DIOTIMES Insights | Leadership, HR, and Business Transformation

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
The Rise of the Employfluencer: How Employee Experience Shapes the Future of Work

A well-nurtured “employfluencer” can be more valuable than ten top performers. I recall a story from a promising startup CEO I once coached. After a dispute with the company, one employee quit and flooded an anonymous company review site with scathing posts about the firm. According to the CEO, the reviews were filled with distorted facts and the harshest possible comments. Overnight, his company’s reputation was destroyed—it became one of those places “you should never work for.” Even after requesting

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
How the MBA Changed in the 21st Century

At the beginning of the 21st century, the MBA was already a global institution with over a hundred years of history. But as the new millennium unfolded, the business world began to change faster than ever before—driven by technology, globalization, and social transformation. Business schools had no choice but to evolve with it. From the dot-com era to the rise of artificial intelligence, from the 2008 financial crisis to the ESG revolution, the MBA has been redefined again and again.

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
The History of the MBA: From Harvard to Global Leadership

The MBA, or Master of Business Administration, is often seen as a modern necessity for ambitious professionals. Yet this credential is more than a degree; it is a living institution that has continually adapted to the demands of business and society for more than a century. To understand why the MBA still holds relevance today, we must first look at its origins, how it has evolved, and how it has become a truly global phenomenon. As someone who earned my

[Danny Han’s MBA Insights]
What is an MBA and Why It Still Matters in 2025

The MBA, or Master of Business Administration, has long been seen as the pinnacle of business education. More than a century after its birth at Harvard Business School in 1908, the MBA remains one of the most recognizable and aspirational degrees worldwide. But in 2025, when online learning platforms, specialized master’s programs, and real-world startup experience compete for attention, a fundamental question arises: Does the MBA still matter? As someone who earned my MBA at IE Business School in Madrid,

[Byung-Ik Jung’s Consulting Insights]
Why University Internationalization Often Fails in Korea

The establishment of international colleges has become a hot topic in Korean higher education. What was once attempted only by a handful of universities is now seen as a survival strategy by almost every institution. Across the country, schools are rushing to create “International Colleges” in the hope of attracting foreign students and ensuring financial stability. Yet, despite the enthusiasm, very few cases can be called truly successful. The key question is: what differentiates the few international colleges that succeed

[Jee Suk Kang’s Education Insights]
Korean Universities in Global Rankings 2025

Global university rankings have long been a subject of fascination and debate. In Korea, they serve as both a mirror of academic competitiveness and a tool for benchmarking against the world’s best. Recently, I examined the latest results from three of the most widely referenced systems—QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), and the Shanghai Ranking (ARWU)—to understand how Korean universities are positioned in 2025. What stood out immediately was that only 13 Korean universities consistently appear within the

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
How Did My Friend Become a Leading Business Figure in China?

Lessons on Nurturing Professionals in an Age of Uncertainty, from Dalian An Unexpected Gift of Friendship A close acquaintance of mine once told me about traveling across France at the personal invitation of football legend Guus Hiddink. He had designed the entire itinerary like a tactical masterstroke and covered every expense for his dearest friends. While my own experience didn’t involve Europe’s romantic scenery, I was recently blessed with something equally unforgettable—an invitation to Dalian, China, from an old

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
Humility, Respect, and Communication: HR Leadership Lessons from My Father’s Career Notes

It has been 35 years since I received what I still call “My Father’s Career Notes.” I was then a young second lieutenant in the Korean Army, heading to my first assignment at a frontline unit in the dead of winter. My father, himself a former army officer, handed me a handwritten memo containing seven principles—his way of guiding a son about to face the world. At that moment, the words seemed ordinary. But after more than two decades of

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
Breaking Through the 0.7%: What Korean Executives Must Do—and Avoid

Korean executives can rightly be called the “stars of the salaryman world.” According to one study, the probability of being promoted to an executive position is only 0.7%, with the average journey from new hire to executive taking around 22 years. Yet even after this long path, executives don’t usually remain in the role for very long: the average tenure in Korea is about 5.6 years, and even shorter in the top 10 conglomerates. CEOs often last only 3–4 years.

[Joon-Ki Han’s HR Insights]
Restructuring: Myths, Realities, and the Mindset We Need

When people hear the word “restructuring,” they often feel fear. It is viewed as an arbitrary act, influenced by emotions or politics rather than organizational logic. But as someone who has worked in HR leadership across global corporations, I want to stress this: restructuring, when done properly, is not about favoritism or impulse. It is about ensuring the survival and health of the organization. Why Restructuring Is Necessary Organizations exist to grow, and growth sometimes requires letting go. This is