Soonpyo (Soon) Jeon

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“A South Korean public-sector leader bridging defense innovation and global business strategy through collaborative leadership.”

Hometown: Busan, South Korea

Fun Fact About Yourself: I co-founded a rowing club with colleagues at work and led our team to a silver medal at the 2018 Seoul Rowing Association Chairman’s Cup.

Undergraduate School and Major: Seoul National University – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Government of South Korea / Director (Team Lead)

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about Nashville has been the warmth and friendliness of the people. As a family, we’ve also enjoyed slowly discovering the city together by visiting museums and science centers with our children. One experience that stood out was the Nashville Trolley Tour organized by the school, which gave us a great introduction to the city’s history and character. And true to its nickname, “Music City,” one of the small joys of living here has been hearing live music almost everywhere—from restaurants to street corners—which gives the city a unique and welcoming atmosphere.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? One of the key reasons I chose Owen was the Leadership Development Program (LDP). Leadership in the public sector can influence not only organizations, but also society more broadly. As a result, I value opportunities to reflect on and develop my leadership. Through regular conversations with my LDP mentor, I have been able to reflect on my past experiences and think more deeply about my leadership style. The Executive Coaching sessions have also been particularly valuable, as they encourage us to think through real situations and dilemmas that leaders may face in organizations and consider practical ways to respond.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? One course that has been particularly memorable for me is Leading Teams and Organizations. The class explores how leadership is practiced within organizations and how teams navigate complex challenges. I found it especially interesting to see how different leadership styles emerge across the cases we discuss in class. Another aspect I enjoyed was hearing classmates share their own professional experiences related to the topics. As an international student, listening to perspectives shaped by different industries and cultural backgrounds has been especially valuable.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the most meaningful accomplishments in my career was leading the development of South Korea’s first administrative regulation to apply digital twin technology in the defense acquisition sector. At the time, digital twins had not been clearly defined or incorporated into the defense acquisition system, and there were differing views among policymakers and stakeholders. By working closely with experts and relevant institutions, I helped establish the policy framework necessary to adopt this technology. The regulation is expected to improve efficiency across the weapon system development and operation process and contribute to reducing lifecycle costs in the long term.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? One of my most meaningful accomplishments during the MBA has been achieving strong results with my team in the Capsim business simulation. Together, we analyzed market conditions and competitive dynamics while making strategic decisions related to product positioning, production capacity, financial management, and marketing. As we adjusted and implemented our strategy over multiple rounds, I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of teamwork. Ultimately, our team achieved top-percentile performance in the simulation. Personally, it was also meaningful to actively participate in our team presentation despite English not being my native language, supported by the encouragement of my teammates.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? One of my most memorable experiences during the MBA has been the conversations I’ve had with professors outside the classroom. Whenever questions came up after class, I often reached out by email, and the professors responded thoughtfully. In some cases, they even took the time to meet and continue the discussion in person. After spending many years working in the public sector before coming to the MBA, these conversations have been particularly meaningful to me. They have given me the opportunity to reflect on my past experiences and think more deeply about my future goals.

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