Dear Workplace

About 70-90 percent of mergers and aquisitions (M&As) fail within their first year. Why? Despite being a longstanding business strategy, M&As continue to stumble. In the coming weeks, we'll explore this complex world and uncover why M&As are so challenging, and how we can improve. Our first guest in this series is Jennifer J. Fondrevay, known as the "M&A Whisperer." With three M&A experiences in major global companies, Jennifer identified patterns that define M&A success or failure. Her key insight? It all starts with prioritizing people. Join us on Dear Workplace by InnovatorsBox to learn how to transform your M&A journey into a success story. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

After years in finance and business, Sam Paik noticed a troubling trend: overwork starting from childhood. Reflecting on the importance of childhood play and creativity, Sam saw a gap in the next generation's access to these vital experiences. Determined to make a change, he founded several education-focused companies, including Momo Camp. As a serial entrepreneur and educator, Sam is on a mission to revolutionize education, fostering environments where learning, play, and self-expression thrive. Momo Camp, his latest venture, offers a unique opportunity to experience Korea and delve into its history, addressing a significant gap in global education. Join us on Dear Workplace to discover Sam's inspiring journey and his vision for reshaping education and youth programs. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

Have you ever found yourself moved to tears while watching a K-drama? You're not alone, and our guest today is here to explain why! Therapist Jeanie Y. Chang recognized the importance of mental well-being, yet found existing information too clinical and distant. Combining her expertise as a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified clinical trauma professional, Jeanie noticed how conversations about storytelling and K-dramas often broke barriers. Thus, Noona's Noonchi was born. Through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and even in-person tours in Korea, Jeanie's K-drama and mental health content has resonated with over 68k followers, offering a refreshing approach to mental wellness. Join us on Dear Workplace to learn more about how we can rethink mental health through the lens of K-drama and fun. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

Anyonghaseyo! 안녕하세요! We're thrilled to welcome our guest today, Hyunwoo Sun, Founder and CEO of Talk To Me in Korean (TTMIK). Hyunwoo began his Korean language educational services in 2009, recognizing a gap in language learning options. Starting with a meetup in Seoul, he observed limitations in available tools. Understanding the transformative power of language, Hyunwoo aimed to make learning Korean fun, easy, and accessible. Today, TTMIK is a leading Korean language service, with 1.4 million users across 190 countries enjoying their textbooks, YouTube videos, podcasts, and more. Join us on Dear Workplace! Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

What would beer infused with Kimchi, rice, or lemongrass taste like? 'Wholesome' is the word Dokkaebier aims to evoke! Meet Youngwon Lee, Founder and CEO of Dokkaebier. In 2020, he launched this award-winning Asian-inspired brand, his fifth venture in the alcohol industry, to introduce innovation and diversity to craft beer. With only 2 percent of U.S. breweries owned by Asian Americans, according to Brewers Association data from 2023, Youngwon keenly felt the need for representation as he navigated his career in food and beverage. Reflecting on his journey with Dokkaebier, we explore the intricacies of brewing, building a career in the alcohol industry, leadership, and balancing work with family and community service. Dokkaebier has garnered acclaim, named a Rising Star of 2023 by Brewbound and recognized on the Best New Breweries of 2023 list. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

Today, the Korean Wave has swept across the globe, but for many in the Korean diaspora like myself, feeling truly seen hasn't always been the case. What's changed, and how have innovators embraced Korean culture to build thriving businesses? As we launch our new series, 'Falling in Love with Korean Culture,' we're thrilled to begin with the story of muralist Julia Chon, known as 'Kimchi Juice.' Based in Washington, D.C., Julia delves into the interplay between cultural traditions, generational identities, and the choices made by Asian Americans to shape their sense of self. Her artwork, featured in cities like D.C., L.A., MN, and Seoul, reflects collaborations with esteemed clients such as NASA, Apple, and the Smithsonian. With a distinct Korean aesthetic in each piece, Julia seamlessly blends her heritage and traditions with contemporary elements, capturing the intricacies of the Korean diaspora experience. Join us as we explore how innovators like Julia are infusing Korean heritage into their work and businesses. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

