Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:32:56 +0100WeeblyFri, 12 Dec 2025 15:57:28 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/publication-female-leadership-in-koreaWe are pleased to announce the publication of our paper on Female Leadership in Korea (“𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮” (Organizational Dynamics, 2025)). 📝

As a woman myself, I feel honored to contribute even a small part to this important topic. Listening to the interviewees deepened my understanding and reminded me how vital it is to consciously direct our attention💡 to these issues. Only by doing so can we collectively shape a reality that reflects the inclusive and empowering environment we want to see and live in.

Proud to have collaborated with AHK Korea (Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry)’s Women in Korea (WIR) community 🙏, who generously supported and helped make this research possible. This partnership enabled us to look more closely at how 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀, 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗪𝗜𝗥 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤝, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 🌱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 🌏.

We are especially grateful to the WIR participants who shared their time and reflections. Their perspectives brought real depth to the study and highlight how supportive communities can open up more inclusive leadership pathways 🚀.

Thank you to all involved for making this study possible 💛.

The article is openly accessible until January 5th, 2026. 
Between tradition and modernity – The overlooked dimension of informal networks in female leadership in Korea - ScienceDirect
​]]>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:32:48 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/sometimes-it-takes-living-somewhere-completely-different-to-realize-how-much-our-normal-is-just-a-matter-of-perspective
​Living in a country different from where you were born and raised confronts you with entirely new ways of thinking, values, and norms, showing that nothing is truly “𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛.”

This topic has always been close to me, but a recent conversation with someone I connected with reminded me how tangible these lessons can be.
Even when you’ve settled in, there are moments when you reflect on your own identity .

Having spent roughly half my life between Korea and Germany, perspective shifts have always felt natural to me. Still, when I listened to her story of moving between European countries, I found myself thinking, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒. 

Someone had apparently remarked to her, judging only by her appearance, “You must have lived abroad for a long time.” The irony, of course, was that she wasn’t even from Germany in the first place.

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆  isn’t something we’re born with - it’s something we gain by 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 what we once thought was “𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙”. In a global and diverse work environment, this mindset - being aware that our perspective is only one among many - is invaluable. It helps us lead with empathy , communicate across cultures, and keep growing beyond what we once considered “normal.”
 
 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒?]]>Thu, 09 Mar 2023 16:12:22 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/the-right-time-to-move
Why it is crucial to know and stand by one's own opinions and values💖? I frequently observe that people are afraid to embrace 🙏 change.
 
"But most people believe that one must 👈 stay in a job for at least three years. I can't do anything about it."
 
It is surprising that many still believe this, especially in today's world where the literal meaning of change is happening 🐛 🦋 every day.

The more I discuss this topic with people, the more I realize that individuals tend to remain in a job out of fear rather than consciously acknowledging their situation and pursuing their path, even though they know they have wanted to leave 🤢 for a long time.
 
I am not suggesting that everyone should switch jobs as often as possible. However, for those who already "know" they want to pursue a different 🚶‍♀️ path, I would like to ask this question:
 
"When is the right time to shape one's life as one desires? What if most people follow the crowd 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 🏃‍♂️ , ↔ and everyone is afraid of being wrongly labeled by the crowd 👥?"]]>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:05:41 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/manage-with-vulnerability
​Dear Managers, are you feeling overwhelmed 😫 with responsibilities and pressure to effectively lead your team 👩‍👦‍👦 👨‍👧‍👧 ? It's time for some good news! Consider the following for a more positive impact on your team:

🐛    Exhibiting vulnerability and emotions can have a positive impact 👍 on your team
🦋    In fact, admitting your limitations 😨 and allowing your emotions 😢 to show requires bravery and demonstrates your commitment to being a more holistic🧘‍♀️ leader, rather than simply being consumed by ego-driven ☝ challenges
🐛 ​   Your team is there to support 💪 you on a human level and this can strengthen the team dynamic

The chance to elevate your leadership 💝 and boost team morale is yours for the taking. By embracing vulnerability and authenticity, you can foster a more open and supportive 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 work environment where your team feels comfortable sharing their own challenges and limitations 😱. And remember, your team may already be aware of your own challenges and limitations, but showing bravery in admitting them can only strengthen 🎈 the relationships and trust within the team. Lead with confidence and let your team have your back🙏.
  ]]>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 19:21:07 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/you-do-not-have-to-tolerate-this-behavior
​Do you experience being belittled and not respected by your manager(s)? Here are some possible reasons for this behavior:

