On life, leadership … and sesame leaves

Effective leadership is informed by the ancient rhythms of the harvest, says Interim Dean Soojung Kim in her 18:83 address  

By Madison Dame

Sesame leaves and leadership are not two things often compared, but Interim Dean of the UND School of Graduate Studies Soojung Kim made a point of connecting the two.

You see, tending to sesame leaves is something that not only requires skills that are similar to those needed for leadership, but also fosters a deeper connection to home, Kim said.

“Growing sesame leaves, I found it to be not easy,” said Kim during her recent 18:83 address on the Memorial Union’s Social Stair. “It requires a lot of daily care, consistency and attention every day; and it needs good soil, plus the right amount of sunlight and protection.

“But when you tend to them carefully throughout the summer, it gives you the nourishment that you and your family need throughout the winter.”

And that’s what leadership means to her, Kim said: not instant results, but faithfulness and consistency that leads to a sustainable harvest.

Seven lessons for leading and harvesting

Kim gave her 18:83 Address on Oct. 1. The 18:83 Speaker Series is part of a larger UND initiative to have various local and UND leaders talk about their leadership experiences. The speakers time their addresses to be about 18 minutes and 83 seconds, a number that coincides with the University’s founding year

In her talk, Kim offered seven lessons that related to both harvesting sesame leaves and fostering good leadership.

She began with “Perseverance and Hope.” These lessons apply to harvesting and leadership but came from her days as a short-track speed skater, she said.

Kim said she would start slow and from the back and wait for the opportunity to move up through a gap. She would take advantage of the gaps and give 100% through the finish line, sometimes finishing the race in first, second or third place.

Her father “was really proud of the fact that I continued to put every effort that I can until I cross the finish line,” she said “And that lesson has stuck with me for a long time.

“Just like in skating, in leadership I believe you don’t always get to start from the very beginning,” she continued. “But what matters is that you continue to hold onto hope and persevere throughout the course with honest effort.”

Committing fully to a goal is important, she said. That means staying in the race or preparing for the harvest to come, while giving everything in one’s power.

The second lesson was about seeing both the “Trees and Forest.” As a leader, one must balance the work of today with the vision for tomorrow, Kim said.

Leaders need a 10-, 20-, or even 30-year vision, but they also need to know what to do today to move toward that future.

Introspection as a superpower

Kim’s third lesson was about “Strength in Difference.” Kim is rather introverted, she said, but she also recognizes the strength that quality gives her.

“That made me realize that introversion is actually my superpower because I am not focusing on pleasing everyone,” she said. “And that lets me focus on what matters the most at the time.”

Accepting that she may on occasion disappoint people frees Kim up to handle harder conversations, she said.

“Over the years and from my experiences, living as an introvert, I learned that when you approach those tough conversations with grace and kindness with a goal of improvement and growth, you can achieve more, together,” she said. “And that’s been a good lesson for me.”

Growing sesame seeds requires the basics, too, including sunlight, soil and strong roots. These connect with qualities of leadership, Kim said.

For example, transparency acts like sunlight in the way it lets people see you and the process, observations that help with growth.

For another example, “integrity, to me, is the soil and the foundation of everything that we conduct ourselves, personally or professionally,” Kim said. And while tending soil leads to stronger roots, fostering integrity brings about stronger and longer lasting trust.

Good plants need good fertilizer, of course; and for Kim, mentors have served that purpose for her leadership, she said. Mentors nourish growth and offer guidance and support, especially when one is looking for balance.

“If you are a young student, faculty member or staff member, go seek out mentors on campus and in the community,” she said. “What I have learned in my 10 years in Grand Forks is that we have just so many people who are so generous in sharing their wisdom and guidance.”

Grace + grit = growth

Grace and grit were the sixth lesson that Kim focused on. Growth requires both, Kim said, and needs daily efforts. Her formula: grit toward herself, and grace toward others.

“I try to hold myself to grit,” she said. That means “l’ll show up every day, I’ll give my 100% to the things that I commit to, and more importantly, I’ll take responsibility as a leader, as a team member, when things are not really going well.

“And I try really hard every day to live and lead with grace and kindness.”

Kim’s last lesson spoke of harvest and legacy. To create nourishment throughout winter, the harvest needs to be preserved, she noted.

Moreover, by preserving the harvest, you’re preserving the lessons, she said. Most importantly, that means preserving relationships, so that you “create a legacy that carries on and sustains others for years to come. …

“I hope that the consistent and faithful choices that I make daily will create a lasting impact by nourishing others and sustaining others in this community,” she said.

About the author:

Madison Dame is a Communications and Journalism major at UND. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career as a journalist.