Pauline Cho

Pauline is an MBA candidate at Columbia Business School, where she is a Meyer Feldberg Fellow and a Forte Fellow. 

At 21, after the sudden passing of her father, Pauline dropped out of university to take over the family construction business, Seojoong International Korea Inc., relocating from Northern Virginia to South Korea. She worked with international companies, expanded the company's product portfolio, developed a new office and warehouse facility, and led the company to achieve record sales and profit margins by 2021. Committed to sustainability, Pauline promoted the use of environmentally friendly materials, working with architects and developers to reduce carbon emissions and waste. During the pandemic, she completed her education, graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Economics.

Pauline is also active in the South Korean startup community and several chambers of commerce. She was raised in Northern Virginia and spends her free time practicing yoga, playing golf, reading, and exploring specialty coffee shops.