🙎‍♀️ The manager(s) may be afraid that their own accomplishments and image will be belittled
🙎‍♂️ The manager(s) may not be receiving recognition from their superiors
🙎‍♀️ The manager(s) may be seeking validation and proof that they are special (You will laugh, but that happens sometimes!)
🙎‍♂️ The manager(s) may not know how to lead and manage effectively

In any case, remember that:

😰 You do not have to tolerate this behavior. Even if all of the reasons were legitimate, it does not excuse mistreatment of others. We should be working together as equals.
🙅‍♂️ It is not necessarily your fault that the manager(s) are behaving in this way.
🙋‍♂️ You do not have to belittle yourself. You have the right to stand up for your values and dignity.
🤜 You do not have to see yourself as an adversary towards your manager(s). Instead, seek a conversation. Often, problems can be resolved through dialogue more quickly than expected. Even if it doesn't work out immediately, you will gain a better understanding of the background.
🏃‍♂️ If the situation does not change, you can always make the right decision for yourself.]]>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 17:10:33 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/this-will-save-you-a-lot-of-headaches
​I often observe that managers and supervisors tend to believe they need to "educate" 👨‍✈️ their employees, leading to conflicts and a lack of respect. Micromanagement can lead to decreased motivation 😫 , dissatisfaction, and lack of communication among employees. Don't ignore these signals! ⚠ A lack of trust and respect given to employees ↔ causes them to lose trust in their managers 🤷‍♀️.

Here, open communication and a willingness 🐛 to change 🦋 is important. It takes courage and a shift in mindset to truly understand and 🙏learn from your team. Without equal communication, employees will not share their true opinions 🤐. Unfortunately, often, by the time this realization is made, it is too late 😅 as the employee has already internally resigned 🕺.

For employees: Speak up 👄 to your managers, from personal experience, I can tell - it's worth it. If change does not happen, you can still make the decision that is best for you.]]>Wed, 11 Jan 2023 12:43:01 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/you-are-in-control-of-your-life-and-career
​I was sitting in a lobby and waiting for someone. Not too far away, there were two persons 🧔 🧑 in an intensive dialogue. At least, it seemed that way to me, from what I could read on the face of the younger man.

'As a curious person, I've experienced and explored 🎈 diverse industries and learned who I am. Step by step, I had the feeling that I was getting closer to what I really wanted to do. I appreciate the fact that I had the courage to move on when something didn't feel right or meet my expectations.'

As he was speaking, I could observe how the facial expression of the other man was changing. Something must have irritated him. He asked the younger man, 'So, what do you mean you've learned a lot? You need to stick to one job for a long time to learn something.' The shoulders of the younger man drooped 😓.

Without really knowing what the relationship between them was, I was shocked at how someone's dreams were smashed in front of my eyes. If I could, I really wanted to interrupt the conversation. I didn't get the chance, however I wished for the younger man not to give up 💪 on his visions.

If you are experiencing a similar situation, remember that YOU are in control🎡of your life and career. Everybody goes on a unique path and no two people experience the same situation in the same way.]]>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:02:44 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/achieve-your-new-years-goals-with-these-tips
What are your plans for the new year? We tend to plan a lot and set big goals, only to realize that many of them are not achieved in the end. 

Here are some tips which may help you avoiding this mistake for 2023:

1.   Write down the goals you want to achieve.
2.   Think of three to five milestones you must reach to reach the goal.
3.   Break these milestones down into small intermediate steps, such as goals for a month or week.
4.   Take action!

Easier said than done? That's why here are some points that can be helpful:

🏃‍♀️       Start small in implementation: if the ambition is too great, we tend to want to do too much at once. That's the challenge. For instance, if you want to lose weight but haven't done any sports in recent years, it is very unlikely that you will do an hour of sports every day from today (and maintain this plan in the long term).

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧       Set a group for mutual motivation and inspiration.

🎁    Introduce a reward system that works for you. This can also be based on monthly/weekly goal achievement.


What else could help you achieve your goals?]]>Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:55:31 GMThttps://www.highlightfinder.com/blog1/the-only-constant-is-change

A leader of an organization told me about his thoughts regarding personal development and self-realization. ‘In some way, one is selfish because he thinks only about his own goals and needs. I’m not sure whether that idea will help the organization.’
​
In that moment, I realized that we have too different values about jobs and people. I also understood why he might had been staying in one organization his entire life. I also could imagine what he must be thinking when people leave the organization. That was the end of our conversation as I had no further questions. In fact, I wanted to ask him whether he is afraid of embracing changes in his life.
 
The only constant is change. 

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