PURPOSE
Contributions
Associations
Recognized Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum 2014
So-Young is proud to have been recognized for her work and thought leadership. She is an active YGL contributor to the World Economic Forum through speaking at various WEF events including speaking at Davos, writing thought leadership pieces for the WEF and facilitating events.
The Forum of The Young Global Leaders is a global community of over 800 leaders with the vision, courage and influence to drive positive change. The community is represented by leaders from very diverse backgrounds, experiences, and networks to achieve more together than they could separately.
The mission of the Forum of Young Global Leaders is to create a dynamic global community of exceptional people with the vision, courage and influence to drive positive change in the world.
One of the founders of SEA Founders, one of the largest networks of Series A-B tech founders in Southeast Asia
SEA Founders is a membership organization of Series A/B tech founders across Southeast Asia (SEA) to connect, reflect, learn and grow.
Our mission is to support founders on the often lonely journey through education, shared experiences like Founders’ Coaching Pause (FCP), local forums and expert networks to build a stronger ecosystem to support startups to grow and scale in a values-based way. So-Young co-founded FCP with Peng and Roger in 2015 and it’s been exciting to see it evolve into SEA Founders.
HBS Alumni, Club of Singapore
“We educate leaders who make a difference in the world.” – Mission of the Harvard Business School.
So-Young had the privilege of attending Harvard Business School from 2002-2004 and is a proud member of Section A having served as its Senator. She remains an active member of the alumni association and community through mentoring, hosting and volunteering.
Founder of Asian-American Business Association (AABA)
Harvard Business School in 2003
The Asian American Business Association (AABA) provides a forum for the promotion, understanding, and cross-cultural exchange of East Asian and Asian American business, social, academic, cultural, political, and community-related initiatives.
So-Young was one of the original founders of AABA and served as it’s first Co-President from 2003-2004 until she graduated in 2004.
Source: Original AABA logo, 2003
McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm that serves leading businesses, governments, non governmental organizations, and not-for-profits. So-Young was at the firm from 2004-2008 based out of Los Angeles, CA and served as the North American Head of the Finance Service Transformation line.
She was an active part of the Technology, Media and Telecom practice serving clients including Microsoft, Seagate, and BMC Software.
Boards
The Young Professionals' Group (YPG)
Co-Founder
Founded in 2000, the mission of The Young Professionals' Group (YPG) is help young people achieve their professional dreams through scholarship and mentorship.YPG has mentored over 150 students across the US, Singapore, Mongolia, and India.
LNKM
Board Member
LNKM is a humanitarian NGO (non-governmental organization) dedicated to helping the people of North Korea (DPRK) improve their daily lives. This goal is directly accomplished through clean water projects, green energy, as well as by providing partner NGO’s (Non Government Organizations) working inside North Korea with appropriate technology solutions. LNKM accomplishes the vision by building relationship bridges between organizations and individuals who desire to help and those doing the work in North Korea (DPRK).
GeniusU (Advisory Board Member)
Starting 2018
GeniusU is the World’s leading entrepreneur education network, with over a million members. The platform provides mentors, microdegrees, events and programs to support members to grow their business. It also connects Impact-focused entrepreneurs to team members and partners aligned to the same UN global goals.
Tower Capital Asia (Senior Advisor, Transformation and Tech)
Starting 2021
Founded in 2016, Tower Capital is a Southeast Asia-focused PE firm that specialises in mid-market investments. As of end-2020, it was managing institutional funds totalling US$450 million.
The Tower Capital PE Fund I will invest in various sectors, including consumer, education, healthcare, manufacturing and business services. Investments will be made in Singapore and opportunistically in the rest of Southeast Asia. The first deal is expected to close this quarter.
Committees
Regional Future Council on the Korean Peninsula
by the World Economic Forum
After a long period of hostility, the Korean Peninsula is going through a profound transition that could fundamentally change the regional geopolitical landscape and unlock the potential for economic collaboration and prosperity. The Regional Future Council on the Korean Peninsula will explore how different stakeholders can work together to build trust and solidify the ongoing peace process, facilitate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s integration into world economy, and create strategic links among economic collaboration initiatives in the region.