Korean American Perspectives

From Fashion to Fighting Games: An Entrepreneur's Journey Towards Esports: Jinhee Ahn Kim

This week’s episode of Korean American Perspectives features Jinhee Ahn Kim, CEO and Co-Founder of UYU E-Sports Team.

 

Jinhee Ahn Kim is a serial entrepreneur who has allowed her insatiable curiosity and her amazing ability to find gaps in the marketplace to lead her career from management consulting, fashion, law, education software, and now eSports. In our interview, Jinhee shares about rapidly-expanding gaming scene and what it’s like to work with pro gamers, as well as how she first got involved in the gaming industry.

Navigating to the Top: Corporate Leadership, Board Governance, and Diversity: David Chun

This week’s episode of Korean American Perspectives features David Chun, CEO and Founder of Equilar, the top provider of critical data on corporate executives, including 70% of the Fortune 500 companies.

With his company, Equilar, having a unique view into the makeup of C-suites and board rooms, David discusses current executive hiring trends and the need to fix the lack of gender and ethnic diversity at the highest levels of corporate governance. If you’ve ever thought about what CEOs are getting paid, why we need to address race and gender pay disparities in major companies, and how you can take the steps to prepare to join a corporate board, don’t miss this insightful and revealing interview with the top corporate data leader in the country.

A Journey to Find Meaning - Neurosurgery, Public Health, and North Korea: Kee B. Park

Our seventh episode of Season Two of CKA’s podcast, Korean American Perspectives, features Dr. Kee B. Park, Accomplished Neurosurgeon and Paul Farmer Global Surgery Scholar at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Park has practiced and taught neurosurgery in operating rooms across the world, from Ethiopia to Cambodia-- even North Korea. 

 

Dr. Park is also the Director of the North Korea Program at the Korean American Medical Association (KAMA). He leads the collaboration between U.S. and North Korean physicians and has made 18 visits to North Korea since 2007. In this highly polarized world, Kee Park reminds us that geopolitical disputes and sanctions between nations have unintended consequences on everyday lives.

Weaving Our Stories into the Cultural Fabric of America: Chil Kong

Our sixth episode of Season Two of CKA’s podcast, Korean American Perspectives, features Chil Kong, Artistic Director of Adventure Theater MTC. Chil has a long award-winning career with major theater companies across Boston, San Diego, Seattle, and L.A. and is currently the only Korean American aristic director of a major theater company in the United States.

Facing the COVID-19 pandemic’s turbulent effects on the performing arts industry, Chil shares how some performing arts centers are trying to find new ways to engage with their audience. As a leading voice in the performance and entertainment industry, he shares his valuable insight into Asian American representation and the importance of the performing arts to our community. Chil reminds us of the power to write our own stories and how they must be woven into the cultural fabric of America.

Addressing Burnout and Trauma in Today’s Youth: Jeanie Chang

Our fifth episode of Season Two of CKA's podcast, Korean American Perspectives, features Jeanie Chang, Founder of Your Change Provider, PLLC, as well as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

This week, we're back with Jeanie to discuss burnout seen in both students and professionals and how to address it. We delve into intergenerational trauma, cultural barriers, and societal pressures faced by today’s youth. We also touch upon health communication between college and high school students with their parents. Lastly, we discuss the value of meditation and just clearing your mind can go a long way towards establishing healthy mental health practices.

Navigating Mental Health in Asian American Families: Jeanie Chang

Our fourth episode of Season Two of CKA's Korean American Perspectives podcast series features Jeanie Chang, Founder of Your Change Provider, PLLC, as well as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Jeanie is passionate about serving people, couples, and families alike through a holistic culturally competent approach. She shares valuable insight into navigating the perils of parenthood, as well as how we can be empowered to take care of our own mental health. Jeanie reminds us that our community’s strength depends on people supporting and looking out for one another. Throughout our lives, we should always be intentional and mindful in our interactions with our family, friends, and coworkers. You never know what somebody is going through unless you ask and listen.

Practicing Self-Compassion and Vulnerability: Julia Park

Our third episode of Season Two of CKA's Korean American Perspectives podcast series features Julia Park, Founder of Relationship365, a well-being clinic for people to learn and apply research and evidence-based solutions that would enhance the quality of everyday relationships.

Julia Park is a licensed marriage and family therapist who’s worked with people from all walks of life. In the interview, she discusses how vulnerability is more often a power rather than a weakness, and how the perfectionism we often see in Asians is directly related to shame. Julia reminds us that we are enough— that we are worthy of love, belonging, and self-compassion.

Nurturing a Culture of Creativity and Innovation: Monica Kang

Our second episode of Season Two of CKA's Korean American Perspectives podcast series features Monica Kang, Founder and CEO of InnovatorsBox, as well as a creativity expert and corporate culture influencer.

Monica Kang is a creative educator transforming today’s workforce through the power of innovation. She believes that everybody has creativity— it just needs to be noticed, nurtured, and allowed to grow. Monica reminds us that exploring outside of what we know is crucial for chasing new ideas and experiences. In times of uncertainty, it’s ever more crucial for innovative thinkers to rise up and transform the world.

Bridging the Gap Between Beethoven and Batman: Alpin Hong

Our first episode of Season Two of CKA's Korean American Perspectives podcast series features Alpin Hong, an Internationally Renowned Concert Pianist and Music Education Advocate. 

Alpin Hong isn’t your typical classically-trained piano virtuoso. He is a larger-than-life figure with a captivating personality and spellbinding music performances. Rooted in extensive classical training and a background in extreme sports, martial arts, and video games, Mr. Hong is a creative force unmatched in his vitality and charisma. 

From being a rollerblading ex-pre-med student to playing Superstar Etude with his feet to his personal connection to Rhapsody Blue, Alpin reminds us of the importance of music education and embracing failure in order to appreciate happiness and success.

Welcome to Season Two: Abraham Kim

Welcome to Season Two of the Korean American Perspectives podcast. My name is Abraham Kim. I'm the Executive Director for the Council of Korean Americans and I'm also your host for this show. This podcast seeks to share the inspirational life stories of Korean American leaders and explore the complex issues that shape this community. On the show, we interview innovators, trailblazers, thought leaders and artists about their lives, their immigration story, their career journeys, and the important issues and challenges that they dedicated their lives to help address. Last season we talk with politicians, musicians, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. If you had not had the chance to listen to Season One, we point you to our website at councilka.org or search Korean American Perspectives on Apple Podcast, Spotify and other podcasting sites. 

We're glad to be back with a new season, ten episodes in all. We’re taking on some hot topics with leading Korean American experts and addressing some issues like mental health, shame, parent-children relationships and immigration issues to name a few. Looking ahead, we'll be kicking off the season with the release of three interview shows. One with celebrated pianist and music educator, Alpin Hong; the second, innovation corporate trainer, Monica Kang; and finally third, shame and vulnerability research expert and mental health counselor, Julia Park. Then each week afterwards we'll be releasing new episodes. I don't think the timing could have been better during this time of COVID-19 and all the uncertainties. I know many of you are indoors with your families and friends or perhaps just alone and as you exercise social distancing, this'll be a great time for you to listen to our many shows that are coming online. We're sending all of our love to you and we wish you safety, health, and also a bit of sanity.