“I decided to pursue an MBA at SKK GSB because I wanted to become a CEO who could lead a company toward sustainable growth in a changing business environment, rather than simply remain a manager.”

Gitae Park (PMBA 2017), an alumnus of SKK GSB’s Professional MBA program, pursued his MBA to deepen his understanding of the business ecosystem and its stakeholders while developing his ability to find creative solutions that challenge conventional approaches.

Today, he serves as CEO of Kumhwa, the exclusive Korean distributor of Italian footwear brand GEOX, and as the operator of BosangNara.com, am Apple Re-commerce Platform. His career has spanned several industries and roles, from United Nations peacekeeping patrols and negotiation strategies in conflict zones to corporate strategy at Samsung C&T and growth strategy at sports marketing company IMG. Throughout these varied experiences, Gitae has remained focused on analyzing markets, developing effective strategies, and executing them with precision.

“Understanding the dynamics of markets and people, and turning challenges into meaningful results through strategic execution, are what I have found most compelling and focused on throughout my career,” he reflected.

As he gained experience as both a practitioner and a leader, Gitae recognized the limitations of relying primarily on intuition and past experience. He wanted a more systematic understanding of business to help him analyze complex situations, evaluate competing interests, and make sound decisions.

At SKK GSB, case studies and classroom discussions proved particularly valuable. Examining business challenges from different perspectives and exchanging ideas with classmates helped him develop a broader understanding of market dynamics and stakeholder interests. “Before entering the MBA program, I sometimes relied on intuition or limited experience when developing and evaluating strategies. However, through case studies and discussions at SKK GSB, I learned to see the complex dynamics of markets and the interests of different stakeholders from a broader perspective.”

The MBA's impact extended beyond the classroom. Gitae found that the structured thinking and problem-solving skills he developed helped him approach unfamiliar challenges more quickly and translate analysis into action. “My experience at SKK GSB made me a fast learner who can quickly structure and solve unfamiliar problems. After graduation, I was able to identify the core issues and take action without hesitation, even when faced with new challenges.”

For Gitae, an MBA is not a prerequisite for becoming a CEO, but it can accelerate the development of effective leadership capabilities by helping professionals learn from different perspectives and avoid unnecessary trial and error. “An MBA may not be an essential qualification for a CEO, but it is certainly a powerful catalyst for becoming a successful leader. It provides an opportunity for accelerated growth by helping us reduce costly trial and error in business and broaden our perspectives,” he noted.

Reflecting on his career across different industries, Gitae identifies three interconnected leadership capabilities: defining problems accurately, developing creative solutions, and following through with effective execution. He also believes that leaders must look ahead and question established ways of working, guided by a genuine commitment to their organization and its business. Gitae emphasized: “I don't believe there is a single path to successful management and leadership. But if there is one principle I have consistently followed throughout my career, it is to define problems with genuine interest and commitment, and solve them through creativity and interdisciplinary thinking.”

Looking ahead, Gitae offered the following advice. “If you continually develop the determination to solve problems and the ability to think across disciplines, grounded in a deep commitment to your organization and its business, you can grow into a trusted leader and, ultimately, a CEO.”