Sofia is from South Korea and graduated from Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Central Saint Martins.
Why did you choose to study Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?
It’s all about the curiosity of ‘What happens when you mix an arts school with a business school?’. This intriguing idea motivated me to embark on an unconventional academic journey at CSM, with the goal of developing my own approach to tackling unexpected and diverse issues across organisations, ultimately preparing myself for leadership in the near future. Based on the intellectual exploration developed throughout the course, I was finally able to satisfy my curiosity by delving into the research question of my dissertation: ‘How to design a new approach that incorporates human-centric thinking into data-driven decision-making’.
What have you been working on since graduating?
With the aim of learning high-end clienteling, I decided to transition my career into a new field, watchmaking. Unlike the dynamic and fast-paced fashion world, the watch industry, which values precision and craftsmanship, presented me with the challenge of adapting to a new organisational culture. Acclimating to new circumstances requires significant effort, but once I embrace differences and appreciate diversity, it allows me to broaden my horizons. This lesson, which I learned during the course, continues to help me successfully expand my career in the new sector since my graduation.
Furthermore, as part of my self-directed learning, I have recently developed a deep interest in neuroscience to further advance my research on collaborative intelligence between humans and AI. To better understand humans through the lens of brain and cognitive sciences, I have been reading relevant books and participating in a book club led by a renowned professor of brain and cognitive sciences in Korea.
What was the most interesting project you worked on during your time on the course?
The first project, where we created a business model for the not-for-profit arts organisation NPA, supporting early-career artists, is the most memorable because it helped me realise the importance of 'cultivating multiple perspectives', which had a lasting impact throughout the course. The project aimed to develop new forms of curation that facilitate dialogue between the commercial and creative sectors within a non-profit organisation. Therefore, one of the key elements of operating this organisation should be donations, and articulating its value is crucial for ensuring sustainable support. Being familiar with profit-driven organisations, however, my initial approach was to focus on how to generate profit by merely 'using' the talents of artists. This significant gap was identified during an in-depth interview with artists, which enabled me to put myself in their shoes. Building on this shift in perspective, thanks to the real voices of artists, our team agreed to change our objective from emphasising NPA’s added value to commercial business, to making a meaningful impact on artists’ lives and communities at large, thereby bringing public and social value.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
If you aspire to become a leader equipped for future work environments, the MBA course at CSM will provide solutions by exploring creative and innovative approaches to drive positive change in a complex world. Specifically, based on design and systems thinking, you can expect to develop a holistic approach to addressing various business challenges.
In addition, through this learning process, you will uncover two crucial points: while collaborative group work enables you to learn from peers throughout the course, a self-directed live project or dissertation in the final stage allows you to structure your own ideas and develop a coherent argument, serving as the culmination of your learning journey.
What was the highlight of your Central Saint Martins experience?
I highly appreciate its creative ethos, which fosters a learning environment that values mutual respect for each other's ideas and active listening to one another’s perspectives. In my experience, this academic atmosphere is evident in various areas around CSM, where students can engage in discussions, share resources, and collaborate on projects. In particular, the library supports a collaborative learning environment and offers a wide range of materials covering a broad spectrum of subjects. I believe this is one of the core foundations that supports the development of creative and critical thinking.
What is the most important thing you learnt on the course?
The power of self-reflection! Of course, it’s really helpful to learn business and management-related theories and conduct a case study to apply them in the real world. In addition to this knowledge, however, having the proper mindset for handling problems or challenges in an organisation is also important to me. In this context, I try to undertake self-examination to identify the root causes or areas for improvement in given situations, which helps reduce conflicts with others and has enabled me to work more efficiently. This approach was developed through a number of reflective essays I wrote throughout the course, which encouraged me to examine my experiences, learn from my mistakes, and adapt my behaviour accordingly, ultimately leading to both personal and professional growth.
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