Katherine Jo 

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business

“Always curious, with a passion for helping businesses solve complex problems and navigate complex markets.”

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m pretty sure I can recite the entire dialogue of The Lord of the Rings extended movie trilogy and explain the geography of Middle Earth better than I can of our actual Earth.

Undergraduate School and Major: Emory University, Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: ALM Media LLC, Bureau Chief (Asia)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being the host for ALM’s black-tie corporate awards galas in Hong Kong and Beijing (presenting in front of 250 people) twice a year—what better way to get over my fear of public speaking? I learned the ins-and-outs of organizing glamorous events, and the team always executed them so well that we smashed revenue targets and submission records year-on-year. In fact, during my final season, we won over a headline sponsor from our main APAC competitor and received more than 1,000 entries.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Extremely well-rounded. Clever, cool people I’d be proud to bring to the table. I’ve been truly impressed with how resourceful and collaborative the class is as well.

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? The location. Washington, DC’s intersection of business and policy was a huge draw for me. The McDonough School of Business offers MBA candidates the opportunity to earn the Landegger International Business Diplomacy Certificate in conjunction with Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. This goes hand-in-hand with the four years I spent breaking down the impact of China’s corporate and investment laws as the youngest-ever editor of China Law & Practice, a magazine that has guided foreign/multinational companies through China’s complex regulatory landscape since 1987. (Interestingly, its copies have been on the shelves of the Georgetown law school library, a loyal subscriber, for over a decade). I’m here to continue building on my passion for business and politics and applying this integrated mindset to my work. This is the perfect place to do that.

Additionally, in terms of lifestyle, I’ve lived in big cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, and Seoul) my entire life. DC hits that sweet spot of letting me have my much-needed break from all the fast-paced craziness, while also being a city that still has it all.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? It’s hard to narrow down to one, but I’m perhaps most excited to get involved with Out@MSB and engage with the broader business LGBT community, which is something I didn’t get to do much of back in Asia. I joined ROMBA on the Consulting & General Management networking trek to Chicago over the summer, when I got an up-close look at how companies in the US not only celebrate but also actually implement diversity & inclusion. So, I’m glad to have this meaningful opportunity to dive into and learn from the community here. I also can’t wait for the 2019 ROMBA Conference in October—it’ll be my first time heading back to Atlanta since college!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Identifying my top strength and weakness. (To be honest, I still find this to be one of the tougher interview questions.) I had no trouble speaking confidently about all of my achievements and aspirations, but when it came to fundamentally defining myself, things just didn’t come naturally in the beginning. I did a tremendous amount of soul searching throughout my entire MBA application prep. At the end of the day though, authenticity is key. Professor Christine Porath effectively summarized this need for introspection on Day 1 of our MBA, kicking off orientation with a reference to Marshall Goldsmith’s book, What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? What I loved most about my job was that I was always learning. I was unraveling the intricacies of China’s business environment to provide premium subscription content, while simultaneously leading the APAC initiatives of a US media firm that was operating in highly competitive and nuanced regional markets. In other words, as the bureau chief of my publication, I was responsible for presenting solutions and strategies—both at the micro and macro level—constantly.

I had carved out a niche with this experience, which I leveraged against the evolving US-China geopolitical dynamic to pitch my candidacy for a globally-renowned MBA program. The Georgetown name resonates worldwide. And the timing couldn’t have been better, especially as I was feeling more prepared than ever to transition and pursue a long-term career in strategy consulting.

But before embarking on that journey, I made sure to check a few things off first. I went on adventures, including hiking on active volcano lava fields in Hawaii, swimming with wild dolphin pods in the Pacific Ocean, skydiving (twice!), flying to Berlin and Budapest on a whim, and successfully learning to drive manual in Hong Kong.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Developing a closer bond with my father in recent years and repositioning my values. Embracing the truest sense of gratitude and humility, for every sacrifice made and risk taken that has allowed me to be where I am today.

How do you see yourself in ten years? Fulfilled, happy, and accomplished. Leading a successful career at a global consulting firm that I have grown and made an impact in, serving and mentoring within my community, and treasuring my family, friends, and my amazing German Shepherd.