Newsletter

Newsletter - Week of March 3, 2025

Photo by Anthony DELANOIX / Unsplash

This week's line-up:

Why I started this newsletter & Lessons from 22 years of expat journey (#IWD)
Markets & Investing
My favorites
Quote of the week

Why I Started This Newsletter Lessons from 22 Years of Expat Journey

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Thank you for being here—whether you’ve been following my journey for years or just tuning in. After taking some time to reflect in 2024, I’m finally bringing this newsletter back.

Since it’s International Women’s Day (and because many of you have asked), I wanted to re-introduce myself. I’ll share how this newsletter started, my personal journey as an expat for 22 years across three continents, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Plus, I’ll let you know how you can get involved in future editions. Let’s dive in!

Luckily, I had some reflection time in nature...and got loads of inspiration and downloads to share with y'all!😄

I’m sharing my self-discovery journey because I want to connect with you on a deeper level. I also hope it gives younger generations on a similar path some hope and a voice. I wish I had someone who shared her journey in an authentic way when I was younger.

I truly believe that humanity evolves when we share our stories. Each of us has a unique perspective, and by offering our lessons, we contribute to the collective intelligence of the world.

Looking back, I’ve realized something simple yet profound. Personal growth, leadership, and even business all come down to one thing—human connection. Sharing our stories is what truly brings us together.

🦅 Now, I have to admit—writing this kind of newsletter and opening up wasn’t easy for me. You might laugh, but I used to struggle with the simplest questions. What’s your name? Where are you from?

Growing up, I had to be extremely guarded. Because of my parents' public roles, I was taught to keep a low profile, stay silent, and almost live undercover. Security protocols were strict—don’t reveal my identity, keep phone calls under a minute to avoid being traced, and even family dinners were sometimes recorded to prevent political attacks or worse—assassination attempts.

Speaking openly wasn’t just discouraged; it felt dangerous. So, finding my voice, unlearning those fears, and opening up my throat chakra took years of healing.

That’s why I’m really grateful you’re here with me today. It’s an honor to share my story with you.

1️⃣ My Background: Legacy, Expectations & Breaking Away

How I got started on my expat journey:

Two things.

First, for my life mission to make the world a better place (I don’t know why, but this mission was ingrained in my brain since age 4 - I had to make a deal with my parents to send me to study abroad after a decade of convincing).

Second, to build something of my own. For your context, I was born into a South Korean family deeply rooted in public service and diplomacy for more than a thousand or two thousand years, depending on how you look at it. People today don’t really care about the noble or royal family and it is not a thing anymore, but elders made sure we remember our duty and responsibility noting the family trees go back to 57 B.C. esp. for my mum as a royal family descendent, and my father’s family being one of the founding members of the Goryeo dynasty in the 10*th century (sorry I said 8th in the audio) that gave today’s name Korea.

My father spent decades in government, leading North Korea's peace talks & negotiations and diplomatic relations with the U.S., Russia, Germany and beyond.

So, to put it mildly, I was raised with a deep sense of responsibility to public service and community.

💡 But there was a catch. Growing up in a highly visible family meant I was taught to keep things private. There was a playbook for how I was supposed to live.

But from age 4, I knew I wanted something different. I didn’t want to follow the path laid out for me—I wanted to build something of my own, especially as a woman in a male-dominated society. So, I treated my life like a start-up 'EJ Elena Shin Inc.' since kindergarten, and bet everything on myself.

At age 14/15, I made a decision that changed everything:

I left South Korea alone to start my mission journey.

2️⃣ The Expat Experience: Growth, Challenges & Identity Struggles

Looking back, that decision was a defining sliding doors moment.

When you move countries at a young age, you don’t just adapt—you completely rebuild yourself.

It was nothing like what I had imagined - I had no friends or family I knew and had to become self-reliant.

But in hindsight, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me that changed the whole trajectory of my life.

