Chulho Hyun

1. What kind of work are you doing in Geneva?

I am outposted here as the Senior Communication Specialist with a Project & Change Management Team that is coordinating the implementation of what is called the “Headquarters Efficiencies Initiative,” an effort by UNICEF Headquarters to work even more efficiently and effectively for children with stakeholder and partners around the world.  I am responsible for leading the internal communication and staff engagement for the Project Team.  All members of the team are working remotely – myself here, and my fellow teammates in the Netherlands, Kenya and Türkiye.

2. Tell us about your career so far and what made you decide to pursue a career in international development cooperation and especially in communications?

I started with UNICEF in Islamabad as Information-Communication Officer for the UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office which, at the time, was based in Pakistan.  When the office relocated to Kabul in 2002, I continued as Chief of Communication.  I then lived and worked in Kampala as Chief of Communication for UNICEF’s Uganda Country Office between 2004 and 2010.  From 2010 to 2014, I served as Communication Specialist, Change Management Office, Office of the Executive Director, UNICEF New York Headquarters; which was followed by an assignment as Senior Advisor for Field Support, Division of Communication, UNICEF New York, 2014-2017.  More recently, I was the Regional Chief of Communication, UNICEF Europe & Central Asia Regional Office, 2017-2021; and Senior Communication Advisor, Organizational Design & Improvement Lab, UNICEF New York, 2021-2022, outposted in Geneva.

While I began my professional life in broadcasting, I found that working in the information-communication discipline – in all its aspects, on “the other side of the mic” – has been very rewarding.  I am also grateful to my parents for the experiences and exposure they gave me, from my early childhood, in terms of what it means to grow up in multicultural settings while keeping a strong cultural connection to my Korean heritage.  Some 50 years on, I think it’s fair to say these real-life lessons had a lasting impact on my outlook and the paths I have chosen.

3. Do you have any advice or message for students or professionals who want to work at UNICEF?

Here’s the advice received from a UNICEF “seonbaenim” when I first started out: “At its core, UNICEF is a field-based organization that delivers for children in the most difficult-to-be a child in the world.  If you envision a career with UNICEF, living and working in those places, especially at the start, will help you to grow your technical skills, your perspective, and your passions.  Be courageous.”  To this day, I consider that as the best advice I got as a young professional.  I try to impart the same – well, relay it – whenever I can.