Overseeing Japanese Operations at a Fast-Growing Global Nail Brand

I currently serve as the Japan Representative for ohora, a Korean nail brand. At ohora, our strength lies in products that deliver affordable, salon-quality nails at home, and an affordable price, and this has earned us a devoted customer base. Though we are still a relatively young brand, having launched in 2021, we've achieved rapid growth, expanding globally from Korea into Japan, North America, China, Taiwan, and beyond.

As ohora's representative in Japan, I oversee all business operations in the country. As the key decision-maker, my responsibilities span everything from business strategy and digital marketing, to B2B sales, finance, legal affairs and HR. My main challenge here is to make sure we don't simply transplant Korean methods to Japan, but instead localize our approach to adapt to the needs of Japanese consumers. Each day brings new challenges which require careful decision-making. However, thanks to the challenge-embracing mindset I developed at ICU, I've learned to enjoy these hurdles as opportunities for growth.

Left: Behind the scenes at a TV commercial shoot. Right: Delivering a talk as a main speaker.

My career path hasn't exactly followed a straight line. Although I majored in physics at ICU, I was drawn to the world of business and after graduation, I spent several years in consulting. This short but intense period of learning business fundamentals proved an invaluable experience. I then began working with the investment fund behind Gong cha, the Taiwanese bubble tea cafe chain, where I drove their expansion in Japan. This position offered me a more hands-on approach to business operations that contrasted with my consulting background.

During this time, I discovered a growing ambition to develop expertise as a business leader, and this prompted my decision to pursue an MBA. I'd noticed how many successful executives had MBAs, and I wanted to experience the same education that had shaped them. I decided to study abroad at Colombia Business School, where I found myself immersed in an incredibly diverse community of professionals--not just consultants and financial experts, but Olympic athletes, Broadway performers, and even politicians, all bringing their unique perspectives from around the globe. Much like my time at ICU, discussions with peers from an array of different backgrounds were incredibly eye-opening and inspiring. After that, I was fortunate to find a position with my current company and take on this role.

Hanging with fellow MBA students.

Choosing ICU Changed the Course of My Life

Throughout my career, personal growth has been a principle that has guided me in my journey. Over time, as my belief in personal growth as a key to happiness grew, I pushed myself to take on and seek new challenges. However, I wasn't always this proactive--it was actually my time at ICU that changed my mindset.

As a high school student in Korea, my original intention was to study science at a university in my home country. Yet, I had some misgivings. These next four years at university would lay the foundation for my future--was I ready to narrow my path so soon? That's when ICU's liberal arts cross-disciplinary educational approach caught my attention, promising both breadth and depth of learning. I felt like I'd found the answer and made the bold decision to pursue my studies in Japan.

At ICU, physics--a subject I'd had an affinity with since high school--remained my focus, but I also became immersed in religion, literature, law, and international relations. The liberal arts approach dissolved my fears about exploring the unknown and I became more adventurous in my studies. Ironically, experiencing such diverse fields helped me understand my own interests even more clearly, which is perhaps one of the greatest advantages of a liberal arts education. I chose physics as my major simply because it brought me the most joy. As I progressed my studies, daily interactions with classmates from around the world continued to challenge my perspectives and values, making every day a discovery.

ICU's unique environment taught me that personal growth comes from embracing new experiences and connecting with new people. This insight led me to pursue even more diverse perspectives at University of California, Berkeley, through ICU's exchange program. There, I met classmates who challenged my perception of what was possible, including 16-year-old college freshmen and student entrepreneurs, each pursuing their own ambitious goals. Their influence helped me develop a mindset that not only accepted but welcomed challenges.As I learned that even setbacks contribute to growth, my fear of failure began to fade. This mindset has had a direct influence on my career path, and looking back I can see how entering ICU was the first step that set everything in motion.

It's not only mindset, ICU has fostered my growth in many ways. Japanese language is a prime example. When I first arrived in Japan, I could barely read hiragana, let alone hold a conversation, but through ICU's Japanese Language Program, I made remarkable progress. Within six months, I was able to take regular courses in Japanese. By graduation, my Japanese had become proficient enough to work as a consultant at a professional firm--a level of improvement that surprised even me. While my Korean friends who studied at other Japanese universities all returned home after graduation, my strong Japanese language foundation from ICU opened unique career opportunities for me, significantly influencing my career path.

From his ICU days with students who organized events together.

Amplifying a Volunteer Spirit to Create Broader Social Impact

My immediate goal is to grow ohora from a trend brand into one that Japanese consumers will cherish long-term. We're also exploring possibilities to expand beyond nail products.

Personal growth has been my primary focus to this point, but now I'm shifting more attention toward contributing to others. I've already begun creating networking opportunities for Korean students and young professionals in Japan. Just as ICU helped me forge my path, I hope to help young people discover opportunities that can give them new, positive directions. This extends to my professional role at ohora. As a brand, we want to contribute to people's happiness by making professional beauty accessible to everyone, regardless of time or budget constraints.

Thinking back, I believe this desire to help others was also cultivated at ICU. I frequently saw alumni and professors volunteering their time to support students. From giving lectures to organizing field trips, each visit provided a valuable opportunity to gain a new perspective. One particularly inspiring moment was attending a lecture by Dr. Hirotaka Takeuchi, an ICU alumnus and current chair of the ICU Board of Trustees. His influence actually led me to study at University of California, Berkeley, following in his footsteps. Recently, Dr. Takeuchi organized a business seminar for ICU students and new alumni, creating valuable connections for graduates like myself.

Serving others is a big part of the culture at ICU and it inspired me to become involved in volunteer activities, memories I look back on fondly even now. I gained invaluable experience across a wide range of activities, from supporting international students, to collecting radiation data after the Great East Japan Earthquake and helping refugees from Africa. Now, I hope to amplify that volunteer spirit nurtured at ICU to make an even bigger impact, serving more people and the wider society.

My time at ICU taught me the importance of embracing challenges that can expand your potential. I hope that my experience encourages prospective students to enjoy taking on new challenges and not to fear the unknown. Because stepping outside your comfort zone is exactly what opens up new possibilities!

Global Students：OH, Jun young