience in the U.S. I knew it would be a good opportunity to take advantage of OPT, which I was eligible to apply for after the completion of the graduate certificate program. With the assistance of my career advisor at Northeastern, I applied for various marketing internships.
During my year of OPT, I interned at two different companies. At both internships, I worked in brand marketing by leveraging social media. I was able to learn how to utilize market research to bridge the gap between companies and their consumers. My second internship was with Pillar Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with international collaborators to create equal opportunities for young people globally. At the end of this internship, I was offered a full-time Marketing Strategist position. I loved the team, and I was ecstatic about their vision of creating a more equitable society, so I was glad to accept the offer. I will work there for the entirety of my second OPT experience after completing my master's degree, and possibly in the future.
Q: Why did you decide to apply for the master's degree?
A: I applied to the MS in International Management while I was completing my year of OPT. The process of applying my credits from the graduate certificate to the master's degree program was seamless. After a year in the graduate certificate program, I felt prepared to take advanced master's classes that would enhance my knowledge of international marketing and branding even further.
Q: How did your master's equip you to co-found a tech company?
This year, during my time in the MS in International Management program, I co-founded a tech company. I met my co-founders on StartHawk, a co-founder search platform. Our mission is to create a transportation platform that connects small aircraft owners to private flyers. On this team, I'm working on product design and growth marketing.
This program has been beneficial to me because I have been able to enrich my cultural agility and prepare myself to collaborate with international organizations. I'm happy I am developing the expertise I need to excel in my new role at Pillar Foundation and my current role at Anemhoi.
Keep Exploring
