'Power K-Women' Speak: Breaking Boundaries and Finding Value

October 19: 2022 Women Leaders Forum Held
'Dirt Spoon Myth' Kelly Choi, Chairwoman of Kelly Deli
Literary Sensation Writer Seul-Ah Lee's Keynote Speech
40 Women Leaders from Various Fields Selected as 'Power K-Women'

[Asia Economy reporters Nam Seung-ryul, Park So-yeon, Han Jin-joo] The global economy, which was expected to recover after more than three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, is now bleak enough to raise concerns about an economic crisis. In particular, the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war is growing darker, and the US-led interest rate hikes that have shaken the world economy continue. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its global growth forecast for next year to 2.7%, down 1.1 percentage points from the figure earlier this year. The Korean economy, a small open economy driven by exports, is also shaken. Although current external soundness indicators of our economy are relatively good compared to past crises such as the foreign exchange crisis or the global financial crisis, the triple shock of high interest rates, high exchange rates, and high inflation is far from trivial.

In this crisis situation, the significance of the ‘2022 Women Leaders Forum’ organized by Asia Economy is special. It is because it brings together women leaders from various fields who have personally demonstrated leadership in innovation and transformation to overcome crises and adversity and open a new future.

Eleven years ago, the Women Leaders Forum was launched as the first international conference in Korea with a theme of women’s leadership. This year’s catchphrase is ‘Breaking Boundaries and Creating Value.’ Asia Economy named outstanding domestic and international women leaders who fit this theme as ‘Power K-Women.’ Attention has been drawn to the increasing number of Korean or Korean-descendant women leaders who have transcended boundaries and limitations such as physical disabilities, poverty, migration, and war to create new universal values and contribute to the advancement of human civilization.

At the Women Leaders Forum event to be held on the 19th, 40 ‘Power K-Women’ will be announced. The life stories of those who have not been intimidated by discrimination or trapped by boundaries but have fought back are expected to be a driving force to endure and overcome the era of crisis dominated by uncertainty.

Lectures by the 40 selected Power K-Women will also follow. The first keynote speaker of this year’s Women Leaders Forum is Kelly Choi, president of Kellydeli. The keynote topic is ‘Rules of Action to Become a Global Female Entrepreneur.’ Kelly Choi, who came from a so-called ‘dirt spoon’ background, overcame poverty with indomitable will and effort and now leads Kellydeli, a global company with stores in 13 countries and annual sales of 600 billion KRW. In 2020, she was ranked 345th among the richest in the UK by The Sunday Times. Kelly Choi, who advises “The best in business is global, so challenge the global market,” emphasized “drawing a big picture, thinking innovatively, and utilizing the subconscious.” She also advised, “Get cooperation from those around you, delegate to experts, and accept others’ intentions with goodwill.”

Following Kelly Choi, writer Lee Seul-ah, publisher of Ilgan Isul-ah and CEO of Heyum Publishing, will be the second keynote speaker. Her lecture titled ‘From Serial Worker to Ganyeojang’ conveys the joys and sorrows of creation. Lee Seul-ah debuted in 2013 with the short story ‘Sangindeul’ (Merchants) and started the ‘Ilgan Isul-ah’ project in 2018, bringing a new breeze to the publishing world. She introduced an independent serialization method by gathering readers directly without relying on established media.

Fleur Pellerin, former French Minister of Culture and CEO of Corelia Capital, will give a special lecture on ‘Women’s Leadership and Identity, Finding Work-Life Balance.’ At the heart of the global ecosystem, she will share her efforts to break social barriers and glass ceilings as a woman, and regardless of success, how she led and fully enjoyed the process, telling stories about life and identity as a woman.

2022 Women Leaders Forum Keynote and Special Speakers

Lisa Son, a psychology professor at Columbia University’s Barnard College, famous for metacognitive learning methods?the ability to understand what one knows and does not know?will give a special lecture titled ‘Women’s Psychology, Women’s Courage.’ Based on psychological data, she will lecture on courage. Professor Lisa Son has gained attention for explaining why students who study the same amount of time achieve different results and how to raise children with strong ‘power of thought = inner strength.’

In addition, in four sessions?K-CEO, K-Story, Challenge, and Career?prominent experts from various fields will gather to discuss Korean women entrepreneurs’ strategies for the global market, the achievements and significance of Korean women writers, the current status of women entrepreneurs, and their missions. Writer Jeong Bora, participating in the K-Story session, was nominated for the Booker Prize, the UK’s most prestigious literary award, and writer An Dam will moderate a discussion with Lee Seul-ah and Jeon Hye-jin about women writers.

In the Career session, which focuses on concerns about career growth and maturity, Lee Bo-ram, CEO of Third Age with experience in foreign companies, will present on career growth, work-life harmony, and maturity. Shin Soo-jung, head of KT Enterprise Division and mentor to 2030 office workers, and Choi Keri, Microsoft (MS) corporate director in charge of investment at MS headquarters, will join the discussion.

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