Upon Completing My MBA

at Aalto University

Choosing an MBA

The next chapter of life always begins at an unexpected moment.

In April 2024, contrary to all expectations, I was instructed to return to headquarters in Korea.

It had been just over two years since I was appointed CEO of the U.S. subsidiary.

There was still much work left to do, and many tasks I had yet to complete.

December 1989—a winter day when heavy snow was falling.

From joining Hyosung and working in R&D, product planning, global marketing, and global business, to eventually serving as CEO of the U.S. subsidiary,

I had spent 35 years running relentlessly, holding on to the demanding and unforgiving world of ATMs.

In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic threw global markets into turmoil,

I stood at the doorway of an opportunity to begin an MBA.

Yet, citing urgent responsibilities and telling myself that time simply would not allow it,

I settled instead for the Advanced Program in Future Technologies at Seoul National University.

Then came 2024.

As I returned from my journey in the United States,

that very moment shook me awake, all at once.

“This is it. Now is the time to begin.”

Not in my forties, but in my fifties.
At the age of 57, I became a student once again.

On the Way to the Aalto University Campus, Finland

Why an MBA, and Why Now?

Over the past 35 years, I have lived as an executive on the global stage,

making countless decisions along the way.

Yet at a certain point, I found myself asking some difficult questions.

“Can I truly explain and articulate the 35 years of experience I have accumulated?”

“And am I intentionally designing the next 15 years of my life?”

In search of answers to these questions, I chose the Executive MBA program at Aalto University—one of Europe’s leading institutions—through its joint-degree program with aSSIST in Korea: the Aalto EMBA.

This was not simply an “overseas MBA.”

It was an intense learning journey that demanded

European ways of thinking,

Korean managerial context,

and real-world industrial problem-solving—all at once.

Interview After Attending the 30th Anniversary Ceremony of the Aalto EMBA

Studying Amid a Demanding Journey — For the MBA

To be honest, it was not easy.

On weekdays, weekends, and even late into the night,

cases, readings, and team projects were always waiting.

And every two weeks came the so-called “Final Exam”—

a comprehensive assessment that lived up to its name.

For someone like me, who constantly strives for perfection,

the pressure was considerable.

Yet the Aalto EMBA was not “studying when time allows.”

It was training to reconstruct the way I think,

right in the middle of my life as it is.

A total of 23 business modules,

taught by passionate and insightful professors from Korea and abroad:

HR, International Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Strategy, Communications, Leadership, Statistics, Data Analytics, AI Strategy, Supply Chain Management, Negotiation, Service Design, ESG, and the Capstone project.

Gradually, I found myself evolving

from a results-driven executor

into a thinking-centered leader—

one who structures problems, builds hypotheses, and tests them rigorously.

In late July, as the heat wave reached its peak,
I stepped into another intense chapter:

the HRP (Helsinki Residence Program),

a core and mandatory component of the Aalto EMBA.

Two demanding weeks in Finland followed.

And choosing the Business Design Track turned out to be a masterstroke.

I learned deeply, thought intensely,

and, perhaps most importantly,

organized my thinking in ways I had never done before.

Preparation, Class, and Presentation

Another Journey: The Business Project (BP) Research Thesis

One of the most significant challenges—and achievements—for me during the Aalto EMBA

was the Business Project (BP) research thesis,

which I focused on intensively over the past 12 months.

My research topic was:
“A Strategy for the Successful Expansion of Ultra-Compact Cash Recycler ATMs in the U.S. Market.”

This was not merely an academic exercise.

It was a process of academically refining real-world challenges

from the ATM industry—an industry I have been deeply engaged in for decades—

and redesigning them into future-oriented business models.

Through this research, I analyzed

the operational structures and cost challenges of ATM deployment

in the U.S. retail and financial sectors.

I examined and validated

the potential of ultra-compact cash recycler ATMs

to deliver operational efficiency, cost reduction,

and improvements in cash circulation structures.

I also systematically articulated

the strategic evolution of ATMs toward service-based financial infrastructure models,

including ATM-as-a-Service, SaaS, and payment platform–based ecosystems.

Above all, this research became a decisive turning point.

It enabled me to translate

“the intuition of an experienced practitioner”

into academic language, structure, and logic.

Business Project (BP) Thesis

My Cohort, and the Power of Connection

What made this journey even more special

were the peers who studied alongside me.

Discussions and shared reflections with classmates—

from different industries, functions, seniority levels, and age groups—

constantly challenged assumptions I had long taken for granted.

Through team projects and intense debates,

I came to experience leadership in a very tangible way.

Not the leadership of

“a manager who performs well alone,”

but leadership that thinks together,

designs together,

and moves forward together.

Together with My Cohort in Finland

The Hardest Moment — and Overcoming It

The most difficult part was not physical exhaustion or a demanding schedule,
but self-doubt.

The question of

“Is this really the right choice?”

weighed on me the most.

For someone with substantial experience already behind him,

standing in a place where I was evaluated again and learning again

was, at times, uncomfortable—and at times, frightening.

In those moments, I reminded myself:

“This discomfort is a rite of passage to the next stage.”

Holding onto that belief alone,

I was able to see this journey through—

all the way to the submission of my Business Project thesis.

To myself, standing on the verge of graduation,

and to anyone contemplating an MBA

On February 26, 2026,
I will be awarded an MBA degree jointly conferred by

Aalto University (Helsinki School of Economics)

and aSSIST in Korea.

As graduation approaches, this is what I want to say to myself:

“You did not abandon your experience.

You redefined it—

with stronger structure and clearer language.”

For me, the Aalto EMBA delivered far more than knowledge.

It offered perspective beyond information,

confidence beyond a degree,

and a framework for transforming experience into a true asset.

If you are considering an MBA,
I encourage you to ask yourself not,

“Will this help me climb higher now?”

but rather,
“Will this help me organize what I’ve built

and intentionally design what comes next?”

No time? Too old?

I started at 57, and I saw that decision through—successfully.

Now, I turn the final page of my MBA journey.

With clearer vision,

stronger confidence,
and a more evolved version of myself,
I begin my next chapter.

My Journey in Progress

I am deeply grateful to the Aalto EMBA program,

and to aSSIST in Korea,

which thoughtfully designed and led this journey together.

And above all,
my heartfelt thanks go to my beloved wife and two daughters,

who supported my MBA journey with constant encouragement,

unwavering belief, and endless love.

Stay healthy and stylish,
for a better tomorrow, today as well.

February 2026

Sanghwan Kweon

#AaltoEMBA #AaltoUniversity #헬싱키경제대

#aSSIST #ExecutiveMBA

#LeadershipJourney

#LifelongLearning #NextChapter