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In this inspiring episode, you will dive deep into the journey of Dongmi Choi aka 'Dongmicus' a Global Women of Influence Awards 2024 winner and one of South Korea’s top LinkedIn influencers. Tune in to discover how she leveraged her strengths to build a professional network from Scratch and become one of South Korea's leading LinkedIn influencers, featured in major media outlets and the Author of 'Homo Dongmicus: The evolution of an office worker to an Influencer'
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Transcript:
Julie Landau: Hello, I'm Julie Landau, your host. I believe that you are surrounded by superwomen who can inspire you to ignite your ambition, remove your self-beliefs, and make a positive impact on your life. This series is your journey to find female role models who will inspire you to take action to change your own situation for the better. I believe that you have 100% of the capabilities to become the leader you aspire to be. Leading is not a position; it's a choice. Welcome to Empowerment Voices.
First, I would like to thank you, Dongmi, for being one of the first Empowerment Voices. I found you on LinkedIn, and you're going to talk soon about how visibility on LinkedIn is one of your biggest strengths. There's no surprise, that's how I found you as a voice and key influencer on LinkedIn. I'm really happy to share your background, experience, and powerful message with all women.
Julie Landau: First, maybe can you introduce yourself and tell us more about you?
Dongmi Choi: First off, I want to give a big thank you to Julie, our amazing host, for having me on the podcast today! I’m a startup specialist at the Chungbunk Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, backed by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. We help incubate startups and connect them with investors, both locally and internationally. My role is all about helping these startups grow, find investment opportunities, and scale their ideas. I also write articles on investment trends, and it’s been incredible to see how much traction my expert interviews have gained among investors and LinkedIn users around the world.
My startup journey kicked off when I went on a field trip to Silicon Valley. That trip completely changed my perspective and opened my eyes to the fascinating world of startups. When I got the offer to join my current company, I jumped at the chance because I knew this was where I could make an impact. Fast-forward 8 years, and I’m honored to be recognized as one of South Korea’s top LinkedIn influencers and a top contributor on e27, a leading tech media platform in Singapore. Expanding my influence globally has been such a rewarding part of my mission to support startups and create opportunities for growth.
Julie Landau: I love your story because a lot of women feel that it’s hard to have purpose, passion, and combine work together, and you definitely demonstrate that. Coming from a world that is totally different, you become aware of your skills, your passion, and what you like to do. You leveraged these strengths and jumped into a totally different industry and environment. Because you leverage your strengths and stayed consistent throughout your journey, you succeeded—and that’s really inspiring.
I know you have a nickname, and it’s actually on your LinkedIn. Tell us, what is the story behind that nickname, and how does it reflect your personality?
Dongmi Choi: Ah, yes! “Dongmicus” reflects my relentless challenger spirit and dual persona. One of my followers came up with the name. Here’s a funny story—I created a LinkedIn poll asking my followers to choose the best image to describe me, and the most popular choice ended up being an AI avatar of me in a spacesuit. There were other cute and beautiful options, but people chose the space girl with a jetpack because it symbolizes my quest to explore new frontiers. Now, with over 18,000 followers in just three years and my posts being seen 1.5 million times a year, people say I’m like a new species. That’s why I named my book Homogeneous from an Office Worker to an Influencer. So, that’s the story behind my nickname and how it all came to life.
Julie Landau: Coming back to your career—you started from scratch, and I believe it wasn’t easy. How did you identify and leverage your strengths to excel as a startup ecosystem builder and content creator?
Dongmi Choi: I always focused on my strengths. I knew I was great at networking, so I went to as many startup events as I could, but something was missing. Then the pandemic hit, and everything moved online. That’s when I started focusing on online networking. One day, I watched the movie Julie & Julia, where a woman challenges herself to cook 500 French recipes while blogging about her journey. After watching that, I thought, "If she can do it, so can I." The next day, I started my own blog. I had never written anything before, but I gave it a shot. I wrote about investment and startups, shared it with friends, and they liked it. So, I posted it and shared it with more people. It became popular, especially in investor group chats, which boosted my confidence.
