People to Watch and Know

Private Eye People to Watch and Know

72 Karen Berger

"My philosophy of life is based on getting to know people as individuals. This is true in both my professional and personal life. If you understand and empathize with people, it makes you a better manager, negotiator, strategist, mother, friend, etc. I really enjoy people."

Karen (1967) is the VP, Transplant Services at Westchester Medical Center, a leading medical facility outside of New York City. “My career has been characterized and blessed by a series of strong female role models, for whom I have a great deal of gratitude,” she says. “I have tried to pass on my good fate by mentoring other young women, three of whom followed me to new positions when I made moves.” Her role is challenging and replete with daily tough decisions. “Running a hospital is very difficult, but when things go well, you feel really good.” Managing time is a key to maintaining balance. “I try to relax by spending quality time with my kids and husband on the weekends. It’s quality time, not quantity. As I often do at work, I try to find projects to do with my kids that play to their strengths and creativity.” Karen has two daughters, age 3 and 10, and the eldest wrote a short novel and is now designing a clothing line. “I don’t have that creative touch, but my way to be creative is to work with people.” Karen says two things really matter to her: integrity, meaning what she says, saying what she means, and work ethic. “When I had my first child I was on a conference call while I was in hard labor and I had meetings during the next days, so I’m never really not working.” Her job certainly helps her appreciate life. “I’ve seen people getting second chance at life and others dying of very painful death. This really give you perspective. It taught me humility.” •

Private Eye People to Watch and Know

74 Seung Jae Baik

Seung Jae Baik left a job in his native Korea to pursue a new life in Belgium. He says, "If you can dream it, you can do it. I really believe that as long as we have imagination and courage, anything can happen. Look at the bright side and go for it. And, think big!”

Seung Jae (1975), born in Seoul, Korea, is Product Research Manager at P&G in Brussels, Belgium. He began his career at AMOREPACIFIC, the largest cosmetics company in South Korea. Yet, though it was an interesting job, he grew tired and decided to earn his PhD in chemical engineering in Leuven, Belgium.“It was not an easy decision, as I had just gotten married and there was no one I knew in Belgium. Also, studying more doesn’t guarantee a brighter future. But I needed some fresh air,” Seung Jae says. As a hobby he used to do Lego constructions, which his fouryear old son now plays with. For Seung Jae, Legos aren't for displaying or collecting but to play with, which makes him happy. He likes working at P&G because there are many things to learn and many new people to meet. “However, I don't forget to see the outside as well, trying to know how the others are doing to keep me awake.” Seung Jae has two young children. He feels great responsibility as a foreign dad. “My wife and I have to manage all by ourselves. Sometimes I feel sorry for my boys, since they couldn't get as much love as they would have in Korea, especially from their grandparents,” he says. When asked about his motto, Seung Jae responds, “If someone asks me to choose one of the two options - One: an excellent job with poor colleagues, or two: a poor job with nice colleagues, I would go for the second option as the human relationship lasts much longer and is more difficult to get. I believe that the ultimate achievement and happiness come from the human relationship.”•

Private Eye People to Watch and Know

76 Tasia Iliopoulou

“When I was little I wanted to become a teacher specialized in sports, but my parents persuaded me that it was not a good idea. I studied economics, but always deep in my heart my desire was to deal with sports.”

Tasia (1964), is Head of the Finance Department of Alpha Bank in Athens but she always loved all kinds of sports. Maybe the reason she loves the mountains so much is because her hometown is a 30-minute walk from Immitos Mountain. “I used to go trekking in the Greek mountains nearly every weekend, joining the Athenian Mountain Club. As an active member of the club since then, with organization tasks, you put a lot of energy into the club… You gain a lot of friends, you learn how to behave with other people.” She became responsible for organizing treks and climbs around the world: Kilimanjaro in Africa, Acongaua in Argentina, Elbrus in Caucausus, Broad Peak and Gondogoro - La in the Karakorum, Pakistan, Altai in Mongolia, Mount Whitney in the US, Island Peak in the Himalayas and, highest of all, Cho-Oyu in Tibet (altitude: 8,201 meters). “What you get from these experiences is so precious: you learn how to deal with unexpected facts that happen during an expedition, how to cooperate with members of your group, how to contact people from another country other than western civilization, how to face nature, become patient and wait for the good weather to come. How to accept the food you get! How to accept the bad mood of your fellows, accept that you are sometimes not acceptable! How to keep yourself committed to the goal you have set.” Her dream? As every climber would, she would love to climb the highest mountain in the world: Mt. Everest. “My wish, though, is to be healthy and enjoy every day of my life,” Tasia concludes.•