It led me to grow up with German and Israeli host families in Toronto instead of attending boarding schools in the U.S., work in finance in NYC and London instead of following my childhood dream of becoming a human rights lawyer at the UN, and embark on spiritual pilgrimages across 55+ countries, going through profound personal transformations.

Every pivot, every unexpected turn shaped who I became. 22 years of expat life around the world gave me a hell of experiences I wouldn’t dare wish upon anyone—and yet, perhaps, I wouldn’t trade—I’ve come to embrace the richness of my journey. From Daisy to Sunflower.

💡 Here’s the thing about being an expat though:

You’re constantly adapting, but you never feel fully rooted.
Cultural identity crisis is inevitable—part Canadian, part New Yorker (my most dominant identity) with a touch of London, German, and Israeli influences, but may start to lose touch with your own roots South Korean.
You say goodbye more than you say hello. You get used to revolving-door friendships.

The rewards were incredible, but so were the trade-offs. For two decades, I was moving at full speed—completely locked into this Olympian tunnel vision, leading a monastic lifestyle. My identity became my work. The other thing I was only fixated on was to find the meaning of life through spiritual pilgrimages.

Twelve years in finance passed in a blur of meetings, flights, and deadlines. Somewhere in between, I juggled a master’s certificate in sustainability at Harvard (for 3 years) while working full-time, flying back to Boston from wherever I happened to be at that moment in the world. Two to four hours of sleep was normal. So was the constant hustle. But it was all good because I convinced myself I was doing my mission work (side note: I had to work with a therapist to understand where this ‘self-imposed mission’ thing was coming from; I’ll tell you separately if you want to hear.).

But the collateral damages were clear: missed family moments, sacrificed well-being, self-doubts and insecurities started to creep in. Did I make the right choice? And I constantly felt like I belonged everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

Then 2020 happened. The pandemic. For the first time, life slowed down.

My planned move back to NYC was canceled. I was alone in my London flat for nine months, reflecting. And for the first time, I asked myself: What am I really running away from? What am I chasing?

Yes, I had built a career I was proud of. Yes, I had seen the world. But I had also been running on momentum, not intention.

So, I decided to do something different. I decided to rebuild my life with more balance and intention this time. I love my work because it is my life mission, but I realised that I need to build life outside of work as well to be sustainable.

4️⃣ 2024: What I Did Differently & Lessons Learned

In 2024, I made a commitment to reconnect with my inner child and cross off the things I once loved, outside of work that I couldn’t do over the past 20 years or so.

✔ Launched a podcast to reflect on the expat experience & connect with my Korean heritage.

✔ Ran my first half marathon, inspired by a mentor who raised $20M for charity (he built a children’s hospital!).

✔ Learned to sail & got back into sports (running / tennis / skiing / horse riding, etc.) after years of being ‘too busy’. I felt like I went back to high school because I used to play field hockey for my school.

✔ Started rebuilding my local community after years of revolving-door friendships.

✔ Deepened self-awareness through therapy, coaching, and meditation. Learned about Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and how to navigate the world differently.

Biggest lesson? Success isn’t just about climbing higher. It’s about alignment—between purpose and well-being.

This journey wasn’t about doing less—it was about integrating success with well-being. High achievers often run in overdrive, but real longevity—whether in career or life—requires recalibration and balance.

I learned that from my paternal grandpa. He was a successful businessman. Rising from the ruins after the Korean War, he worked really hard for 50 years, building an empire. He never had a vacation or family time and didn’t spend a dime on himself. At age 60, when he was finally ready to enjoy some life, one day, suddenly he collapsed, becoming half-paralyzed. For the next 10 years, he remained bedridden before leaving this world. He was such a charismatic, tall, and general-like stout figure that no one dared go against him. Yet, as he lost his health, everything he had built lost its meaning.

His spirit is always with me, reminding me what’s really important in life - but sometimes, it’s hard to listen - isn’t it?

