EunJu Oh (BS/MS '12)
Languages have always been very special to EunJu Oh. She speaks Korean, Japanese, English, and French and sometimes adds a fifth choice to the list as well— Accounting. “You know, accounting is really the language of business,” EunJu explains. “You just have to learn to see the meaning behind the numbers.”
As a senior concentrating in finance and accounting, completing a minor in politics, and also completing her M.S. in accounting, EunJu is certainly fluent in this language of business. When she graduates, she will be working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the “big four” international accounting firms, in auditing. Last year, she completed an internship with PwC, an experience that helped lead to a full-time position.
However, the quantitative rigor of accounting and finance were not always her strong point. “I feel I am naturally better at ‘soft skills,’” EunJu says, “at understanding people. But when I came to Stern, I decided that I wanted to build up my hard skills too.”
EunJu chose to study in the United States after getting a taste for the western educational approach in high school, and discovering some of the ways it differed from schooling at home in Korea. “I think the student is more at the center of things here,” she says, “rather than the teacher. There is more opportunity for my voice to be heard.”
Since coming to the States, EunJu appreciates all the support she’s received. “When I got here, there were so many people who looked after me. I was really surprised how open people were.”
EunJu has clearly found academic success, but that has just been a starting point. “I understand myself now much better than four years ago,” she says, “and I have become more independent in my decision-making.”
As she looks into the future, EunJu says that she can imagine returning to Korea one day. “I would like to go back into academia as a teacher and help future generations of business people—particularly women. I have discovered that when you have the chance to help other people, it gives you a kind of happiness you can’t find in any other way.”
However, the quantitative rigor of accounting and finance were not always her strong point. “I feel I am naturally better at ‘soft skills,’” EunJu says, “at understanding people. But when I came to Stern, I decided that I wanted to build up my hard skills too.”
EunJu chose to study in the United States after getting a taste for the western educational approach in high school, and discovering some of the ways it differed from schooling at home in Korea. “I think the student is more at the center of things here,” she says, “rather than the teacher. There is more opportunity for my voice to be heard.”
Since coming to the States, EunJu appreciates all the support she’s received. “When I got here, there were so many people who looked after me. I was really surprised how open people were.”
EunJu has clearly found academic success, but that has just been a starting point. “I understand myself now much better than four years ago,” she says, “and I have become more independent in my decision-making.”
As she looks into the future, EunJu says that she can imagine returning to Korea one day. “I would like to go back into academia as a teacher and help future generations of business people—particularly women. I have discovered that when you have the chance to help other people, it gives you a kind of happiness you can’t find in any other way.”