Why I gave up a high salary and restarted my career

The CEO of Wall Street English talks about ‘fun, courage, and leadership’

As you build your career, you end up asking yourself this question at least once.

“Am I really on the right path right now?”

There’s someone who let go of 13 years of experience, even took a pay cut, and jumped into a completely new industry.

This is the story of Eunhee Kim, who is now the Country Head of Wall Street English Korea.

In this article, we’ll walk through Eunhee’s career journey—from career switching to leadership and even self-development routines.

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1. Her career started not with ‘skill,’ but with ‘fun’

A lot of people think you have to be good at English to work in an English-related field,

but Eunhee’s beginning was different.

She entered the English education industry because talking with foreigners was fun.

This experience gives us an important message.

A lasting career starts from “fun” more than from “what you’re good at”

2. Why she left 13 years of experience behind and moved to retail

She had already built 13 years of experience in the education industry.

Normally, moving up to a higher position would be the natural choice.

But Eunhee made a completely different decision.

She applied for a lululemon store sales position.

Even with risks like a lower salary and a lower title, she chose this path.

Most people around her reacted with, “Why would you make that choice?”

Still, there was only one reason she decided to do it:

“Because it sounded fun!”​

Soon enough, this choice became a major turning point in her career.

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3. The core of leadership: Trust, Integrity, Authenticity

Now, at the end of this long career journey, Eunhee sits in the leadership seat as the head of Wall Street English, and she focuses every day on three key leadership values.

1) Trust

• Believing in your team members

• Making them ‘feel’ that trust

2) Integrity / Authenticity

• Making your words and actions match

• Keeping promises you make to yourself

4. What English and exercise have in common

Interestingly, Eunhee says English and exercise are very similar.

1. At first, you don’t see results

2. You have to stay consistent

3. At some point, a ‘breakthrough’ moment comes

“Once you experience that moment, you keep going”

Wrap-up: A career is a ‘series of choices’

There’s no single right answer in a career.

But Eunhee gives us a hint that there is a direction.

Is it fun?

Are you growing?

Does it feel like you?

If you can answer “YES” to these three questions,

then chances are high that your choice isn’t the wrong one.

If you’re curious about a deeper conversation with Eunhee and the details of her transition, check out the full version.