Hello, I’m Shen Jing Yuan, and I’m working in China Business Management Office at SK Global Chemical Shanghai Office.

Aside from my main position as a finance specialist, last year I was chosen as an iCON* of our department. When COVID-19 hit us in the beginning of 2020, it had been really difficult to be active as an iCON. Luckily, as the situation got better in China, I was able to gradually resume the iCON activities with various topics related to HR. As a result, last year we were able to do 10 activities in total, with 5 discussions within the division and 5 programs across departments.

(*) iCON: Innovation Communication On, a group of SK Innovation members who are acting as a communication coordination/facilitator between the company leaders and employees.

In the divisional discussions, we talked about new HR system, One Family, Happy Letter, Happy Commitment, and the Annual Wrap-up. We held the discussions in various places, from company conference room, cafeteria, to outside coffee shops with nice atmospheres, so everyone would be able to exchange thoughts freely. This allowed us to deliver the results of our internal discussions to HR departments and receive feedback, which lead to effective top-down and bottom-up communication.

▲SKGC Shanghai members participated in interdepartmental activities

For interdepartmental activities, we also tried to operate in diversified ways, from traditional dinner gathering to bowling, skating, etc. Everyone volunteered to join, and they looked truly happy. During the activities, members passed drinks around and taught each other how to bowl and skate. When we played games, the members were randomly drawn into different groups to compete, and even the team leaders also participated, so we all had a great time together. These kinds of activities brought us closer and helped us understand each other better, no matter which division or department we belonged to. It also helped us achieve commitments such as learning a new type of sports, doing fitness exercises, etc.

As an iCON, I feel that our programs are venues for communication between members and between the employees and the company. These activities could help the employees become more energetic, make them happy, and allow two-way interactions under the theme of corporate culture, company trends, current issues, and work or business exchanges.

▲(Left) When I’m working at the office / (Right) When I appeared in GBS new year episode

At the end of last year, I was glad to be invited to appear in the first broadcast of 2021 of SK Innovation GBS, our company internal broadcasting system. It was a special show when I and other global members of SK Innovation became reporters and delivered the news from our company’s business sites all around the world. Even though we did not have much time to prepare, it was a fun experience. I was the only one who represented members of Chinese subsidiaries, but I was supported by many colleagues around me. They talked a lot about my shooting and showed interests in the contents and production process of GBS. Some of my colleagues lend me props to help with the filming. They even shared their personal makeup tips to make me look better on the screen. Some members also suggested adding “hongbao,” the red envelope that has lucky money inside, as an idea to show China’s distinctive Lunar New Year holiday. It was like we transformed from GBS viewers to become newbie directors and made a debut as an internet star. It was a good opportunity for global members like us to connect with each other and increase our presence as part of SK Innovation’s big family. I hope that more members will be able to participate in such activities like this in the future.