So Young Kang
About So Young Kang
So Young Kang is a founder and expert in leadership and transformation, currently serving as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. She emphasizes a human-centric approach to digital transformation and has extensive experience in organizational strategy and development.
Work at Awaken Group
So Young Kang serves as the Founder and Chairman of Awaken Group, a position she has held since 2009 in Singapore. Under her leadership, the organization emphasizes a human-centric approach to transformation, focusing on aligning internal values with external actions. Kang's work involves creating strategies for organizational transformation and engaging in deep coaching conversations with leaders to foster a shared vision.
Education and Expertise
So Young Kang has a diverse educational background. She studied International Relations, Japanese Studies, and Music Theory at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. She completed her MBA at Harvard Business School from 2002 to 2004. Additionally, she participated in executive programs at Harvard University and the University of Virginia, focusing on Global Leadership and Leadership for Racial Equity, respectively.
Background
Kang has extensive experience in various leadership roles. She worked at Citibank as an Assistant Vice President from 1998 to 2004 and later joined McKinsey as an Expert in Strategy-Led Performance Management and Transformation from 2004 to 2008. She has also contributed to HuffPost as a contributor from 2016 to 2017. Currently, she holds multiple positions, including Expert Advisor at AI and Faith and Strategic Advisor at tapouts, both starting in 2023.
Achievements
So Young Kang is recognized for her contributions to leadership and transformation. She was awarded the Management Consultant of the Year by the Singapore Business Advisors & Consultants Council in 2015. Kang has spoken at significant events, including Davos in 2018, showcasing her influence in global discussions. She is also a TEDx speaker, sharing insights on transformation and innovation.
Global Engagement and Impact
Kang has traveled to over 50 countries, gaining insights that inform her work in catalyzing sustainable impact. She is involved with the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader since 2014, contributing to discussions on leadership and transformation. Additionally, she is a founding member of SEA Founders, which she joined in 2015, focusing on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.