AX Lead helps individuals, teams, and organizations grow

This is an interview conducted to inform you about what the Corca AX team does.

Seonyeong Kim (HR Manager) asked, and Hwidong Bae (AX Lead) answered.

• What is the atmosphere and development culture of the Corca AX team?
• What does AX Lead do and what concerns do they have?
• What does AX Lead dream of for Corca?

Q. Please introduce yourself!

Hello! My name is Bae Hwi-dong, and I am working as a Corca AX team lead. He is also the father of two cute daughters, ages 8 and 4.

The photo you sent is unusual. Can you explain what it is?

I don't do it often now, but until a few years ago, I had three hobbies. It was writing, improvisation, and board games.

The photo was taken during an impromptu acting performance. I have been taking related training consistently for quite some time and have actually performed. These days, I don't participate in practice groups or perform directly, but instead, I often go with my daughter to performances held periodically by the theater company I used to work in.

You talked about writing. Speaking of Hwidong, we can't forget about writing. What made you interested in writing?

In fact, as I spend a lot of time on AI these days, I write a little less than before. Last year, I wrote about 250 blog posts, and this year, I wrote a little over 50 in 5 months. Whether it was last year or this year, most of the topics are AI-related.

I have been interested in writing since I was young. About 20 years ago, I studied writing when I was in the military. I rewrite a piece of writing dozens of times on a notepad, and I even request corrections on my writing teacher’s blog. I studied Korean spelling, deliberately came up with a strange title, and then practiced writing a short article on that topic.

Through this process, my interest in writing grew, and as I won a prize at a school writing contest, I gained confidence that I was good at writing. So from this point on, I started writing consistently.

It's been 9 years since I started writing on my blog in earnest in 2018. In the past, I mainly wrote for myself, but from the beginning of last year, I thought I should create a personal branding. I searched for related books and articles, and from then on, I started writing with a little more awareness that I was not writing just for myself, but that other people were reading it. It was from that time that I changed my writing style to polite. Perhaps by coincidence, from then on, people started reading my writing more, and I was excited to get good feedback, so I started writing more.

In the AI era, writing is also often assisted by AI. What is Hwidong’s secret to writing well? I’m also curious about how you are able to write and share so consistently.

Although I make a living using AI, I have a principle that I do not use AI for writing or presentation materials. I think that the more you get used to having AI write for you, the less opportunities you have to create your own writing style or thoughts. So these days, people with their own language and perspective feel more valuable.

I don't have any special secrets to writing well. I usually take quite a few notes on my phone. I take notes of various things, such as things that came to mind while walking down the street, things that interested me after reading a book, and keywords that came up while talking to AI. Many times, the accumulated thoughts are combined and become material for writing. I sometimes write down ideas and anecdotes that come up during conversations with colleagues or acquaintances and post them on the way home.

In the past, there was pressure to turn a piece of writing into a single result. I found it difficult to write because I thought I had to impress someone or write it with perfection like a series. However, when I started writing by sharing the process rather than the result and revealing my shortcomings, I was able to write much more easily.

One of the honest reasons for writing is ‘I want to get people’s attention and have influence.’ It's the same for me, but there isn't much I can control here. Sometimes, a scribbled article in 30 minutes will receive hundreds of likes, and other times, an article that I've been thinking about for several weeks will receive almost no attention. As I experienced this and continued to write a lot, my impatience about views or reactions almost disappeared. In the end, if you develop the habit of writing good enough articles and posting them consistently, some of them will be well received. So now, rather than being too obsessed with one episode, I place more importance on writing consistently.

Q. Please tell us about what you do at Corca!

The Corca AX team all act as ‘AX Consultants’. The work that Corca AX consultants do can be broadly divided into three dimensions: individual, team, and organizational.

At a personal levelTaking responsibility for creating a product from start to finish using AIDo it. We use AI in product development, and we also create products equipped with AI. We carry out the entire process end-to-end, from planning, implementation, distribution, operation, and promotion. I am currently working on several projects like this at the same time.

At the team levelIncreasing productivity so that Corca’s internal members can focus more on their workDo it. There are times when we provide direct help through pair work, etc., but ultimately, we focus more on helping our members improve their capabilities so that they can solve problems on their own. We save time by supporting appropriate tools and environments for tasks that do not need to be done by humans in the first place.

And at the organizational levelTransferring the products created at the individual level, the experience gained at the team level, and the knowledge gained in the process to external organizations.Do it. We help external organizations become 10 times more productive on their own and provide support by providing coaching or introducing tools as needed.

It is the role of an AX consultant to do this work for individuals, teams, and organizations. I also work as an AX consultant, helping my team as a team lead and recruiting new consultants to create this vision together.

Q. What capabilities or mindset do you think is needed to do a good job in Corca’s AX team?

There are many things, but if it is a story that is related to recruitment, the first thing to look at iscuriosityIt is.

The scope of curiosity is very wide. It's not just about liking new technology, it's about asking, "Why did this happen like this?", "Is what the AI ​​says really true?" See if you are someone who can naturally ask the same questions.

Sohealthy doubtI think it is also important. This is an attitude of looking for sources, verifying things for yourself, and creating your own theories rather than simply accepting whatever someone says. I believe that curiosity and an attitude of inquiry are important virtues of the AX team.

