Episode 11: From Uncertainty to Impact: How SK Group is Scaling Innovation Across Borders with Hee S. Jung

Inside CVC by u-path

In this episode of Inside CVC, we sit down with Hee S. ("Hee") Jung, CEO of SK Chemicals America and head of SK Group’s corporate venture investment operations in North America. Just days after SK Group announced strong earnings in South Korea, Hee offers an inside look at how the conglomerate is navigating today’s global headwinds—from regulatory shifts and tariff challenges to geopolitical uncertainty—while doubling down on innovation that delivers operational value.

Hee shares how SK has shifted its innovation strategy from long-term moonshots to near-term impact, embedding pilots and partnerships into operational KPIs and empowering teams to adopt AI, robotics, and cybersecurity solutions. He also talks candidly about working with startups, the importance of localized strategy, and how trust from leadership enables long-term vision even amid quarterly pressures.

Whether you’re a founder looking to partner with a global corporation or a corporate innovator trying to scale new technology from within, this conversation offers real-world strategies for aligning innovation with execution—across borders, business units, and cultures.

The CVC Open Innovation Summit Europe takes place November 25–26 in Berlin, during AsiaBerlin Innovation Week. Positioned as a bridge between Europe, the U.S., and Asia’s fast-growing ecosystems, the summit is a curated, invitation-only forum for senior leaders to tackle the issues shaping innovation: AI, geopolitics, energy resilience, health, sustainability, and more. Listeners are invited to request an invitation at cvc-summit.com → E

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