Inside Promega
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Today we’ll meet Jung Ah Kim, a Strategic Sales Manager for Promega Korea.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
I graduated with a PhD in molecular biology. I was originally a researcher for around 17 years, so I was a person who believed only if it had a basis and I had to verify every time before starting to do something.
As I moved on to the commercial part from the research, I learned that I should just start on something although it’s ambiguous or unknown. And then, I can learn from it even if it fails. I’ve learned that a failure is not only a failure, but much more than that. I think that this has helped me to lead the business more challenging and stronger than anyone else.
Tell us a little bit about what your role is at Promega.
I have been responsible for a Genetic Identity Product Manager and the sales and technical support for forensic customers since 2015. I joined Promega as a Technical Scientist at first. After working for 6 months, I transferred my job role to as a Genetic Identity (GI) Product Manager and Technical Support. At the moment, I’m also responsible for sales for all GI products. At first, it was a challenge and an interesting thing to me because I was doing everything by myself in Korea., but now that I have a team that I can work with, I will be able to create more opportunities and expand the business.
What does a typical day for you look like?
I think my life has changed after the Covid-19 pandemic. I‘m caring more about my health. When it comes to daily life, like all workers, we get up in the morning, get ready for work, go to exercise on the way home from work, go home and play with my dogs before falling asleep. On my days off from work, I go hiking, take a walk with my friends, or play a round of golf (I'm obsessed with golf recently). Of course, I also go for a walk with my cute puppies. There are still not many places in Korea where you can go with dogs, so I go outside the city and find a park where I can go with my dogs on a weekend.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
What I like the most about my job is meeting customers and being able to offer resolutions to them, and growing together in their work is the most rewarding and enjoyable thing. And to provide those solutions, Promega has great colleagues, especially on the Genetic Identity part of the business.
When a problem happens and I can't solve it, my very experienced colleagues and I will think about it together, find a solution together and give a resolution to my customers. I feel proud and grateful to be able to work with my colleagues.
Where do you want to travel to, but have never been?
I haven't been to South Africa and South America.
I've only been to Morocco in North Africa once, and I can't forget the night in the Sahara Desert. I saw countless stars in the night sky and a huge moon. The night sky was so beautiful that I thought the moonlight was so bright. This scene is something that have never seen in Korea. Its freshness and difference make me want to travel again.
I have usually traveled in the same Asian region, the United States, and Western Europe. I found that there were many travel information and similar cultures to Korea. I'm familiar with their lifestyle, culture and circumstances, but I think Africa and South America are definitely different than my country.
However, Africa and South America are too far from where I live, so I usually choose places that are close to my country when I travel. But they rae the places I'd like to travel to if I get a chance someday.
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
If I can have dinner with someone, I would have dinner with my deceased father.
Before he passed away, he had been confined to the hospital for 10 years due to a long struggle with a disease. Now, I believe that he is in heaven where he has better food and a better place to live in. I miss my father’s smile and having dinner with him.
If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
“A traveler” in my life I still consider my life a traveler... I think of life as a journey, and good things happen when you go to good places, and bad things happen when you go to bad places. Life is about living on the path I choose.
“A researcher” While researching through college and graduate school, I had no choice but to be a logical and strict person. But as a researcher, I think it was a very good tendency. Even now, I am thinking about the customer's experiments and want to share their success as a researcher. “A dog lover” I've had dogs since I was young. One of them died after living with me for 21 years. She was a member of my family. The dogs have become important friends and family in my life. I like their intimacy and communion with them. Whenever I come back home, they always welcome me and express joy that I am home.
What was the last thing you heard or saw which made you laugh out loud?
II can laugh out loud because of my dogs. My dogs are smart and get what they want. They pretend to be sick by not wanting to take a bath. One of them acts as if she can't eat the snacks by herself, hoping that I cut them one by one with my hands. Another dog asks for a treat, stands on two feet like a human. They make me laugh a lot and I have fun while living with the dogs.
Name two songs that would be on the soundtrack of your life.
After contemplating whether to choose music that has meaning or music that I enjoy listening to, I decided to choose one music that I enjoy listening to.
1. Fly Me to the Moon: I don't know why I like this song. When I was young, I loved the song on the radio and hummed it without understanding the lyrics. Maybe I wanted to be like Audrey Hepburn. It is the first English song I've ever learned in my life. I remember practicing Jazz diligently to sing in a jazz style. I think that was the first attempt to learn something other than research.
2. Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Listening to this music makes me feel at ease and gives me courage. It's one of the songs I enjoy listening to whenever I'm having a hard time, but this time it came out on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and became my favorite song. I seem to have endured while listening to this music, and I think that I can survive it when I can't see the end of my long research life, when it feels like I'm going through a long tunnel.
What is your favorite sport to watch?
I like to watch soccer matches. Originally, I didn't like it that much, but after the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002, some good Korean players like Heung-min Son came out. I can't forget the enthusiasm and emotion at that time. For the first time in the 2002 World Cup, Korea has achieved the myth of advancing to the semifinals. If you are Korean, you will never forget the 2002 World Cup. At that time, everyone became Red Devils (Korean soccer team supporters) and roamed the streets. Afterwards, international matches featuring the Korean national team will make my heart race and I will smile and cry with my team.
Thanks Jung Ah for this little insight! If you have questions for Jung Ah or about Promega, please ask!
