Jae Hyoung Kim

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Korean, ex-sales guy, hustling in LA., chasing American dreams—work hard, never stop!”

Hometown: Seoul, Korea

Fun fact about yourself: I have traveled to 40 countries across six continents, collecting unforgettable memories along the way. Some of my favorite moments include exploring the vast Sahara Desert in Morocco, watching the Northern Lights from a flight over Norway, and capturing countless fun photos at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. But the best moment? Drinking tequila and partying on a boat with my MBA classmates in Mexico City—though, to be honest, I’m more of a whiskey person!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Sogang University, BA in Mass Communication and BA in Economics

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Before coming to business school, I worked at Samsung Electronics in the Semiconductor Division as a B2B Sales Manager.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? During the summer of 2024, I interned as a Summer Associate at Analysis Group in the Los Angeles office. It was a great opportunity to explore economic consulting and apply a diverse set of skills acquired during my MBA.

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be returning to Analysis Group as an Associate after graduation—super excited!

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Co-President, Korea Business Student Association (KBSA)
• Vice President of Operations, Anderson Student Association (ASA)
• Vice President of International Student, Management Consulting Association (MCA)
• Vice President of Orientation, Anderson Onboarding Committee (AOC)
• Teaching Assistant, Parker Career Management Center

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I participated in the Global Immersion Program twice during my MBA, visiting three countries across two distinct themes: Sustainability in Europe (Netherlands and Belgium) and Emerging Entrepreneurship (Vietnam). These experiences expanded my perspective, strengthened my global business acumen, and allowed me to build meaningful connections.

Sustainability and entrepreneurship were topics I frequently encountered in my MBA journey, though I initially did not have a strong interest in them. However, through pre-trip lectures, group projects, and on-site company visits, I learned how businesses create impact in these areas. Speaking with passionate industry practitioners who took pride in their work was eye-opening. These conversations reshaped my perspective, pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and helped me discover new interests. Additionally, although I had visited these countries before, this experience was entirely different, as I had the opportunity to engage with local professionals and gain insights from them, offering me a new perspective on these countries.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am proud of my ability to adapt and problem-solve in uncertain environments. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, while working as a Sales Manager at Samsung, our supply chain was severely disrupted, and customer demand dropped significantly, creating a challenging sales environment. Amid this uncertainty, I identified a new business opportunity in the SMB market in China. Recognizing their evolving needs, I adjusted our product strategy and revised the product mix to increase flexibility and minimize revenue losses. By collaborating closely with production team and market team, I ensured we could pivot quickly and respond effectively to shifting market conditions. Despite the challenges, I successfully maintained our sales targets throughout the pandemic.

Why did you choose this business school? Location was a major factor in my decision. Coming from the semiconductor industry, I wanted to leverage my background and build my network on the West Coast. Additionally, Anderson’s career support was another key consideration. Since I was initially planning a career transition to a tech PM role and was unfamiliar with the U.S. recruiting process, the Parker Career Management Center—one of the top MBA career centers—played a crucial role in my decision to choose Anderson. With the Parker Center’s guidance, I was able to further reflect on my career goals and ultimately pivot from tech PM to consulting.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Gayle Northrop is an incredible professor, and I feel fortunate that Anderson has her on the faculty. She specializes in social impact. Through her Social Impact Consulting Corps course, I gained a deeper understanding of the differences between nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses, as well as how both types of business can create meaningful value for society. Over the 10 weeks of class, we worked on a real consulting project for a nonprofit organization. Even though it was my first consulting project, I was able to successfully manage it thanks to her invaluable resources and advice. When my team exhausted our knowledge and was still stuck on a problem we couldn’t solve, she would immediately offer brilliant insights to guide us in the right direction.

Her passion extends far beyond the classroom. She organizes the annual Net Impact Case Competition at Anderson, providing students with a compact yet impactful experience in social impact consulting. Through this opportunity, I engaged with a variety of nonprofit organizations, learned about their unique missions, and honed my consulting skills—all thanks to Professor Northrop’s guidance and support. Beyond these efforts, she also leads global programs that support nonprofit organizations in Africa, further demonstrating her dedication to driving meaningful change.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Technology Management with Professor Kramer is a legendary class—and for good reason. The course is intense, requiring students to read over 700 pages of material and prepare for rigorous discussions in every session. However, it is also incredibly fulfilling. The curriculum is constantly updated with the latest technology trends, covering industry strategies and competitive dynamics. Most importantly, this course pushes students to think strategically, communicate clearly, and analyze business challenges from multiple perspectives. The insights I gained have been valuable not only for the tech sector but across all industries.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would have attended more conferences and speaker series that Anderson offers. Throughout the year, various student organizations and centers host high-quality events covering topics like AI, entertainment, healthcare, and more. In my first year, I prioritized recruiting and focused mainly on speaker sessions that aligned with my immediate career interests. I also assumed there would be plenty of opportunities to attend these events later in my MBA journey, so I didn’t prioritize them.

