Life at Winoa: Meet Yeon-Su Kim

Employee Stories, Career Paths & Industrial Excellence

At Winoa, people are at the heart of our industrial performance and global success. Through this series of employee interviews, we invite you to discover the diverse career paths, inspiring journeys, and professional growth opportunities that shape life inside our international company.

From women thriving in industry to experienced team members who have grown through internal promotion and career mobility, from employees who have taken their expertise abroad to support our global operations to young talents leading strategic projects in e-commerce, peening, and aftermarket services, these stories reflect the strength and diversity of our teams.

Question : Before joining Winoa, you had a background in IT, digital marketing. Is there anything in particular that motivated you to join an industrial company?

Yeon-Su Kim : Before joining Winoa, I was responsible for overseeing the entire process of marketing strategy for an AI platform service — from pre-launch to post-launch. I handled sales leases, created content, and managed social media. While this is similar to what I’m doing now, I had no experience in e-commerce at the time.

I was in my comfort zone, but I wanted to learn new things in a completely different environment. When a headhunter contacted me about Winoa, I saw it as a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and explore a new industry.

Question : How was your perception of Winoa before joining, and how did it change once you started working here?

Yeon-Su Kim : Before joining Winoa, I didn’t have much information about the Korea branch. They used to have a factory, but it had closed two or three years earlier. The business model had changed — they no longer produced locally but imported products from other Asian countries. Because of this lack of information, I was a bit worried, but at the same time very excited. Winoa’s strong customer portfolio really intrigued me.

Once I joined, the onboarding and Winoa Start session made it easy to get comfortable with the system and environment. I was invited to France for a week of training, where I learned about technical products, participated in role plays with W Care, and gained the ability to explain our solutions to customers in much more depth. This completely strengthened my confidence and understanding of the role.

Most people at Winoa have been with the company for a long time and have deep industry expertise. For young talents who want to learn, there’s a wealth of knowledge to tap into. In the e-commerce team, the youngest in Winoa, the company gives us many opportunities, trusts us, and gives us a lot of authority because they see us as the future

Question : What new skills have you developed since joining (both technical and business-related)?

Yeon-Su Kim : Before joining Winoa, I mainly focused on how marketing could perform well. Now, I think about the profit and loss and have learned to operate the business as a whole. I’ve gained technical skills in operating new systems and understanding how inventory is processed.

On the business side, I’ve learned to cooperate with different teams, communicate effectively, and show respect — developing my soft skills alongside technical knowledge.

Question : How did you learn to understand the product and manufacturing process?

Yeon-Su Kim: I started with the Winoa Start session, where I visited a factory to get hands-on experience. Every two years, we have the E-commerce Summit, where all webstore managers visit the Czech Republic and the Tech Center. During this summit, we participate in trainee sessions, discuss case studies from each country, and even get insights on AI applications.

To deepen my knowledge, I also invited the regional manager of Degevius for a training session, which helped me understand the product line much better. This is all aligned with our long-term goal in e-commerce: expanding product sales and the portfolio.

Question : Why is Winoa a good place for young talents with your background?

Yeon-Su Kim: Most people at Winoa have been with the company for a long time and have deep expertise in the industry. For young talents who want to learn, this is an incredible opportunity to learn from experienced professionals.

In the e-commerce team, the youngest in Winoa, the company gives us many opportunities, trusts us, and provides significant authority, because they see young talent as the future of the company.

Question : What would you say to someone transitioning from IT or digital roles into an industrial environment?

Yeon-Su Kim : If you’re moving from IT or digital into an industrial environment, know that your digital expertise is rare and highly valuable. Companies like Winoa don’t see digital skills as just a support function — they’re a key driver of future growth.

With a digital background, you can bring new perspectives, improve processes, and help shape the evolution of the business. If you stay open to learning the industry while applying your digital skills, an industrial environment can provide both strong learning opportunities and a meaningful long-term impact.

Question : How does Winoa allow young employees to grow, experiment, and take ownership?

Yeon-Su Kim : Winoa gives young employees a high level of autonomy paired with clear responsibility. Growth comes from truly owning tasks and decisions rather than following rigid structures. When I encountered areas where I lacked experience, senior colleagues didn’t just give me answers they helped guide me so I could build my own systems and solutions. This creates a culture where freedom means trust, accountability, and support, allowing young employees to take initiative while continuously learning and growing.