This is why I restarted this newsletter. Because I know I’m not the only one asking these questions, this is also a natural extension of my earlier dream - as editor-in-chief for my school newspaper in junior high, I once wanted to be a journalist. And also, as a perpetual learning machine, I love sharing knowledge with others - which comes from my mum who was a high school teacher before she launched her model career and own business.

I want to share my journey and exchange ideas with the community of people—not just the wins, but the real stories, the lessons, and the pivots. I want to create a space where we talk about:

📌 AI & Investing – How technology is reshaping finance & our life

🌍 Sustainable Investing – How we create impact-driven portfolios

💰 Personal Finance – Wealth-building strategies for the long run

🏆 Leadership & High Performance – Thriving & Resilience in fast-paced careers

🌀 Conscious Living – Integrating success with well-being

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about external achievements. It’s about living a life that feels true to you. It is such a cliche, but it is so true.

6️⃣ How You Can Engage & Be Part of This

So, what’s next? Here’s how you can be part of this:

✅ Subscribe & share this newsletter with friends, colleagues, or anyone interested in AI, investing, leadership, and conscious living.✅ Let me know what topics you’d like to see covered.✅ If you want to collaborate or contribute, reach out! This newsletter is meant to be a community, not just a monologue.

I’m so excited to be back, and I hope this space brings you value, inspiration, and something worth thinking about.

Thanks for your presence in this world with your beating heart!

🔊Previous newsletters can be found here.

Stay strong, be you, and be the light! 😉 HAVE A GREAT ONE, EVERYONE!

📈Markets & Investing

Where do I even begin? Every week since January 20th—the beginning of Trump 2.0—has been packed with developments. I couldn't have found a better way to summarize the first 50 days of this new administration. (For reference, check out An A-Z of Donald Trump's First 50 Days in Office.)

Before we dive in, let me be clear: I remain neutral in my political views. My focus is on the facts and the implications of policy shifts, so take this as an objective analysis rather than a debate on media outlet bias - whether they are left or right.

As the U.S. political landscape undergoes a seismic shift with Trump's re-election, it’s essential to track the key figures shaping policy and direction—figures like JD Vance, the newly inaugurated Vice President, Elon Musk, and, of course, Trump himself. This week, we are taking a closer look at JD Vance: his rise to power and what his influence means for U.S. policy and global affairs, particularly in AI, geopolitics, tariffs, and sustainable finance. Next time, we’ll dive into Elon Musk’s role in this evolving landscape.

We are only beginning to glimpse what the next four years (and beyond) will bring. After the passing of Henry Kissinger, I couldn’t help but think—the world will never be the same. And indeed, we are witnessing a shift toward a multipolar world order, signaling the end of America's long-standing role as the global "big brother" under the banner of democracy (i.e., American hegemony). This isn’t new—it’s a future we’ve discussed since the ’90s and 2000s. But now, it’s unfolding before our eyes.

Finally, a note for the week: Big investors gathered at the Bloomberg Invest Forum to share their insights. Below is a summary of key takeaways. (Generated with the help of ChatGPT.)

👽 AI

💡

Sharing interesting AI resources as I go along!

Can you believe this image was created by AI in just 10 seconds with a simple prompt 'create a sun rise photo'? Try yourself!: https://ideogram.ai/t/explore

Generative AI explained:

😍 My Favorites

*Here are my top 14 podcasts. What are yours? Drop your recs, and I’ll feature them (with your name!) in the next edition!

Lately, I’m obsessed with Founders Podcast—diving deep into the lives of great thinkers and leaders. I love learning how they got to where they are and the obstacles they had to overcome.

👍 Quote of the week

This week's inspiration came from a book club I am part of. We read 'Une breve eternite: Philosophie de la longévité (A Brief Eternity: The Philosophy of Longevity, 2019)'. If interested, check out this Guardian interview (2011) with the author - French philosopher, Pascal Bruckner.

TOP 17 QUOTES BY PASCAL BRUCKNER | A-Z Quotes

Thanks for reading! BYE FOR NOW~

📰 Why I started this newsletter...

Hi Everyone – The Return of My Newsletter 🚀