NE North Dakota News

Interim Dean Soojung Kim of the University of North Dakota School of Graduate Studies drew a parallel between leadership and cultivating sesame leaves during her recent 18:83 address at the Memorial Union’s Social Stair.

“Growing sesame leaves, I found it to be not easy,” Kim said. “It requires a lot of daily care, consistency and attention every day; and it needs good soil, plus the right amount of sunlight and protection.

“But when you tend to them carefully throughout the summer, it gives you the nourishment that you and your family need throughout the winter.”

Kim explained that leadership is about faithfulness and consistency rather than instant results. She shared seven lessons from her experiences in both harvesting sesame leaves and developing as a leader.

Her first lesson, “Perseverance and Hope,” was influenced by her time as a short-track speed skater. Kim described how she often started races from behind but focused on finding opportunities to advance. Her father appreciated her commitment to finishing strong: “And that lesson has stuck with me for a long time.

“Just like in skating, in leadership I believe you don’t always get to start from the very beginning,” Kim said. “But what matters is that you continue to hold onto hope and persevere throughout the course with honest effort.”

She emphasized fully committing to goals—remaining engaged and giving maximum effort until reaching completion.

The second lesson involved balancing immediate tasks with long-term vision, or seeing both the “Trees and Forest.” Leaders should have plans looking ahead 10, 20, or even 30 years while also acting on present needs.

Kim’s third point was recognizing “Strength in Difference.” She identified as introverted but considered this trait a strength: “That made me realize that introversion is actually my superpower because I am not focusing on pleasing everyone,” she said. This approach allows her to focus on priorities and handle challenging conversations with grace and growth in mind.

She further compared leadership qualities to elements needed for growing sesame seeds—sunlight, soil, and roots. Transparency functions like sunlight by providing clarity; integrity serves as foundational soil: “integrity, to me, is the soil and the foundation of everything that we conduct ourselves, personally or professionally,” Kim said.

Mentors were likened to fertilizer for growth: “If you are a young student, faculty member or staff member, go seek out mentors on campus and in the community,” she advised. Kim noted Grand Forks’ supportive environment over her ten years there.

The sixth lesson highlighted combining grace with grit. Kim described holding herself accountable while showing kindness toward others: “I try to hold myself to grit… I’ll show up every day… take responsibility as a leader… And I try really hard every day to live and lead with grace and kindness.”

Finally, Kim spoke about preserving harvests as a metaphor for legacy—maintaining relationships so lessons endure over time: “…create a legacy that carries on and sustains others for years to come…”