From there, things took off. My name spread in the startup ecosystem because of my content and networking. I even started writing in English and created another blog. A friend from the Philippines suggested I apply to e27, a tech media platform in Singapore. I got my first article published, and by the end of 2023, I was one of their top 50 contributors and a top 10 women contributor. Building trust through content creation was key to my success, along with my networking skills.
Julie Landau: You’ve mentioned networking several times. Can you share some advice or tips to support women in starting to network online without needing to spend hours on it?
Dongmi Choi: Building an online network can seem tough, but here are three simple tips that worked for me:
1. Be brave and take the first step. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. When I started, I posted my content everywhere—group chats, LinkedIn, and any platform I could find. You never know what will work unless you try.
2. Find your audience. Figure out where your target audience is hanging out online. For me, it was LinkedIn and investor groups. Once you find them, start sharing valuable content and join the conversation.
3. Keep trying and stay consistent. Not everything will work at first, and that’s okay. It’s all about trial and error. Just keep going, stay consistent, and don’t give up. Over time, you will see results.
Julie Landau: You mentioned earlier that you’ve been named one of South Korea’s top LinkedIn influencers and a top 10 women contributor by e27.
Can you share how consistency contributed to your success in the startup ecosystem?
Dongmi Choi: Consistency has been key to my success, and I'd like to share a recent example. As I kept writing and sharing my achievements on LinkedIn and Facebook, I earned the title of influencer. Last week, a reporter from JoongAng Ilbo, one of Korea’s top media outlets, told me about a call with LinkedIn’s US headquarters. When they were asked to recommend a Korean influencer, my name was the only one mentioned. It was such an honor to be recognized as a representative influencer for LinkedIn. When the article was published, including my LinkedIn tips for Korean business opportunities, I shared it on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. The response was amazing, with many people saying they were inspired by my journey. This shows why consistency is so important.
Julie Landau: We’ve been talking about your achievements, your success, and your strengths, but let’s dive into the challenges.
Navigating the startup world, especially as a woman, can be challenging. Can you share an example of a particularly tough situation you faced and how you overcame it?
Dongmi Choi: Even after eight years of hard work, a lot of people in the startup ecosystem still didn’t really know who I was or what I did. I’d hand out business cards, but it didn’t always communicate my value effectively. I realized, like many professionals, that building a strong network is crucial. By staying focused and persistent, I was able to grow my connections and finally get the visibility I needed.
This experience taught me how important resilience and bravery are. No matter the industry, you have to put yourself out there—whether it’s through speeches, interviews, or networking. The more you do, the more trust and recognition you gain.
Julie Landau: That’s a powerful message.
Can you elaborate on how you "put yourself out there"? You mentioned online networking earlier—was LinkedIn the main platform, or were there other ways you gained visibility?
Dongmi Choi: I’ve always been eager for new opportunities, and I learned early on that visibility doesn’t come from just one place. LinkedIn was important, but I also put myself out there through YouTube, radio shows, and regional TV. Anytime I was invited to something, I said yes, even if I was nervous. I knew that even if I failed, I’d learn something that could help me grow.
For example, I’m a bit nervous today because English isn’t my first language, but I’m giving it my best. Stepping out of my comfort zone is critical. I also review books on self-development and marketing, which helped me connect with more people. One of my favorite moments was meeting Thales Teixeira, the author of Unlocking the Customer Value Chain. I gave him a signed copy of my book, and he was surprised I wrote it in just four months. His encouragement pushed me to keep going. So, I always give my best effort, whether I’m reviewing products, sharing news, or speaking publicly. This is why people call me “Homogeneous with High Speed”—I’m always ready to act when opportunities come my way.
