South Korea was one of world’s poorest countries half a century ago. It has no oil. It is smaller than State of New York.
Now being the hometown of Samsung and LG, Korea is one of the most digitally advanced countries and has the world’s fastest broadband. In 2015, Bloomberg announced the most innovative country ranking and placed South Korea as number one. How can the world’s poorest country turn into top innovative country in such a short period?
As an optimistic strategist born and educated in Korea, I believe innovation. I am sure that small companies without fortune or very lean startups can innovate with endless learning, adventurous mind, willingness and finally, strategy.
BRING INNOVATION TO CANADA
Canada is a country having abundant lands and resources where all possibilities exist. On the world’s largest land, it has population of less than half of Britain. There is a great room for innovation exist. Canadians are highly educated, culturally rich, thorough at work and well organized. There is huge acceptance in Canadian society and there is deep multicultural atmosphere, which traits only a few countries in the world developed.
Canadians are very patient while Koreans are obsessed with being FAST. However, Canadians love FAST things, too. In fact, Canadian governments in Toronto and Ottawa have been crying for innovation and transition to knowledge based industry for many years. What will happen when Canada meets Korean innovation?
MEET KOREAN DIGITAL INNOVATION
As a digital strategist and startup founder, I see the huge innovation when Korean digital skills meet Canadian deep culture, abundance and generosity. advanced society and huge lands. Both bright companies and people in Canada and Korea will innovate when they connect and design the future together. In Barrie and Toronto, I met so many Canadians whose family members or friends used live and work in Korea while, of course, many Koreans are working in Canada. Now it is time to move those collaboration into digital and innovative industries from which people work together to create innovation.
KOREAN LEAN INNOVATION
For startup companies, lean management is essential skill. Koreans had almost nothing and so poor, they had to know lean management by heart and innovate from there. Now every startup company in the world has to learn lean management. So lean innovation is really needed for digital entrepreneurs. Even though you are small, you can innovate to grow if you are determined to learn and grow.
SEUNGHO HA
SAMSUNG Alumni
MSc, Seoul National University Business School
Founder Funded by Two Venture Capitals.
Digital Strategist
Innovation Strategy
Web, Mobile and Social Marketing