Emeritus Professor Pil Hwa Yoo at SKK GSB of Sungkyunkwan University and Sookyoung Key, a senior consultant at the Korean Standards Association, have published an article in the July issue of Harvard Business Review (German edition), Harvard Business Manager. One of the most influential management magazines in China, Entrepreneur, also featured their article.

For many decades, the American management paradigm has played a leading role in shaping the mindset of managers and entrepreneurs worldwide. However, this does not mean that the mainstream American paradigm—focused on large, publicly listed, fast-growing, and tech-centric companies—is the only viable management model available globally. Moreover, the realities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99.9% of all companies worldwide as of 2024, have been relatively underrepresented.

In this context, the Hidden Champions (HC) model, developed by renowned management thinker Hermann Simon in Germany, is built on the pillars of ambition, globalization, and focus, and has emerged as a new paradigm in global management. The key strength of the HC model is its universal applicability across diverse industries, countries, and sectors rather than being confined to a specific region or industry. Empirical evidence demonstrates its advantage for HC companies, particularly through alignment with four major drivers of current and future management transformation—innovation, business ecosystems, digitalization, and sustainability.

Through this research, the authors offer valuable insights and practical guidance to global business leaders.

○ Coverage in the media

- Wie Hidden Champions das internationale Management inspirieren <Harvard Business manager, 2025.07.17.>