By: Girl Scout Senior
+ Lime Green Giraffe writer, Zora F.
The 2019 Changing the World Awardee,
Soon Mee Kim is the Executive Vice President and Global Diversity and Inclusion
Leader for Porter Novelli, an international public relations consultancy. A
fellow Girl Scout, Kim welcomed a group of girls to tour her office space and
for a sit down with some women of leadership in her organization.
Touring Porter Novelli was really
exciting. The office space was really nice and very welcoming. It wasn’t like
any ordinary cubicle office were the workers just typed away at their computers
all day. All the employees looked really happy and that they enjoyed their work
environment. While we were touring, a special week was going on called, “WOW Week.” During this week employees were matched with
someone, similar to secret Santa. The task was to be able to “wow” them for the whole week. We all
thought it was really cool and fun!
The all-female Porter Novelli panel shared
some of their favorite memories as a Girl Scouts and how women are taking the
lead in the workforce. The panelist were Executive Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Soon Mee Kim, Executive Vice President, Ayanna Robinson and Vice President, Demeika Wheaton
I felt the panel was impactful
because they talked about how women are advancing by being their authentic
selves and how it was for them growing up and finding success in college. Being
able to see behind the scenes of Porter Novelli and ask questions to the
panelist will always be remembered.
While sitting down with Soon Mee Kim for a one-on-one interview
I was able to ask some questions that I find to be pretty important to all of
us girls.
Lime Green
Giraffe:
What impact will diversity and inclusion have on girls and women who will
became leaders in the future?
Soon Mee Kim: Well right now all the studies show that women are actually
getting more degrees and are higher educated then some of our male counterparts.
We have actually regressed or we are at a standstill in terms of our
progression up the corporate ladder which is very sad thing.
The why behind the importance of
diversity and inclusion of women is really important. Because we right now
don’t have pay parody. We don’t accelerate our careers and get the promotions
early on and all I can say to that is there must be something that's beyond the
things that we traditionally think of that's holding us back. That's called
implicit bias. We want to level the playing field so great incredible women
have the opportunity to lead, participate and be a part of creating innovative
solutions for the better.
Lime Green
Giraffe: How
did you get started in your field?
Soon Mee Kim: I got started in my field actually out of failure. My major
in college was Political Science. Studying in college was pretty easy for me. I
made good grades and had a good understanding of the subject matter.
But when I went to college I faced
some adversity when my dad past away. I love the fact that right now people are
really focused on mental health and that they’re really taking care of themselves.
Back then when I was growing up that wasn’t really a thing. We were expected to
just bounce back no matter what came your way. After my dad’s death, I wasn’t
getting up to go to any of my classes. I wasn’t really dealing with my grief in
the best way. I wasn’t really making the grades to get into a good law school,
so I had to change my plans. I think if I knew back then what I know now I
would have taken the time to take better care of myself.
I needed to look at different options
and I didn't really know a lot about careers. I really got started by looking
in the areas of my strengths which were in communication. When I got out of
school it took me into the field of public communications.
Lime Green
Giraffe: Who
inspires you?
Soon Mee Kim: I’m inspired by people who
are really curious. I’m inspired by people who take a chance on things and get
out of their comfort zone. When I was growing up that really wasn’t me because
I felt like there were things that I was just naturally good at, so I
gravitated towards just doing those things. For me I think it was really
important to get outside of that of the idea that I could only try things I was
good at doing. When other people are really courageous about trying things that
makes me really courageous about trying things too.
Lime Green
Giraffe: What
do you do when you are drained or need to reboot?
Soon Mee Kim: I like being by myself! I just
like to binge watch a show and I will get really into it. I think that just
really helps me to relax.
Lime Green
Giraffe: What
college did you attend? What was your major?
Soon Mee Kim: I went to Emory University. I
was a Political Science major but I also minored in a lot of different things.
I minored in Women Studies, Sociology and Psychology.
Lime Green
Giraffe: What’s
your favorite Girl Scout Cookie and why?
Soon Mee Kim: My two favorite Girl Scout
Cookies are Samoas and Thin Mints! It’s purely a taste thing, I like coconut
and caramel it's a great combination. Thin Mints just go with everything!
I think, the 2019 Changing the World
Awardee, Soon Mee Kim, has lived up to
the Girl Scout mission by being a girl of courage, confidence, and character, who makes the
world a better place. We at the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta are honored to
have had the opportunity to have meet you!
Signing off ~ your Lime Green Giraffe
reporter, Zora F.
Lime Green Giraffe -- written by Girls
for Girls.
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