However, my perspective changed after meeting several alumni who returned to campus specifically for these conferences. Many emphasized how valuable these events are, noting that the caliber of speakers and discussions at Anderson is hard to find outside of business school. Hearing their experiences made me realize how much I had overlooked, and I regretted not taking full advantage of these opportunities. Looking back, I wish I had explored a broader range of topics beyond my immediate interests, making the most of Anderson’s incredible resources while I had the chance as a student. Now, I am more actively engaging in the speaker series hosted by the Easton Technology Management Center and the Center for Global Management.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths I had before coming to Anderson was that it is primarily a tech-focused school. While it’s true that Anderson has strong ties to the tech industry—with many classmates pursuing careers in tech, a large AnderTech club, and robust connections with major tech firms—the school is much more than that.

Anderson offers a well-balanced support across diverse industries. Consulting and finance are the next most popular career paths after Tech, and the school also has strong representation in entertainment, healthcare, real estate, and sports business. There are extensive resources, courses, and networking opportunities in all these fields, supported by student organizations and the Parker Career Management Center.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it?  I think Misaeng, a Korean drama, effectively portrays corporate life and business realities, especially for entry-level employees. It highlights team dynamics, workplace ethics, and office politics, which are surprisingly reflective of real-life corporate environments. Through the series, I learned the importance of relationships and collaboration in achieving success, as well as the need for resilience and adaptability when dealing with workplace challenges. Misaeng offers a grounded and relatable depiction of corporate life, providing valuable lessons on teamwork, leadership, and the slow, uncertain path to career growth. Plus, it offers a glimpse into Korea’s unique working culture, so I highly recommend watching it!

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Anderson has been proactive in integrating AI into its curriculum, ensuring that students are well-versed in emerging technologies. Many courses, particularly those within the technology specialization, encourage students to use AI tools for problem-solving and explore how to use AI effectively to achieve better outcomes. This includes discussions on improving prompt engineering and identifying which areas AI can be most effective in. Also, during our two-quarter capstone project, faculty designed assignments that required us to work with large language models, providing structured guidelines to help us understand AI’s role in market research, data analysis, and decision-making. The curriculum continues to evolve, with AI now embedded in major core courses such as Marketing Management and Organizational Behavior for the Class of 2026.

Through these experiences, I learned that while AI can be a powerful tool for efficiency and innovation, its effectiveness depends on strategic thinking and clear direction. Without a structured approach, AI cannot generate meaningful insights. I also realized that research experience is more important than ever, as AI alone cannot create differentiated work. The real value comes from individuals who understand how to refine AI-generated content and apply it effectively.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire?  Miyeon Lee is someone I deeply admire for both her leadership and her genuine ability to connect with people. As Co-President of the Korea Business Student Association, she helped transform the club into a more inclusive and welcoming community, making everyone feel valued. She tackles challenges with confidence, always knowing how to bring people together and inspire collaboration. Beyond her leadership, her warmth, curiosity, and enthusiasm make her an incredible friend.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I want to leverage my Korean heritage in the U.S. business landscape, whether by consulting for Korean companies refining their strategies in the U.S. or helping American companies expand into the Korean market. I am also passionate about reinterpreting Korean culture to create new cultural products and experiences in LA, bridging the gap between the two markets in innovative ways.

Another big goal for me is giving back. I’ve been fortunate to learn and grow thanks to the support of so many people, and I want to pay it forward by sharing my experiences and insights with others. More than anything, I hope to carry on Anderson’s Share Success tradition—creating a community where we uplift and support one another, just as others have done for me. No matter where my career takes me, I will always return to the community to share my knowledge.

What made Jae Hyoung Kim such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Jae has a special place in the hearts of the Class of 2025. He is known for his considerable contributions via his formal leadership roles in the Anderson community, but also for who he is as classmate and fellow human being.

Jae has approached his entire MBA experience from a place of curiosity, humility and kindness that he blended with an impressive ability to deliver results in every role and project. VP of Operations for our Anderson Student Association is not necessarily a glamorous position, but it is vital to the health of our club ecosystem. Jae dove right in and wrangled dozens of busy club presidents to do everything from submitting operating plans to cleaning up untidy club storage space. Because Jae is known as a person who constantly steps up and serves above and beyond what most others contribute, he commanded a respect from his peers that many others struggle to achieve. No matter how busy he was, Jae always had a friendly smile and an upbeat perspective for everyone and every challenge he encountered.

Perhaps my favorite way that Jae left his mark on Anderson was via the weekly “ASA Digest” email.  It was part of his job to collect information on all the many student-led events happening at Anderson each week and send that out to the school. There’s a tradition of the VP of Operations including a personalized note at the start of the digest. Each week, I eagerly tuned in to see what Jae was musing on as he moved through his MBA experience.  His notes were authentic and philosophical, encouraging his classmates to be present for every moment as much as possible, even among the sometimes chaos of business school. He helped his classmates pause, take a breath, take stock, and move forward with renewed intention. That’s no small feat, and so for this and all the other ways he made Anderson a better place than he found it, Jae is the embodiment of transformative leadership.”

Jessica Luchenta
Assistant Dean
Student Affairs and Academic Advising
UCLA Anderson School of Management

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