Korean American women leaders in finance stress finding joy in work

NEW YORK – One by one, impeccably dressed Korean American women flocked into the Anchorage Capital Group’s headquarters in New York City in late October. 

They were taking time out of their evening in the city that never sleeps to attend the Women in Finance Annual Forum hosted by the Korea Finance Society, a rare opportunity to hear directly from the top executives in the cutthroat industry. 

Speakers at the annual event included Managing Director of Consumer and Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs Sandra Schubert, Truist Securities’ Head of Technology Corporate and Investment Banking Kim Tucker, and Managing Director and Global Head of Consumer at Blackstone Growth Ann Chung. Anchorage Capital Group’s Portfolio Manager Soo Kim facilitated the forum. 

The speakers advised against drawing a hardline division between work and private life. 

“My modus operandi is Work, Play, Give – much like the 2017 film title Eat, Pray, Love,” said Goldman Sachs’ Schubert. She added that if one considers work meetings as play and is able to maintain the mindset of a student, there is always something to learn.

Tucker with Truist Securities was in agreement: “As you age, different identities sometimes merge, in which a client becomes a friend and vice versa.”

The executives also mentioned the need for personal branding. 

“You should think critically about your career and consider whether the work you are pursuing is something you are not only passionate about but truly something you can do well,” Anchorage Capital’s Kim said, while also asking the audience to keep building their unique identities. 

Chung with Blackstone Growth said she was able to use her female and a person of color identity to her advantage while working with 13 white male executives on an investment committee. She added that taking a creative approach is always helpful in sealing a deal. 

The speakers also highlighted the need for taking risks. 

“When I was given the opportunity to work at an investment bank, I was initially quite doubtful whether to take it because I was working for a fashion magazine at that time,” Schubert said. “But taking that risk led me to a lifelong career track that I am glad I have taken.”

Chung, for her part, said her life so far has been about striking out the less important things from the ever-changing priority list. “If you trust your own experience so far, you are more than 100% ready to do what you have always wanted to do.”

Last but not least, the executives stressed the importance of a strong network of female leaders who support each other.

Kim said that effective time management is critical in balancing work and family life.  Strong partnerships at home and meaningful friendships at work is a pre-requisite to that balance.

She added a close-knit community of women and working moms is one of her strongest support systems and a place of refuge. She advised the audience to network, make friends and be proactive about helping each other.  

"This will help everyone stay in the game," Kim added.

Write to So-Ram Jung at ram@hankyung.com
Jee Abbey Lee edited this article.