2023–24 Cohort
Be the Key: Ten Korean Women on Careers, Culture, and Identity
"Be the Key" is a deeply human and refreshingly honest exploration of what it means to shape a career, a sense of self, and a purpose—across cultures, expectations, and moments of doubt.
Written by ten Korean women whose professional journeys span journalism, technology, recruitment, sustainability, automobile, pharmaceuticals, and finance, this collection of essays forms a layered portrait of modern womanhood, leadership, and quiet strength. From confronting patriarchal norms and navigating motherhood to negotiating promotions in rigid corporate environments, these stories reflect persistence, reinvention, and growth.
The authors first met through the British Embassy in Seoul and the British Chamber of Commerce's EMPOWER program, later expanding their reflections with support from the Australia-Korea Foundation in Melbourne.
Rather than a prescriptive success manual, Be the Key offers something quieter and more enduring: voices of women who lead with clarity, adapt through uncertainty, and find power in connection over competition.
Blurbs from Readers
If you are invested in seeing South Korea thrive in the coming decades, then I suggest you read this book. The stories provide valuable insights into the role that women will need to play in moving the country forward, as well as the challenges that must be understood and addressed.
This book is for anyone interested in really understanding contemporary Korea. If you work with, engage with or just wish to understand the realities of Korean society, this book can be your guide. It outlines the challenges faced by women but particularly highlights the enormous potential of a generation of highly educated, highly motivated, and powerful women. There is heartbreak, surprise, and many things to admire in this book. But ultimately, these stories are hopeful.
We tend to focus on a small number of global super-leaders and powerful Chaebol bosses, but understanding the experiences of these talented women feels more important now than ever. The contributors are important stakeholders in Korea’s future, and their stories need to be heard. I am delighted that JLR could support this initiative and that I had the opportunity to meet the amazing women whose personal journeys make Be the Key such a powerful read.
Be the Key is a moving collection of stories by women reshaping Korea’s professional landscape with quiet strength and clarity. A powerful reminder of how personal journeys can drive collective change.
누구보다 일에 진심입니다만
"누구보다 일에 진심입니다만" is a motivational book aimed at women contemplating their careers and futures. It features stories from various professional women from the 2023 EMPOWER cohort who share their experiences, challenges, and insights about their work and personal lives.
The book emphasizes the importance of passion and dedication in overcoming societal biases and personal obstacles. By sharing their journeys, these women aim to inspire and empower others to pursue their career goals with confidence and resilience.
Blurbs from Readers
이 책은 대한민국 커리어우먼 10명의 현실적인 일상과 고민을 담고 있습니다. 평범하지만 특별한 이들의 이야기가 독자들에게 공감과 영감, 날개를 선사할 것 으로 믿습니다. 이 여성들을 만나고 그들의 이야기를 들을 수 있게 된 것은 저 에게 큰 기쁨이자 영광이었습니다. 한국 사회에서 직장 생활을 하는 그들의 어 려움을 조금이나마 이해할 수 있게 되었고, 나아가 다른 여성들의 커리어 성장 을 도울 수 있는 더 나은 남성 지지자(Male Ally)가 되고자 합니다.
각 분야에서 성공한 여성들의 화려한 겉모습과 달리 실제의 터프한 생활과 그 위치에 이르기까지의 어려움에 대하여 진솔하게 쓰인 책입니다. 워라밸이 중시 되는 요즘 세상과 어울리지 않는듯 보이지만, 나의 길을 찾고자 고민하는 모든 이들에게 좋은 가이드가 될 것입니다.
이 책은 현재 위치에 오르기까지 막대한 용기와 회복탄력성을 보여준 놀라운 여성들의 경험을 한데 모은 직장 여성들의 필독서입니다. 한국 및 글로벌 독자 들이 이 책을 통해 영감과 용기를 얻고, 작가들을 롤 모델 삼아 자신의 꿈을 향 해 나아갈 수 있는 힘을 얻길 바랍니다.
각계 리더들의 실제 경험에서 우러난 통찰이 담긴 이 책은 젊은 한국 여성들과 사회 초년생 직장인들에게 힘이 되어줄 것입니다. 이 성장하는 여성 리더 10인 의 이야기는 한국 사회와 비즈니스계에 포용성과 다양성을 더욱 확장하는 데 도움이 될 것으로 믿습니다.