Trailblazers in Action: Women in Leadership

SKK GSB at Sungkyunkwan University has proudly hosted “Trailblazers in Action: Women in Leadership,” a leadership talk and networking event celebrating authentic leadership and real-world experience. Through insightful conversation with alumna Misun Yang, General Manager at Ipsen Korea, and with Jiyoung Kim, CEO of NUSEUM, participants explored how contemporary leaders navigate complexity, make intentional choices, and lead with clarity and courage. Central messages from the discussion emphasized that meaningful growth begins with honest self-reflection, and that passion creates the greatest impact when aligned with broader societal and market directions. Expertly moderated by Prof. Nah Lee, the session brought together students, alumni, and industry professionals for reflective dialogue and substantive networking. More than a one‑off gathering, Trailblazers in Action reflected SKK GSB’s ongoing commitment to cultivating inclusive, globally minded leaders. The event was a student‑led initiative by Bidisha Mukherjee (FMBA 2027). Special thanks are extended to Prof. Aleksios Gotsopoulos and the SKK GSB staff for their support in making the event a success.

Why the Indiana Kelley–SKK GSB Executive MBA?

Interview with Prof. Fred Schlegel Indiana University Kelley School of Business Indiana University Kelley School of Business Asian Initiatives Chair and Co-Chair of the Indiana Kelley–SKK GSB Executive MBA (EMBA), Prof. Fred Schlegel, is a firm believer in the value of MBAs. Reflecting on his own journey, Prof. Schlegel explains: “I would not have succeeded the way I did without the foundational knowledge and problem-solving skills I got from my MBA. It taught me how to look at business from perspectives that were different from anything I’ve ever had before. An MBA is quite expensive to complete, but I would say that it was the best investment in myself that I ever made. It’s a way of upping your game and getting ready for the leadership of your firm.” The value that MBA holders provide is clear to Prof. Schlegel. While working as a consultant, he found that many of the people he talked to—successful businesspeople, presidents, and C-levels—didn’t understand their problems. He said, “They knew they had a problem to solve, but couldn’t figure out exactly what problem they had. That’s why they pull in consultants who can identify root causes that lead to executable solutions. An MBA provides a strong foundation in those skills making in a key pathway to senior roles in consulting and companies.” Business is always innovating and changing, and now with the deployment of numerous AI technologies more than ever. Prof. Schlegel highlighted that business leaders must understand the synergy between technological innovation and business models. “Our students learn to evaluate business and technology investments and operations through a fundamental lens. What you need are the frameworks that allow you to think critically about up-to-date technologies, no matter what they are. These are foundational principles that will guide you for the next 30 years.” “Other Kelley–SKK GSB EMBA professors teach cutting-edge technologies. For example, technology specialist Prof. Alex Lopez teaches about Digital Transformation and how AI is transforming the way business will be done.” The Full-Time MBA at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business was ranked second with the highest ROI in the US in 2024. It was also ranked second in the US for marketing in 2024 and 18th in the US in the QS MBA rankings. Prof. Schlegel explained: “The reason our program was ranked higher than other schools’ programs is the way we deliver materials, the meaningfulness of the experiences that you end up having, the easy access to faculty, and the outcomes.” He continued, “We have more alumni than any other business school on the planet in the business realm. We also have a high number of high-level executives. Since we have quite a decent network in Seoul and all of Asia, you can look up a Kelley in any city you decide to go to, and they will probably take your phone call.” Prof. Schlegel highlighted that one of the Kelley–SKK GSB EMBA’s strengths is that it is taught entirely in English. “Being able to do business in two languages is much more valuable. If you want to work internationally, having a second language shows that you're competent.” As a final comment on the value of the Kelley–SKK GSB EMBA, Prof. Schlegel explained: “For those who prepare to be leaders and C-levels, Kelley–SKK GSB EMBA is providing a carefully curated set of fundamental frameworks that will help you elevate yourself and manage organizations. That’s why this program significantly focuses on leadership, executive skills, and strategy.”

How Do We Decide What Is a "Fair Share" When People or Companies Work Together?

Prof. Frank Huettner of SKK GSB has co-authored a paper in the prestigious European Journal of Operational Research, presenting a method of calculating payouts fairly in a world full of side effects and externalities. If, for example, two car manufacturers merge, the consequences are not limited to those two companies—the merger reshapes the market for every other manufacturer. We often assume that one group’s actions do not affect anyone outside that group, but this is rarely true once externalities are taken into account. Prof. Huettner’s research examines how to preserve fairness even when such side effects are pervasive. Working with Prof. André Casajus of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and Prof. Yukihiko Funaki of Waseda University, Prof. Huettner proved that the MPW solution (named after Macho‑Stadler, Pérez‑Castrillo, and Wettstein, who characterized the rule in 2007) is the only specific way to calculate payouts fairly in this setting. The MPW solution operates by considering all possible ways that groups (coalitions) could form and then averaging the resulting payouts to arrive at the most balanced outcome for everyone involved. This discovery has important real‑world applications, including dividing the costs of greenhouse gas emissions fairly and sharing the costs of building and maintaining public infrastructure. Research Paper: Balanced contributions, consistency, and value for games with externalities

SKK GSB Launches Student Exchange Program with emlyon business school

SKK Graduate School of Business (SKK GSB) and emlyon business school in France have signed a student exchange agreement, strengthening their shared commitment to global business education. Founded in 1872, emlyon business school is a distinguished Grande École with a 153-year history and is recognized as one of France’s leading business schools. It is currently ranked 12th worldwide by the Financial Times. SKK GSB’s MBA program, meanwhile, has been ranked No. 1 in Korea and among the top 100 worldwide by the Financial Times every year since 2012. With the exception of the AI MBA, all MBAs at SKK GSB are delivered entirely in English. This bilateral exchange aims to foster academic collaboration, cross-cultural engagement, and the development of globally minded business leaders. Beginning in September 2026, selected students from each institution will take part in academic coursework and cultural immersion programs at the partner school, gaining firsthand experience in diverse educational and business environments. Photo credit: emlyon business school