Nick McHugh: A love for Korea

Korea-based young leader Nick McHugh is quick to adapt in a new culture. While at the University of Otago he developed a keen interest in China. “I was really excited by international trade and international management, so I decided that in the future I wanted to work for a New Zealand exporting company,” he says. Subsequently Nick has developed a love for Korea while teaching English in Seoul.

During his time at Bayfield High School in Dunedin, Nick started working as a chef. While studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Commerce in Management he continued part-time chef work. He enjoyed applying the concepts he was learning at university to the real world. “I really enjoyed seeing how the theory I was learning applied to the real world,” says Nick, “Supply chain issues were the biggest problem at the restaurants I worked at. I could see where the theory could help these businesses improve their service.”

During his postgraduate studies Nick focussed his research on New Zealand-China business relationships, and began learning about the Free Trade Agreement with China. It was at this time that he began learning Mandarin. Nick believes trade with China represents a situation that is scary for many people but he took it in his stride.

“I planned to get involved in China, learn as much as I could, learn the rules of the game and eventually have something valuable to give back to New Zealand.”

Upon graduating Nick and girlfriend went to Korea to teach English abroad for a year. “Korea is my new home and I plan on living here for a long time,” he says. “What is keeping me here is a love of this place and culture.”

Nick currently teaches English to kindergarten and elementary children at a private language school. Nick considers one of the most important issues facing New Zealand businesses in Asia to be interpersonal relationships. “Many Asian counties place a larger importance on trust and social relationships,” says Nick, “and these relationships often require constant personal interaction. Reliance on communications technology over sharing a beer or coffee face to face could be dangerous for New Zealand firms.”

Nick joined the Young Leaders Network eight months ago. In June, along with New Zealand-based young leaders Luke Rikiti and Paul Hamilton, he attended a dinner with members of the New Zealand trade delegation in Seoul. “That really strengthened my resolve to stay, learn the language and hopefully work for a New Zealand company over here,” Nick says.