Today, most product innovations are focused on two senses: vision and audio. However, this overlooks the experiences of over 2.2 billion people with vision impairment or blindness, leaving them unable to fully engage with the world. When Keith Kirkland first recognized this issue, he was struck by curiosity: How could his passions for fashion, technology, industrial design, and engineering contribute to making a difference? Haptic innovation was the answer, yet it remained largely unknown by many, including Keith himself until later in life. As he delved into building wearable technology, such as his work as the co-founder of WearWorks, Keith discovered the profound impact of understanding touch experiences—vibrations, motions, and applied forces—on users. Today, he leads the charge in redefining touch innovation and invites you to explore the world of haptic technology and innovation. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for the episode shownotes, video, mentioned resources, episode transcripts, and more.

Welcome to our first live conversations at Dear Workplace! I'm excited to share a sneak peek into the special day I had with DC Women Techmakers event in Washington D.C. I hosted on March 25, 2024. Women Techmakers (WTM) is a community program backed by Google and led by local community leaders like myself, and I'm thrilled to have made this event come to life with my friend Megha Sanghvi. As we brought together 20 speakers and 60 participants for a full day of learning, reflecting, and deep discussion of the future of women in technology and AI, we were reminded how change starts here, today and within our own communities. I wanted to capture the inspiring day and also look back at the five months of planning we've done to make this possible. Thank you to all the speakers, friends and fans for making this possible. Learn more at https://www.dcwomentechmakers.org/. Welcome to Dear Workplace as we untangle about the world of AI.

AI has changed how we work, but how much are we keeping up with it? Today's guests are excited to shed some light on today's AI development and how its future is changing. From starting several AI startups to making sense of how to navigate AI skills in the workplace, we'll explore how we can upskill with AI. Meet Stephanie Wong from San Francisco and Alexander Fred-Ojala from Stockholm, Sweden. Both have been leading AI and innovation in their companies and communities for some time and have some insights and wisdom to share with us. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for show notes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

If AI can help everything, what about skincare? You may be surprised, but somebody has thought of that solution and has made headways in how we rethink skincare products and innovation. Meet Yarden Horwitz, co-founder of SPATE, who is changing how we do skincare innovation and market research with the help of AI. Studying the market is key for any product development and today, your product can take years to develop and can become costly. Yarden and her team want to help you rethink that. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for show notes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

AI is everywhere, but how much do you know? I'll be honest. I'm still making sense of it, and today's guests are here to say it's ok! For the next few weeks, we will speak with leaders who are building careers and companies in AI, making sense of the technology and its changes. And today's guests are a special start as we kick off the series. Meet Anne T. Griffin in New York and Andrew Ngui in Kansas City, who are on a mission to democratize AI and technology. So whether you've been doing AI for a long time or just getting started, you're at the right place. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for shownotes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

How can we cultivate better leaders, and why is leadership development so important? In today's conversation, we want to dive into leadership development by meeting two leaders working on L&D in different ways - in international development and technology. While where they are may look different, why they value leadership development and want to encourage you to invest in yourself may resonate. Meet Amanda Bensel from The Asia Foundation and Dr. Janine Lee from Google. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for shownotes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

Why do some people love what they do, and how can they build such careers? Public relations and software engineering are two competitive careers that could lead to burnout but also great success if you do it right. I was curious. Even if you don't choose to work in these fields, there is something important to learn about their journey that you'd want to include in your career development. Meet software engineer Mensur Duraković in Croatia and public relations expert Christina Lu in New York. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for shownotes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

