Don Kim did not let language and cultural barriers get in the way of his professional aspirations. This attitude, along with persistence and dedication, eventually led him to become Sony Hawaii’s top honcho. Coming to the islands from Japan in 1972, Don worked his way up the corporate ladder notwithstanding his minimal command of the English language.
With Don Kim at the helm, Sony Hawaii was able to increase its sales by 64 per cent from 2004 to 2005. This year, Sony sets their sales target to 250 million, thanks to the growing demand of the US Continental and PX military markets.
Born and raised in Korea, Don finds language to be a huge obstacle to his professional career although he is thankful that Hawaii maintains a multicultural society having no bias to ethnicity and nationality. This is one of the main reasons why he chooses to make the islands his home.
Don Kim, president of Sony Hawaii Company, shares with us how he has come to love Hawaii and why he opts to make the place his home after retirement. In this GGR interview, he talks about the values he learned as Korean military personnel and how these helped him in his professional career.
Don also mentions Sony’s involvement in the world of golf, and how the Sony Open contributes to the betterment of the State and the promotion of Hawaii as an idyllic tourist destination.
All these and more only here on Greater Good Radio Hawaii.
BIO:
Born November 17, 1945, South Korea
February 1968 Graduated from Kyung Hee University Seoul, Korea
March 1968 Joined Hwashin Industry Co. (Hyung-Han Haw-Sum)
December 1969 Resigned Hwashin and arrived Tokyo, Japan for study
July 1970 Join Sony Corporation Tokyo, Japan
July 1972 Transferred to Sony Hawaii Company Honolulu, Hawaii
April 1986 Director, Sony Hawaii Company
April 1989 Vice President, Sony Hawaii Company
April 2000 Senior Vice President, Sony Hawaii Company
Nov. 2004- Current President, Sony Hawaii Company
Social Activities
1963 – 1965 Korean Military Service – Army
1985 – Current Deacon, Agape M. Baptist Church – Southern Baptist
1989 – Current Member, Waialae Country Club Honolulu, Hawaii
1992 – 1995 Executive Board Member, Southern Baptist Convention (HI)
1993 – 2003 General Executie Director, GCS International Hawaii Club
1999 – Current Executive Director, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc.
(Sony Open in Hawaii, PGA Tour in USA)
2004 – Current President, GCS INternational – Hawaii Club
2004 – Current Board of Directors, East-West Center Foundation
2005 – Current Board of Directors, Hawaii Baaptist Academy
Awards
May 1996 Medal of Peony, GCS International Club – HQ, Korea
July 1998 Chairman’s Award from Sony Corporation Tokyo, Japan
Family Wife Carolyn, daughters Angela, Nelli, Lori, and son Don Jr.
Links:
Sony Hawaii Company
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