This month, The KAIST Herald interviewed Professor Narae Lee from the School of Business Technology and Management for her achievement of being the first Korean to receive the Research in Strategic Management Program grant by the Strategy Research Foundation. In this interview, Professor Narae Lee shared with us her career accomplishments, experiences, and some pieces of advice for students at KAIST. 

Q. Please introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Narae Lee, and I am an Assistant Professor at the School of Business Technology and Management. I joined KAIST last semester. Prior to this position, I was a professor at Singapore Management University (SMU), completed my PhD at the University of Minnesota, and resided in Washington D.C., where I worked for an international organization. 

Q. Congratulations on being selected as a grant recipient of the Research in Strategic Management Program by the Strategy Research Foundation. Could you provide a brief explanation of your proposal “Navigating a Changing Strategy Landscape: Assessing the Role of Carbon Transition Risks in Corporate Strategic Decisions” to our readers?

Carbon Transition Risks refer to the regulatory risks that companies face as we transition into a zero-carbon society. I wanted to investigate how these risks have significant implications for corporate decision-making, including those related to using different resources and making changes in internal assets. 

Q. Was there a particular incident that sparked your initial interest in the fields of strategic management, environment, energy, and climate change?

As a strategy management scholar investigating climate change, [my interest was piqued when] I was working for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a multilateral development bank serving Latin companies before my PhD. There, I helped companies [to] become more energy-efficient. These companies want to export to developed countries like the US and those in Europe; [however], these developed countries are increasing their trade barriers. These countries are asking their importers to make their manufacturing process more energy-efficient. Our role was to help those companies meet those increasing barriers because they did not have the resources [to do so themselves]. Naturally, I wanted to understand more from the perspective of those companies, especially the decision-making process, so I went to business school. 

Q. I noticed you went to Geneva, Switzerland after completing your undergraduate years at Seoul National University. What was that transition like?

I worked at the KITA (Korea International Trade Association) right after completing my undergraduate program. Their job was to help Korean companies export better; this is very important because Korea relies heavily on international trade. In the beginning, I wanted to be an international lawyer. I got my master’s degree in international affairs, and the institution where I studied was right next to [the] WTO (World Trade Organization). Geneva is a French-speaking city, so there were a lot of students from French-speaking African countries. I became friends with them and realized [that] there were lots of problems. This is how I became interested in international development, such as reducing poverty. When I moved on to the IDB for Latin countries, I was assigned to projects on sustainability. 

Q. What are your ultimate career aspirations and personal goals?

I think I leave things to destiny. I never planned to become a professor my entire life. I don’t have an exact plan of what I want to do, but I like teaching, researching, and being a faculty member of KAIST. Ultimately, I want to do something that allows me to use my knowledge and experience to make meaningful changes in people’s lives. 

Q. Since your undergraduate years up to now, you have continuously achieved admirable accomplishments. Did you employ any unique study methods or approaches that set you apart from others?

During my undergraduate years, I was not a bad student. I graduated cum laude. I was not bad but not great either. I don’t think professors would remember me because I wasn’t an excellent student. But if there’s something I’m interested in, I do not fear it. I just give it a try. If I do not like it, then I move on. But if I like it, then I keep going. I think that means a lot because it allows me to push myself without feeling tired. Because I liked the subject, I didn’t feel tired of studying or doing more than what was required. I think I was also doing well with my time management. 

Q. You have studied and worked at various institutions including SNU, Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement, Johns Hopkins, George Washington University, University of Minnesota, UN, KITA, Global Green Growth Institute, Inter-American Development Bank, and SMU. In your opinion, what policies or cultures from these institutions could KAIST adopt?

Diversity. I think KAIST is doing a better job than other universities in Korea, but I believe more can be done, as some students in our [Technology Management] class shared their views on this too. I wish Korean students at KAIST would have a more global perspective. Last semester, I volunteered to interview students who wanted to go abroad for exchange programs. I think more students should try out for that opportunity. I hope that KAIST students try out opportunities that will help them broaden their perspective early on. 

Another one is speaking out. I know KAIST students are very smart but they don’t speak out. I noticed that too in SMU, so maybe it’s one aspect of Asian culture. But when I was in the States, the students spoke out a lot. I think this is very important because later on you [students] will be competing with them. I wish we had that [culture of speaking out] here too. 

Q. You must lead a busy life balancing research, lectures, and personal responsibilities. Could you describe what an average day looks like for you and share any tips on time management?

During my PhD program, I woke up at 4:30~5:00 a.m. I realized I’m a morning person and my brain is most active and clear in the early mornings. That time period is also the only time when nobody in my family bothers me. I have my morning coffee and I read papers with a really clear mind. Then I wake up my kids, feed my kids, and take my kids to daycare. I have 8 hours [to work] before picking them up. My friends would always say “Narae is always running.” because I was always running to be at my daughter’s daycare on time. From 8 or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., I am in my office, and after 7 p.m., I don't really work unless there is an emergency. Because I know I only have 8 to 9 hours max, I put my 100% into work. Because I know I wouldn’t have time to work during the night, I would run the code to make my computer work for me. Also, to make sure I wouldn’t get too tired, I wouldn’t study on Saturdays. Saturdays are my free days; I would do house chores and spend time with my family. I think it is good for my body and mental health. I leave work that does not require my brain too much for the evening, like grading or responding to emails. 

Q. What are some of your personal hobbies?

I like classical music and I play the piano. My mom wanted me to be a pianist. I also play the violin and the flute. Also, it’s on my bucket list to play the cello.

Q. If you could offer a few pieces of advice to students, what would they be?

My advice to students is to step out of their comfort zone. Experiencing the pandemic, I learned that external changes can disrupt our lives unexpectedly, but some people were more resilient to such changes than others. I think making courageous decisions and embracing the possibility of failure can help you become more resilient. In college, there are numerous opportunities to challenge yourself, [such as] taking a new course outside your major, joining a club, exchange programs, and internships. These experiences will broaden your horizon and strengthen your ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks. 

So don’t let the fear of failure hold you back and dare to take risks!