About Minwoo
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Current Position(s): Marketing Strategist, Pillar Foundation International (Non-Profit). Co-Founder, Anemhoi Inc. (Startups)
Previous University: Catholic University of Korea
Degree: Business Administration and English Literature
Q: As a student in the MS in International Management program at Northeastern, why did you decide to pursue the Graduate Certificate in International Business first?
ONE: After my undergraduate degree, I wanted to diversify my business knowledge so that I could pursue my career goal of working in marketing. Because I had no prior study abroad experience, I decided to begin my graduate education with the four-course master's degree program. I was confident that this program would help me acclimate to the US 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 six more courses after completing my bachelor's degree to earn a master's degree.
After researching various options, I decided that Northeastern would be the best fit because of its diverse and welcoming community. I wanted to be at a university where I could interact and learn from peers with perspectives and experiences different from my own. I've always been interested in learning about different cultures and I'm glad I have the opportunity to do that at Northeastern.
Q: After completing your degree, why did you decide to pursue Optional Practical Training?
ONE: Through the graduate certificate program, I developed a growth mindset. I wanted to continue learning, so I decided to get some 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 completing my graduate program. With the help of my career counselor at Northeastern, I applied for various marketing internships.
During my OPT year, I interned at two different companies. In both internships, I worked on brand marketing leveraging social media. I was able to learn how to use market research to bridge the gap between companies and their consumers. My second internship was at the Pillar Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with international partners to create equal opportunities for young people worldwide. At the end of this internship, I was offered a full-time Strategic Marketing position. I loved the team and was excited about their vision to create a fairer society, so I was happy to accept the offer. I will be working there for the entirety of my second OPT experience after completing my Masters, and possibly into the future.
Q: Why did you hope to win in your pursuit of an MS in International Management and how has the program benefited you?
ONE: I applied to the MS in International Management while completing my OPT year. The process of applying my credits from graduate school to graduate program was seamless. After a year in the graduate certificate program, I felt ready to take advanced graduate courses that would further enhance my knowledge of international marketing and branding.
This year, during my MS in International Management program, I co-founded a technology 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 with private flyers. In this team, I work on product design and development marketing. This program was beneficial for me because I was able to enrich my cultural flexibility and prepare to work with international organizations. I am happy to develop the expertise I need to excel in my new role at Pillar Foundation and in my current role at Anemhoi.
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