Seewoo Hann is a product developer from South Korea with a decade of international professional experience, including project management, supply chain management, and sourcing and costing. His work in the automotive industry, particularly his position as a BMW and VW project manager, offered him insights into how to lead global cross-functional teams. This allowed him to transition from the automotive industry to his true passion: sports products. Transitioning into the Sports Industry Hann’s background at Sebang Global Battery taught him how teams operated within what he called a matrix organization. As a result, cultivating relationships became part of his job. However, he says that transitioning into the realm of sports products was exceedingly challenging. “I was previously working as a project manager for a decade, which made it difficult to establish a foothold in a different industry,” he states. Hann was fortunate to discover an approach that expedited the process of transferring industries, a result of the sports product management program at the University of Oregon that models Nike’s process by employing an 18-month product development calendar. Hann’s Rise from Struggle Hann did not venture into the realm of sports products without reason. During his adolescence, he says he struggled with his weight and suffered various physical injuries as a result of it. A dislocated meniscus, collapsed arches in his feet, as well as degenerative tendons in both of his ankles have not just given him an understanding of the impact that a person’s weight can have on their body but the empathy needed to create products that assist people in removing personal barriers to fitness. “I am from the automotive industry, where the quality of the product is essential,” Hann explains, and adds, “The vehicle in which you are seated must be secure, and if it is not, your life is at risk.” Aiding Individuals Through Sports Products Like with his work on automobiles, Hann aims to help everyday people and athletes support the body shapes they have for the physical activities they take part in. “My objective is to provide individuals who are experiencing weight issues with the necessary resources for overcoming their physical limitations and lead a healthy life, both physically and mentally,” he says. Hann enjoys CrossFit and exercising in the early hours of the morning, He says, “The feeling of being able to control your body in accordance with your goals instills within you the belief that you are capable of accomplishing anything.” With his work at Nike, Hann continues to help people overcome their physical limitations in a way that makes them more comfortable in the process. His experience with weight issues, as well as the various injuries he’s sustained over the years, offers him an empathetic edge that many might not have in the industry. Ultimately, Hann says, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Hann’s way forward in life is to help others reach their best selves, all while leading a healthy life in the process. The post Seewoo Hann on Using Personal Experience in the Sports Industry appeared first on LA Weekly.