Jinwook Kim

“A Korean in Paris, raised in Japan, drawn to art, history, and technology”

Grad Year: 2020

Current Employer / Role: Pigment / People Strategy & Tech Lead

Is this the industry and role you envisioned yourself in upon entering the program? 

Not exactly. When I entered the MBA, I imagined my next step would be in beauty or fashion, given my pre-MBA career in fashion and my interest in art and culture. L’Oréal was the perfect next step, but what I did not expect was to discover a passion for tech and data there. That discovery eventually led me to Pigment, a French tech scale-up, where I can apply what I learned during the MBA to work in what I truly enjoy.

Why was HEC Paris and their MBA program the right fit for you among all of the options out there?

I wanted to build my career in France, a country that had long attracted me through its art, history, and culture. France is also home to many global companies. With its reputation, network, and close ties to French business, HEC Paris was the natural choice for me.

How has the program helped you grow personally or professionally since graduating?

The MBA trained me to see business challenges from a broader leadership perspective. Since graduating, whenever I face a new topic at work, I can frame the issue more clearly, structure the problem-solving process, and move from ambiguity to action much faster than before the MBA.

What’s a standout moment or memory from your time at HEC Paris that really stuck with you?

My standout memory is a two-month summer “holiday” on campus. I had planned to find a well-paid internship in the summer of 2019 to strengthen my CV and earn enough to support myself through the end of the program. It did not go as planned. There were opportunities around me, but I had not yet learned how to position myself well enough to secure one. Despite many applications, I did not get a single summer internship. Everyone else had either an internship or the money to travel. I had neither. My only option was to stay alone in the student residence on campus. I was frustrated and worried, but I decided to make the most of the time (well, what else could I do?). During the summer, I learned French, prepared for case interviews online, and enjoyed the beautiful nature on HEC’s campus. HEC’s reasonable on-campus housing option throughout the program, including the summer break, became a real lifeline for me. Looking back, that summer taught me how to stay resilient and positive when things do not go well. At a time when I had very little, it became one of the most beautiful periods of my life.

How did you balance your work/school/home life during your degree? What were the biggest challenges?

The hardest balance was not only time management but also choice management. One of the benefits of the HEC MBA is the number of professional opportunities available. Many companies come to campus, and there are events in Paris and across Europe. But getting a job offer requires real focus, networking, and preparation. It is not realistic to pursue Amazon in London, L’Oréal in Paris, and McKinsey in Dubai with the same level of commitment. At some point, I had to move from exploration to focus. For me, the hardest part was saying goodbye to attractive opportunities and staying loyal to the path I had chosen.

What are some of the biggest takeaways or skills you gained from the MBA experience?

The biggest takeaway was that the MBA helped me build the life I wanted in France. My goal was not only to earn a degree, but to stay in France with a job I loved, and HEC helped make that possible. Even after graduation, its network has helped me keep learning, attending events, building professional relationships, and making new friends. Professionally, the most useful skill I gained was structured thinking. Through case interview practice and conversations with consultants in the HEC network, I learned how to break down complex problems and design practical solutions.

What is your advice for those who are considering applying to the HEC Paris MBA program?

Think about your worst-case scenarios. After receiving my offer from HEC, I almost withdrew my enrollment. My work in Japan was becoming increasingly interesting, and several friends I trusted told me that doing an MBA might not be the best decision. So, I mapped out four scenarios: the best and worst cases with and without the MBA. My worst case with the MBA looked difficult: I might not find a job in France, might have to return to Japan, work long hours for a lower salary than I had hoped for, and remain heavily in debt. But the worst case without the MBA was worse: living with the regret of never having tried. If your worst-case scenario with the MBA is still better than the regret of not doing it, give it a try. Thanks to HEC, six years after graduation, my life has exceeded even the best case I had mapped out.

© Copyright 2026 Poets&Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets&Quants, please submit your request HERE.