Youngsun, Business Development Analyst, Yamna

My responsibilities at Yamna focus on the business development and marketing of our portfolio projects. Main tasks involve understanding markets and regulatory frameworks, establishing and managing stakeholder relationships, integrating technical and commercial communications, and negotiating contracts to minimise risks.

To give you a concrete example, I was actively involved in preparing for the clean hydrogen power market auction in Korea as a tender manager. This required collecting first-hand information by interacting with potential offtakers such as power utilities and traders. It was crucial to listen to their needs while making sure that we bear the minimum risk as possible. Through this experience, I developed strategic thinking, clear and structured communication, and the ability to switch seamlessly between commercial, technical, and legal hats. Being fluent in both Korean and English was particularly valuable for managing stakeholders and ensuring effective communication.

Hydrogen has been my interest for many years, and I’ve tailored my academic and professional experiences around hydrogen. I took all relevant courses offered in my program and participated in a field trip to the Hydrogen Valley in the Netherlands organized by Professor Manfred Hafner. Also, I did internships focused on hydrogen market and policy research. Since I wanted to gain hands-on experience in project development, I actively connected with alumni in the positions I’m interested in. Luckily, the manager at my previous internship was also a Sciences Po alumnus and introduced me to my current company. He supported me throughout the application process, from reviewing CV to preparing interviews, which really helped secure my current position. 

I find the most fascinating part of my job is being at the forefront of the clean energy transition - through both exciting and challenging moments. Meeting people who are shaping the hydrogen industry is inspiring, and it’s thrilling to realize that I am also taking part in it. It is also great to reconnect with people who I met as a student and to return as a professional counterpart exchanging industry insights and market information.

The international environment at PSIA really shaped the way I work today. Collaborating with classmates from diverse cultural backgrounds taught me to stay open-minded and adaptable, which are essential when developing projects across different regions. The evaluations, including the Grand Oral, helped me gain confidence in structuring complex ideas into clear, executive-friendly reports and presentations. Overall, PSIA gave me a strong foundation in analytical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural collaboration which I rely on every day in my role.
 

If you have a specific topic or industry in mind, use all available resources to build a strong knowledge base. Brand yourself as an expert so that people naturally think of you when the topic comes up. If you are still exploring your interests, attend conferences and networking events to discover new fields. Staying genuinely curious about what others do and understanding their day-to-day work can open unexpected doors. Finally, make the most of every resource the school offers. I personally enjoyed taking French and Arabic classes - challenging but useful, especially when working on a project in Oman with a French development partner!