'I Left to Grow': First Korean woman developer at Spotify shares her career journey

Kim Na-heon, an author and developer at Spotify / Courtesy of Clabbooks

Kim Na-heon, 36, a software developer at the world's largest music streaming platform, Spotify, has achieved the dream of many developers: working abroad.

Six years ago, she left Korea and ventured into the global job market, securing a position at Spotify the same year.

She now works at the company's headquarters in Sweden. Among the 2,000 employees from over 90 countries, she is the only Korean woman developer.

In her book "How to Move Forward Every Day," Kim shares her experiences. In a phone interview, she said, "I wrote the book for those who are hesitating in the face of challenges. I hope people gain courage from seeing someone who lives well while constantly balancing between failure and success."

Kim Na-heon presents a development project in this undated photo. Courtesy of Clabbooks

Seeking path for even 1% growth

Kim began her career 10 years ago when she joined the platform company Naver. While many contemplate a job change after a few years due to workplace monotony, Kim was different.

"I was fortunate to join a large company, but around my second year, when I was growing the most and enjoying my work, I decided to pursue a job abroad. Above all, growing through work was important to me, so thinking about the next step naturally led me to a global company."

After two years of preparation, she boarded a plane to Sweden without setting a return date.

Leaving behind the fear of stepping outside a conventional life cycle and the guilt of leaving her family, Kim's decision to leave Korea was not because she disliked Korea or specifically wanted to live abroad.

She was drawn to the opportunities for even 1 percent more growth in her work that the international arena offered.

"Some people want to move abroad because they dislike certain situations in Korea, but changing your location doesn't eliminate life's problems," she said. "It's important to understand what values you prioritize in life and whether those can be achieved abroad. That makes the decision easier."

The cover of Kim Na-heon's "How to Move Forward Every Day" / Courtesy of Clabbook

Journey to global success

Kim, now a developer at Spotify, headquartered in Sweden, has shared her experiences and career journey in her book "How to Move Forward Every Day."

Her story, which includes her 10 years of work as a developer, efforts to improve her language skills and daily life living as a foreigner, provides an insightful roadmap for those looking to enter the overseas job market.

In her book, Kim emphasizes the importance of growth through work and practical tips for those aspiring to join international companies.

"Blindly giving hope to those starting from 'zero' by saying anyone can do it feels like covering one's eyes and pretending everything is fine," she writes.

Instead, she advises jobseekers to consider applying for experienced positions.

Kim explains that the challenges and failures she faced as a developer at domestic companies were crucial in opening opportunities at global firms.

"To secure a job abroad, you need to demonstrate your strengths and abilities compared to local talent. Experience is the best portfolio. The experiences gained in domestic companies can be a significant advantage in international interviews if presented well," she said.

Kim said the name or size of a company doesn't matter much if one has developed a unique perspective in their work. "Don't see it as an overwhelming task; think of your current work as creating future opportunities," she said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.