What if I don't have the right connections or a traditional resume? How can I find good jobs and stay calm from all the applying? You're not alone. Many people fall under this category, and we wanted to investigate further what we could do differently. This is the very gap that Jerry Lee and Jonathan Javier wished to address as they started their careers at Google. Learn how Wonsulting started and how they are advocating for underdogs to rise. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for shownotes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

The job market has been weird lately. Despite the growing economy, we still see many layoffs and burnout in the workplace. What is going on, and why is this happening? Is it the right time to find a job? If so, how can I position myself to get the best pay? Luckily, we have Dr. April Willis and Lola Han to shed more light on what we can do better to make sense of this changing job market and how we build careers we can love. Welcome to Dear Workplace. Click here for shownotes, videos, guest information, episode transcripts, and more.

Hello friends. We are thrilled to return with new stories and research to untangle your workplace questions. We hope you have been well. Subscribe today to Dear Workplace by InnovatorsBox®, hosted by the Founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox®, Monica H. Kang. Send us your questions and stories you'd like us to investigate at info@innovatorsbox.com. Learn more at dearworkplace.com.

After interviewing innovators from across the world in countless industries and in countless roles, one thing stuck out - we all have the power to design the life we want. It takes courage, intentionality, and trial and error but it’s so key to have that protagonist mindset. And again, thank you so much again for joining us on this journey together. So are you ready for it? Here let’s dive into the key insights from our guests from Season 2! Subscribe today. Dear Workplace is hosted by Monica H. Kang and InnovatorsBox. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Find summary notes here.

In these past years, while some of us were furloughed or let go, many others have also transitioned, got promoted, or resigned to start their dream jobs. In this episode, I want to dive deeper into the stories of people who have created their own jobs and opportunities both in organizations, and outside on their own, to see what we can learn as we continue to build our own careers and growth opportunities. I sat down with two friends - Ellie Kim and Youngmoo Kim - who carved their own path professionally and explored what challenges and “aha” moments they encountered, as well as what made them do what they did. Their stories and insights are valuable whether you’re looking to start a new career, build a new opportunity where you are, or even want to build something of your own on the side! Subscribe today. Dear Workplace is hosted by Monica H. Kang and InnovatorsBox. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Find summary notes here.

Designing for inclusion - whether it’s technology, a workflow, a product - is incredibly important as we move into the new normal of working. Creating a workplace for all is not an overnight journey, which is why constant care and development is there, but so is our workflow. In this episode, I dive deeper into the aspects of inclusive design with inclusivity experts Richard Reiman and Margaret Park. How do we design a workplace for all in what we create, how we serve, and what we do each day? Well, it doesn’t happen overnight, but doing so will help you attract incredible customers, team members, and more that could’ve been overlooked. Subscribe today. Dear Workplace is hosted by Monica H. Kang and InnovatorsBox. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Find summary notes here. Below are some helpful resources in your journey of inclusive design: Inclusive Design Toolkit Video: RSA Short: Empathy Rethinking Inclusive Design Beyond Technology Disability Inclusion In the Digital Workspace, An Actionable Guide Imagination Video Books

Did you get a full night’s rest last night? Are you eating well? When was the last time you took a true break away from your work? As we reach the end of the year and two years of working in the pandemic, these questions on wellbeing at the workplace are becoming even more important and timely. But it’s one thing to know about how we take care of ourselves, it’s another to think about our team. Our team has multiple people with different feelings, interests, communication styles, and needs. Where do you start with how you support them? How do we know what will work well? In this episode, I asked key leaders, Jacqueline Leeker and Bonnie Kim, how they take care of themselves and their team. And they reminded me how important the intention is, and gave some incredible, actionable tips on how to do better for ourselves and our team. Subscribe today. Dear Workplace is hosted by Monica H. Kang and InnovatorsBox. Learn more at dearworkplace.com. Find summary notes here. Some Resources: https://blog.innovatorsbox.com/rethink-series/ https://blog.innovatorsbox.com/how-to-get-deep-sleep-and-recharge-as-an-innovator/