Another onealtruismIt is. There are times when you discover something inconvenient while working, and at that time, there are people who think, “Can someone be uncomfortable with this?” or “Should I try to help them?” When such a good heart is connected to curiosity, it seems to be a good trigger.

It would be even better if you have quick execution and technical skills. Ultimately, I think that the AX team is a good fit for people with the intersection of healthy doubt, curiosity, altruism, execution, and technical ability.

Q. When do you feel the fun and reward of work? Conversely, when is work difficult and difficult?

There are times when you have a conversation with AI as if arguing about a certain topic. When the AI ​​makes a claim first, I find the evidence, verify it again, exchange it with each other, and eventually, there comes a moment when our thoughts and evidence fit together and a great conclusion is reached. Those moments are quite enjoyable.

And at the company, I talk the most with Gyuyoung (CTO), who sits next to me, and through conversations with Gyuyoung, I gain a lot of material for various technical and philosophical learnings. I feel fun and rewarded when I can quickly incorporate these things into products and embody them, leading to growth.

On the other hand, collaborating with external parties is not easy. There are many things that need to be done by timing, reaching agreement, and dealing with multiple people. I usually find other people's bottlenecks and help them before I do my own, so the stress I feel when a lot of these things pile up is quite high.

Additionally, as the AX team, we often have to prepare and host events inside and outside the company. Because of the sense of responsibility and the feeling that I have to ‘do it’, the preparation process is quite difficult. Still, I feel greatly rewarded when I see it completed well and the people who participated are satisfied.

Listening to you talk about responsibility just now, I am reminded of the presentation you gave at the recent Wanted High Five conference. You gave a presentation on your attitude towards agents under the theme of ‘There is always a better way.’ I think it was very rewarding as it ended successfully!

Q. What topic does Corca’s AX team talk about most often these days?

Since we are part of the AX team, we talk about it with our agents the most. We often share useful tips with each other, such as “It worked out well when we tried it this way,” or “This model worked well when we used it this way.” Sometimes, an agent's strange answers or interesting examples become the source of jokes within the team.

Additionally, since all AX team members create their own products, there is a culture of using each other's products and exchanging feedback. I tend to naturally talk about what features I liked and what areas could be improved.

On the other hand, there is also a healthy pressure unique to the AX team. Currently, more than 10 products are being developed within the team, and we worry a lot about which product to focus more on and how to disclose it to the outside world. Although we support each other, we do not avoid whipping and criticizing each other to move in a better direction.

Q. What was the most impressive scene or episode while working at Corca?

The first thing that comes to mind is AX Day. I remember many AX Days, and I was especially impressed by the team that made a song about eating at work. I still vividly remember how we all enjoyed and participated together. Even at this very moment, the song created by that team is being played.

Another moment is when I felt a change in the organization. This is closer to a change that everyone made together rather than an individual achievement. As we continued to hold AX sharing sessions and training, we began to see all members becoming much more comfortable accepting AI and using it naturally.

When I see things like this, I realize that we have really changed a lot, and the fact that I was able to participate in that process remains impressive.

I am automating a lot of my work by using Ceal, an AI co-worker created by Hwidong. Compared to before, the way I work seems to have really changed. ‘Ceal Burge’ Hwi-dong, thank you!

Q. What do you think are the strengths of the current Corca team?

I think the biggest advantage of the Korca team is **'freedom with responsibility'**.

Of course, infinite freedom is not provided, but it is an environment in which radical and diverse attempts can be made as long as mutual trust and responsibility are assumed. When you have a new idea, there is a huge opportunity to try it out and verify it yourself. In my 10 years of working in an organization, I think this is the first time I have experienced an organization that believes in and supports new attempts to this extent.

This is also because we are a team that uses AI very well and very actively. We are now in an era where most of the ideas that would have been far-fetched in the past can be realized if one has the will. I have the capabilities to do so, and I am confident that I can learn quickly even if my capabilities are lacking.

Q. What kind of influence do you want to have at Corca in the future?

I amGrowing into a healthy holistic personI want to do it. And rather than growing alone, I want to become a person who grows healthily together with juniors.

One of the things I consider important is the attitude toward people. I believe that the feelings toward people, the feelings toward agents, and the feelings toward co-workers are all connected. I hope that such things can contribute to creating a virtuous cycle.

In particular, I want to become a senior whom junior members want to emulate and who are easy to imitate. The person who shows me first through action and gives signals for others to follow. And I want to become a person who can feel free to come and ask questions when I'm not sure.

Q. Who do you expect to join the Corca AX team as a colleague?

This is also connected to what I said earlier: I want to work with someone who makes decisions based on evidence and continuously learns.

Especially in the AI era, there is too much information and untrue information is easily accessible. So rather than just taking someone’s word for itThe process of experimenting and verifying yourself is important.I think it does. I like people who have their own perspectives and build evidence by trying things out themselves. And it would be even better if such a process was revealed in actual results or actions.

in the endThose who have evidence-based decision-making and evidence of learningI think they can be good colleagues for the AX team.

This was an interview with Corca AX team lead and 'Ceal Verge' Hwidong😀 He must be busier than anyone else spreading AX inside and outside of Corca and creating new tools and culture, so thank you for the interview. Thanks to Hwidong, many of our members have become more familiar with using AI, and we feel that our actual work methods are gradually changing. We look forward to seeing what changes Hwidong's AX culture and new attempts will bring to Corca in the future👍