[W Frontier] Seo Ji-hee Vice President's Life Mentor Is... "Son Byung-ok, Former Chairman of Prudential Life"

2021 Asia Women Leaders Forum 10th Mentor
Interview with Seo Jihee, Deputy CEO of Samjong KPMG

Impressed by the 'Inhwa Leadership' Shining at the Retirement Ceremony... I Want to Leave Like That Too

Seo Ji-hee, Vice President of Samjong KPMG, is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 18th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji-hwan Park] Ji-hee Seo, Vice President of Samjong KPMG, met a life mentor through ‘Women in Innovation (WIN),’ a network of female leaders established in 2007. The key figure was Byeong-ok Son, former Chairman of Prudential Life Insurance, who served as the inaugural president of WIN. WIN is a nonprofit corporation started in November 2007 under Son’s leadership, serving as a network of female leaders nurturing other leaders.

Former Chairman Son is often cited as a mentor for working women. She was the first female executive director and the first female vice president in the financial industry, and in 2011, she became the first female CEO in the traditionally conservative insurance sector. After stepping down from the CEO position in 2015, she served as Chairman of Prudential Life Insurance and currently works as an outside director at SC First Bank.

For her juniors, Son’s career path itself serves as a guidebook. Vice President Seo particularly recalled Son’s outstanding leadership based on harmony (人和), which creates harmonious relationships with members grounded in respect and consideration. Seo said, "Former Chairman Son possessed not only business insight but also deep interest in people and delicacy. She demonstrated the ability to combine essential leadership competencies, such as empathy by putting herself in others’ shoes, with her own emotions." Her affection and passion for female juniors were especially remarkable. Although she fiercely fought in her own domain as a financial company CEO, her enthusiasm for nurturing juniors was extraordinary. Seo added, "Despite her extremely busy schedule as a company head, whenever she had time, she would run to juniors regardless of the number of attendees to deliver messages."

The most memorable moment in her memories with former Chairman Son was her retirement ceremony after stepping down from her position. Seo felt the trust of colleagues toward Son when she saw a headquarters colleague who took a surprise visit after more than 10 hours on a plane to attend the retirement event. When Son expressed gratitude toward her family and employees, waves of emotion swept through the retirement hall.

"Is there any other executive who can leave like this? I thought I wanted to leave a legacy that becomes part of the organization’s culture as a leader like former Chairman Son. That retirement ceremony felt like a farewell meal carefully prepared by the employees themselves for former Chairman Son."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.