Julie Landau: You definitely live according to your values, and you’ve managed to gain authority and recognition from influential people. It’s clear that your bravery and hunger for opportunities drive your success.
What advice would you give to women in tech who are looking to make a significant impact in their fields, especially those considering a career shift or starting from scratch?
Dongmi Choi: My advice for women in tech is to really focus on personal branding and consistently share your journey and achievements. Building a strong network, both locally and globally, is key. Don’t be afraid to seek out opportunities to collaborate across borders—platforms like LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to expand your reach and gain visibility.
The most important thing is to never hesitate to put yourself out there. Your voice, ideas, and contributions matter, and they can make a huge impact. Whether you’re just starting out or already established, sharing your story and staying connected will help you grow and make a difference.
Julie Landau: That’s a great message. As you mentioned earlier, women founders have shown they can deliver more profitable startups than male founders, and data supports this. Your advice on personal branding and networking really hits the mark for women in tech.
What strategies or mindset do you think are essential for women in tech to adapt in order to thrive on a global stage?
Dongmi Choi: To succeed globally, women in tech need to recognize that what works in one market may not always work in another. It’s important to adapt to different regions’ unique needs. I’ve learned to adjust my content for global audiences, changing the tone or format while keeping the core message the same. Joining global tech communities is also crucial—they help you expand your network and increase visibility.
Personal branding is key. Earlier this year, I was named one of the top 20 LinkedIn influencers on the Favikon influencer platform, and only two women were selected. I believe many women hesitate to put themselves out there, which limits their visibility. My advice is simple: focus on your strengths, create content that highlights your skills, and don’t be afraid to share your journey. By doing this, you’ll naturally become an influencer in your industry, both locally and globally.
Julie Landau: That’s a great perspective, but not all women aim to become influencers at your level.
What advice would you give to women who might not want to achieve such a high level of influence but still want to demonstrate their activity and knowledge online?
Dongmi Choi: You’re right—not everyone wants to reach the same level of influence, and that’s okay. For women who don’t want to aim for the top, a great way to build visibility is simply by contributing to interesting posts or articles and sharing your voice. You don’t need to write full articles—just adding thoughtful comments on posts from influencers, like myself, will still get you noticed.
When you comment on posts, especially those from influencers, people will be curious and look at your profile. That’s one way to start generating traffic and building your presence online.
Julie Landau: Exactly! And that’s the purpose of this series—empowering voices, sharing our ideas, and contributing to making an impact.
What would be your catchy tagline or pitch if you had to summarize what you do in one sentence?
Dongmi Choi: My tagline is: "Your expert bridge to international startup success and global digital presence."
Julie Landau: I love that! It’s straightforward and summarizes what you stand for. Thank you for sharing your background, experience, and empowering message.
If there’s one key takeaway for the women listening to this, what would it be?
Dongmi Choi: The key takeaway would be this: you can start to build a network from scratch by being consistent, brave, and strategic, and it will deliver results. Don’t hesitate to put yourself out there, no matter where you’re starting from.
Julie Landau: Thank you, Dongmi, for giving us this great opportunity. I hope many women in tech are inspired by your story and start their own journey. We’ll share the link to your book and articles as well—by the way, is there an English version of your book?
Dongmi Choi: Yes, there’s an English version about being an influencer.
Julie Landau: Thank you, Dongmi! Lovely to have you on the show. Have a great day!
Dongmi Choi: Thank you so much! Have a great day too.
More about Dongmi
Dongmi Choi is one of the winners of the Global Women of Influence Awards 2024 and one of South Korea's leading LinkedIn influencers, featured in major media outlets. With over 8 years of experience as a startup ecosystem builder, she specializes in accelerating Korean startups and helping them scale globally. As a columnist, content creator, and the creator of a successful startup YouTube series, Dongmi is passionate about maximizing investment opportunities and driving innovation in the early-stage startup space
To connect with Dongmi
1. Blog
2. LinkedIn
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