Name: Jenny Kim

Category: In-House: Manufacturing & Chemicals

Firm/Company: Koch Industries

Title: Deputy General Counsel and Vice President of Public Policy

Time in Position: Since 2016

What was your route to the top?

You may not believe it, but failure to understand second-semester physics and dolls brought me to this specific career path as an attorney. I have been fascinated by human genetics, the inner workings of the human mind, and how this all impacts our hearts and responses to our environment. Instead of playing with dolls, I dissected them. But during my second semester of college, I met physics, electricity and the laws of thermodynamics. I could not comprehend these subjects. And in an instant, poof went my dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

I recalibrated my dreams and decided to become an attorney. In retrospect, it was not such a far-fetched dream and one that was close to my family. My great-grandfather had been the first chief justice of the Korean Supreme Court when South Korea had become a republic after the end of Japanese occupation. The story of my great-grandfather and his hardships — losing a wife to war, developing uncharted civil and criminal codes and building a new nation — inspired me to work hard.

What keeps you up at night?

  1. How do we ensure that our criminal laws are focused on and enforced against who we are afraid of rather than who we are mad at?
  2. What negative legal and public policy trends are we missing, and how are the U.S. and non-U.S. government systems and enforcement mechanisms negatively influencing each other?
  3. How do we ensure that barriers to opportunities are removed for all so that businesses and communities can thrive without fear of arbitrary prosecution and fines and fees?
  4. Am I the best coach and supervisor possible? How do I ensure that my teammates are growing and thriving?

What is the best leadership advice you've given or received, and why do you think it was effective?

What is the best leadership advice you've given or received, and why do you think it was effective? "Leadership" is simple yet complex—it is about putting others before yourself, establishing and promoting trust and loyalty, and being a lifelong learner, because no one does it alone. It is a 24/7 type of dedication—it does not mean that you cannot enjoy life outside the office, but life is better when you work at something that you are passionate about. And it is easier to put down words on paper about "leadership" than to actually practice and improve every day. But you have to—it's like brushing and flossing your teeth. You need to do it every day.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession?

  • Listen to hear, not to respond.
  • Thank yous are always important.
  • Leave them with a smile.
  • Maintain a sense of humor.
  • Launder your heart daily.
  • Know your limits and don't let people shoplift your time, treasure and talents. You are not [at] a 7–11 or Wawa.