Edwin Hong, a kedger all-rounder and expert

In his career development, Edwin always keeps an open and inquisitive mindset. Before finding the sector he is passionate about, Edwin tried many different jobs: healthcare provider, foreign company executive, fund manager at an investment bank, chief operating officer of a game company, etc. In his view, one should try all kinds of things when young, as it will help one see clearly one’s own advantages and passions and find the right professional direction to stay committed to. His own interests in business administration also embodies such a mindset. In 2018, he got enrolled in the SJTU-KEDGE Global MBA programme and is now a participant of KEDGE Euro-Asia Executive DBA programme. He is convinced that one should never stop learning. He also believes that being an all-rounder will help him be an expert.

From Healthcare Provider to Headhunter Company CEO: Try Different Things to Find A Career Path

In 2010, together with his partner, Edwin co-created ISK (Isaac & Kenneth Associates China), a headhunter company specialised in seeking talents for high-and-mid level positions. Despite his insufficient knowledge in this field at that moment, Edwin found himself quickly adapted by virtue of his rich business experience and proactive attitude of learning. He has been working in this sector for more than a decade now and ISK has grown into a well-recognized headhunter company. It keeps expanding and upgrading itself and has started serving clients from Asia-Pacific region beyond China since this year.

Few people could identify their advantages and passions right from the start. Edwin confessed that he had also tried different things before committing himself to headhunting. However, he was never forced into any decisions because of market trends, rather he wisely seized opportunities that came his way. He was once a healthcare provider before joining the marketing and medical departments of an international pharma company. Upon his return from France, he worked at an investment bank leading a medical fund. He later worked as the COO of a game company and contributed to its public listing before starting his own business.

“I am of the view that one should try different things when young, and embrace opportunities with an open and inquisitive mindset. Some decisions might seem to be wrong at the moment, however, every piece of experience and knowledge accumulated during the process will form a part of you, making your world a complete one. You will thus see more clearly your advantages and passions, which will help you identify a career path that is worth committing yourself to.”

By trying different things, Edwin gained rich work experience, far-sighted strategic vision and financial capital needed for starting up a company. Therefore, when the opportunity of co-creating a headhunter company came his way, Edwin was confident and capable enough to take on this new challenge, and finally found the professional path that he wanted to stay committed to.

MBA Study: Enjoy Learning while Stay Curious

While he was studying in France, Edwin also applied for and was enrolled in an MBA programme. However, he chose to return to China first for the sake of his personal development and did not finish his MBA study. Edwin always wanted to finish what he had started. Therefore, he decided to return to campus in 2018 when ISK was sailing smoothly. On one hand, he would be able to finish what he had started; on the other hand, he would freshen up his management knowledge to run the business better.

After careful research, he chose the SJTU-KEDGE Global MBA programme for the following reasons: first, his study experience in France makes him fond of French culture and creates a deep connection between him and the country; second, he trusts KEDGE and SJTU, both being old world-renowned schools; third, the lecture venue is relatively close to his home and company with convenient transportation, which makes things easier given his busy schedule.

Looking back at this 2-year MBA study, Edwin spoke highly of both the lecture quality and learning atmosphere:

• This programme covers a wide range of subjects. For subjects he’d been familiar with (e.g. organizational behavior, leadership), Edwin gained new insights by having in-depth discussions with professors; for subjects he’d lacked understanding (e.g. accounting, marketing), he acquired knowledge and skills in a systematic manner.
  
  
• Apart from study, Edwin met with like-minded people as well. Different from colleagues at work, his classmates in the lecture room were more communicative, direct and not afraid of speaking their mind during discussions. Edwin believes that genuine feedback is of great value and serves as a precious reference. Moreover, as a manager himself, he learned to be a better listener and had opportunities to find more unique and innovative ideas.

Additionally, the International Business Seminar offered by the Programme elevated Edwin’s cultural sensitivity and empathy, which are necessary soft skills for him to promote ISK business globally.

 According to Edwin, learning is in itself an enjoyable process. The MBA Programme helped him grow and inspired him to stay curious. Being a participant of KEDGE Business School Euro-Asia Executive DBA programme, he hopes that he will explore further to translate practical experience into theories, reap academic research fruits and use his scientific theories and recommendations to support more people.

New Goal for ISK: Accompany the Growth of Outlooking Chinese Companies

The COVID-19 pandemic presented many companies with a difficult choice at the end of 2019: to downsize, stay unchanged or expand? Confronted with multiple uncertain factors including raw materials, supply chain, human resources, policies and regulations, many companies chose to fend off downward pressures by cutting costs. Edwin chose the opposite. With new branches set up in the Republic of Korea and Singapore, ISK officially begins its business in the Asian Pacific region beyond China. At present, the overall size of the ISK is twice as large as that of three years ago.

Edwin believes that ISK, as a service company, has an asset-light operation model, which is an advantage in itself. The growth of ISK hinges more on its potential to expand its client base and to increase its impact rather than its ability to control cost. With favorable policies offered by the Belt and Road Initiative, ISK’s expansion into the overseas market will not only allow it to bring in foreign talents for domestic companies, but also help domestic companies to develop abroad. The ultimate goal of ISK is to serve outlooking Chinese companies.

When asked about challenges encountered in overseas expansion, Edwin said that their immediate yet surmountable challenges include language and communication, IT technical coordination, administration issues between the headquarter and branches. In general, he is confident in the overseas development of ISK. Although executive managers are more cautious about their decisions to change jobs given the volatile global situation, new economic growth points will bring more opportunities for the human resource market as new industries grow and favorable policies are issued.

Future Plan & Personal Advice for Potential MBA Participants

 “A bowl of rice and a gourd dipper of water will be sufficient.” Edwin sums up his expectations for the future with this ancient Chinese quote. His own definition of success is broader as his life entered a new phase, in particular after the outbreak of the pandemic. Although his career is the anchor of his life, he yearns for inner happiness more than ever. Edwin plans to spend more time with his family. Meanwhile he will spend more time on his hobbies, such as yoga, badminton, piano, Kunqu opera and so on.

In response to career development questions that alumni raised, Edwin's suggestion is to start with yourself. In other words, to find the thing that your passion and strength lie in, and commit yourself to it. At the same time, you need to learn and explore more, and try to be an all-rounder. In this ever-changing era, an expert that has knowledge of other sectors will undoubtedly be more competitive and have higher job security.

For those who are hesitant about an MBA programme, Edwin believes that education is an investment rather than a gamble. To study is undoubtedly the best investment when you are financially capable and mentally well prepared. The sooner you start, the more efficient your study will be. Of course, to choose an MBA programme that suits you is also important, therefore, you must know your needs clearly.

During his MBA study, Edwin founded the Talent Development Club, which aims at providing a platform for KEDGE alumni and current students to interact and communicate with each other and learn about human resource management and career development. Recently, the Club held successively two excellent thematic sharing sessions, focusing on "Career Development Planning" and "Organization Design and Enterprise Reform" respectively.

As the president of the Club, Edwin plans to invite more heavyweight speakers in the field of human resources to communicate with alumni in different formats, including training, salon and workshop. It is his hope that he could use his own expertise to provide more people with useful information and food for thought.

China China MBA