Dear Workplace

I've often found the mergers and acquisition (M&A) process to be expensive and exclusive, leaving many unsure of where to start or how to succeed. Like dating, it's about finding the right partners and building a dream team, whether you're buying or selling a company. And let's not forget about culture – M&As in the United States, Asia, and Europe all come with unique challenges.

Enter Marcus Yeung, Founder & CEO of SEAbridge Partners and Co-founder of match.asia. With over 30 years of experience in every aspect of M&As, Marcus has seen it all. From his beginnings as a banker in London to his current role in Singapore, he shares his passion for this complex yet human space and his vision for disrupting the industry.

Join us on Dear Workplace to learn how Marcus and his team are democratizing the M&A process with match.asia.

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About 70-90 percent of mergers and aquisitions (M&As) fail within their first year. Why? Despite being a longstanding business strategy, M&As continue to stumble. In the coming weeks, we'll explore this complex world and uncover why M&As are so challenging, and how we can improve.

Our first guest in this series is Jennifer J. Fondrevay, known as the "M&A Whisperer." With three M&A experiences in major global companies, Jennifer identified patterns that define M&A success or failure. Her key insight? It all starts with prioritizing people.

Join us on Dear Workplace by InnovatorsBox to learn how to transform your M&A journey into a success story.

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After years in finance and business, Sam Paik noticed a troubling trend: overwork starting from childhood. Reflecting on the importance of childhood play and creativity, Sam saw a gap in the next generation's access to these vital experiences.

Determined to make a change, he founded several education-focused companies, including Momo Camp. As a serial entrepreneur and educator, Sam is on a mission to revolutionize education, fostering environments where learning, play, and self-expression thrive. Momo Camp, his latest venture, offers a unique opportunity to experience Korea and delve into its history, addressing a significant gap in global education.

Join us on Dear Workplace to discover Sam's inspiring journey and his vision for reshaping education and youth programs.

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Have you ever found yourself moved to tears while watching a K-drama? You're not alone, and our guest today is here to explain why! Therapist Jeanie Y. Chang recognized the importance of mental well-being, yet found existing information too clinical and distant. Combining her expertise as a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified clinical trauma professional, Jeanie noticed how conversations about storytelling and K-dramas often broke barriers.

Thus, Noona's Noonchi was born. Through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and even in-person tours in Korea, Jeanie's K-drama and mental health content has resonated with over 68k followers, offering a refreshing approach to mental wellness.

Join us on Dear Workplace to learn more about how we can rethink mental health through the lens of K-drama and fun.

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Anyonghaseyo! 안녕하세요!

We're thrilled to welcome our guest today, Hyunwoo Sun, Founder and CEO of Talk To Me in Korean (TTMIK). Hyunwoo began his Korean language educational services in 2009, recognizing a gap in language learning options. Starting with a meetup in Seoul, he observed limitations in available tools.

Understanding the transformative power of language, Hyunwoo aimed to make learning Korean fun, easy, and accessible. Today, TTMIK is a leading Korean language service, with 1.4 million users across 190 countries enjoying their textbooks, YouTube videos, podcasts, and more.

Join us on Dear Workplace!

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What would beer infused with Kimchi, rice, or lemongrass taste like? 'Wholesome' is the word Dokkaebier aims to evoke! Meet Youngwon Lee, Founder and CEO of Dokkaebier.

In 2020, he launched this award-winning Asian-inspired brand, his fifth venture in the alcohol industry, to introduce innovation and diversity to craft beer. With only 2 percent of U.S. breweries owned by Asian Americans, according to Brewers Association data from 2023, Youngwon keenly felt the need for representation as he navigated his career in food and beverage. Reflecting on his journey with Dokkaebier, we explore the intricacies of brewing, building a career in the alcohol industry, leadership, and balancing work with family and community service. Dokkaebier has garnered acclaim, named a Rising Star of 2023 by Brewbound and recognized on the Best New Breweries of 2023 list. Welcome to Dear Workplace.

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Today, the Korean Wave has swept across the globe, but for many in the Korean diaspora like myself, feeling truly seen hasn't always been the case. What's changed, and how have innovators embraced Korean culture to build thriving businesses?

As we launch our new series, 'Falling in Love with Korean Culture,' we're thrilled to begin with the story of muralist Julia Chon, known as 'Kimchi Juice.' Based in Washington, D.C., Julia delves into the interplay between cultural traditions, generational identities, and the choices made by Asian Americans to shape their sense of self. Her artwork, featured in cities like D.C., L.A., MN, and Seoul, reflects collaborations with esteemed clients such as NASA, Apple, and the Smithsonian.

With a distinct Korean aesthetic in each piece, Julia seamlessly blends her heritage and traditions with contemporary elements, capturing the intricacies of the Korean diaspora experience. Join us as we explore how innovators like Julia are infusing Korean heritage into their work and businesses.

Welcome to Dear Workplace.

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Today, most product innovations are focused on two senses: vision and audio. However, this overlooks the experiences of over 2.2 billion people with vision impairment or blindness, leaving them unable to fully engage with the world. When Keith Kirkland first recognized this issue, he was struck by curiosity: How could his passions for fashion, technology, industrial design, and engineering contribute to making a difference? Haptic innovation was the answer, yet it remained largely unknown by many, including Keith himself until later in life.

As he delved into building wearable technology, such as his work as the co-founder of WearWorks, Keith discovered the profound impact of understanding touch experiences—vibrations, motions, and applied forces—on users. Today, he leads the charge in redefining touch innovation and invites you to explore the world of haptic technology and innovation. Welcome to Dear Workplace.

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Welcome to our first live conversations at Dear Workplace! I'm excited to share a sneak peek into the special day I had with DC Women Techmakers event in Washington D.C. I hosted on March 25, 2024.

Women Techmakers (WTM) is a community program backed by Google and led by local community leaders like myself, and I'm thrilled to have made this event come to life with my friend Megha Sanghvi. As we brought together 20 speakers and 60 participants for a full day of learning, reflecting, and deep discussion of the future of women in technology and AI, we were reminded how change starts here, today and within our own communities.

I wanted to capture the inspiring day and also look back at the five months of planning we've done to make this possible. Thank you to all the speakers, friends and fans for making this possible.

Learn more athttps://www.dcwomentechmakers.org/.

Welcome to Dear Workplace as we untangle about the world of AI.

AI has changed how we work, but how much are we keeping up with it? Today's guests are excited to shed some light on today's AI development and how its future is changing. From starting several AI startups to making sense of how to navigate AI skills in the workplace, we'll explore how we can upskill with AI. Meet Stephanie Wong from San Francisco and Alexander Fred-Ojala from Stockholm, Sweden. Both have been leading AI and innovation in their companies and communities for some time and have some insights and wisdom to share with us. Welcome to Dear Workplace.

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