Woo Chun (Woo) Shim

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

“I believe in the quote “Action is Eloquence.”

Hometown: Yong-In, South Korea

Fun Fact About Yourself: My friends call me “Mr. Organic.” It interests me to observe which groceries and cereals dominate the shelves at a supermarket. I grow tomatoes, basils, lettuce at home, and I go out for a “weekend-farm” in my field with my family.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University – Government, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Hanwha Corporation – Nitrate Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In my previous employment, I was able to research organic fertilizer consumption and distribution channels in Korea and imported Sri Lankan castor meal to distribute to local manufacturers of organic fertilizer. Prior to this event in Korea, castor meal was only used in limited quantities, but now it has become of the most important sources of organic fertilizers. I believe I was part of a team that made a small contribution to lowering the price of commercial organic fertilizer products in Korea.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? All of the classmates I’ve met not only accept differences but also value diversity. They are open to new ideas and they place importance in paying attention to the experience of others. They are one of the most approachable group of people I’ve met so far.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I had a very specific set of requirements for the MBA program that I would be attending: a program located in a country with active mining and agribusiness sectors. My professional background in mining/mining chemicals combined with the family business in fertilizer distribution naturally led me to apply to Rotman, one of the most prestigious business schools in Canada. Canada exports fertilizer materials to more than 70 countries, accounting for more than 10% of the global fertilizer supply. Moreover, many global mining companies have their headquarters in Canada. Coming from both mining services and agribusiness backgrounds, I felt that coming to Canada for business education seemed natural.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Given my experiences in the chemical and mining industries in both Asia and Latin America, I look forward to adding fresh perspectives in the Energy and Natural Resources Association. I would like to find out together with fellow classmates what careers and business opportunities there are in these fields for MBA graduates.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? “Tell us about a challenging situation that you faced?”

Of all the expected questions I prepared, this one was not on the list. However, I was able to describe one of the most recent stories of failure (which I have many) that I wanted to erase from my memory: a product supply tender for one of the Asian governments, which my company won but could not deliver the product within the specified time.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Although my previous position was mostly satisfactory in many regards, I always felt that I needed to fill the academic gap to become an effective leader in any organization. My career so far has been focused on sales and marketing. When I stayed temporarily in Chile to support Hanwha’s operation in 2019, I realized that finance, strategy, and HR are all essential aspects to running an efficient business. I couldn’t wait longer for the right time.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? University of Chicago (Booth)

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Besides location, the program had to be truly global in all measures. I took a careful look at the class profile of each business school, which can be found on a website or brochures. It was an important indicator to me whether I would be listening to diverse experiences from many different backgrounds. I found out that Rotman’s student body is comprised of 50% internationals and that seemed to me as a great mix.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I left Korea to become a high school exchange student in the U.S. When I was accepted to the exchange program, I struggled with the decision to accept the offer, leaving it until the last minute – due to my fear I would not be welcomed there. At that crucial moment, my mother encouraged me to take a risk that would expand my world view. I followed her advice and found that, in contrast to my fears, I enjoyed the American high school and education so much I completed both high school and college in the U.S. Without taking the action to study abroad, I would not have had the life-changing experiences living in a new country has allowed me to do, including swimming competitively on my high school team, learning to speak English and Spanish, and forming friendships with people from radically different backgrounds.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I want to become a leader who creates transformational change in the agribusiness community in Korea. My vision is to help shift Korean farming practices towards more organic methods by achieving a price and ease of application that is on par with chemical fertilizers.