Allow me to introduce CHRO Lee Yong-hwan, who is in charge of ensuring the healthy growth and culture of Boosters. From conglomerates, global consulting firms, to tech startups - He has garnered HR expertise from various places and is currently implementing many positive changes at Boosters. Read Yong-hwan's interview, where he emphasizes that sincere interest and careful examination are crucial for HR practitioners.
Q. Can you introduce yourself, Yonghwan?
Hello, I'm Yonghwan Lee. I've spent about 20 years experimenting and challenging myself, believing that people and organizations are the heart of business.
Q. What's your role at Boosters as the head of HR?
I manage HR and the Corporate Branding department. My job is to find the right people for our organization, keep it healthy and growing, and motivate our team. I try to see the organization from different angles to achieve this.
Q. What is the most important quality for someone in HR?
To do HR well, you need sincere attention and scrutiny. You shouldn't restrict yourself to HR functions like recruitment, training, and evaluation. It's more than having expertise in each function. It's about thinking how to grow the organization as a whole.
Q. What have you focused on since joining Boosters?
Before introducing new systems and programs, I spent a lot of time understanding Boosters as an organization. Every organization is unique. My past HR experiences don't necessarily apply here, especially because of Boosters' unique 'brand aggregator' business model. I focused on deeply understanding the company and its needs.
Q. Why did you join Boosters, even though HR wasn't fully established?
Previously, I focused on doing needed tasks 'well'. Now, I want to actively identify what the organization really needs and provide solutions. I used to focus on quick fixes at bigger companies, but I wanted a job that required more thinking, action, and testing. I wanted to hypothesize, prepare, and respond flexibly to unforeseen changes. I thought Boosters was the right place for that.
Q. What was your experience before Boosters?
I've always worked in HR. I learned the basics at Samsung for 8 years. It was a great experience that helped me build a strong foundation. Then, I worked as an HR consultant at Towers Watson, which was a big challenge. I worked the most during that time. Later, I handled HR planning at Hyundai Motor Group and CJ CheilJedang. Particularly at CJ, I was involved in the M&A process of many companies as the head of the global HR team. I lived a busy life, spending more than half a year abroad. It was tough, but I miss those days. Finally, after being the head of HR at a well-known game company and an AI tech startup, I joined Boosters.
Q. What's your goal at Boosters?
My goal is to help everyone at Boosters achieve their own dreams. We're all different, and it's great to see us grow through Boosters. It's rewarding when people achieve their dreams here. Even if some leave before they reach their goals, I hope they'll remember their time at Boosters fondly.
Q. You seem very committed to your work. What's your work philosophy?
I believe in being 'sincere'. Sure, skills and quick thinking matter, but without sincerity, it all feels hollow. I used to want to impress people with my talents. I thought they'd respect me for it. But I learned that it's not so meaningful. If I work just for recognition, I only focus on surface things. I want to focus on what's really important now, what's needed, and what's good to do. Then, sincerity comes naturally.
Q. As the CHRO of Boosters, what's your definition of a leader?
I think a leader is someone who can say the hard truths and make tough decisions. It's not easy to say things people might not like. But as a leader, sometimes you have to. Other times, you have to keep quiet for some reason. That's part of being a leader. You can lead well if you can put aside your personal feelings and face reality.
Q. Any advice for future Boosters members?
While today matters, look forward to tomorrow. We all dream of a better future and want to get closer to it. Boosters is a great place to do that. If you have big goals for the future, you'll enjoy it here a lot.