Hi! It's Editor.S with the 17th MNM. Did you rest well during the holiday last week? May is great with so many holidays, and the weather is nice too! Let's take a look at what the Meisters who attended last Wednesday, this week Monday, and Wednesday told us!

During the morning session on Soul of Leadership, we talked about the biggest challenges early-stage startups face, with "Finding Partners" being the most difficult. We discussed embracing vulnerability, building trust, and writing mission and vision statements to imagine the future state and find partners. Ultimately, we learned, “By speaking the heart’s truth, seeking resonance, and inviting partnerships, they found the partners they needed to begin to bring transformation to organizations and fullness of life to the individuals within them." It was a meaningful session where we realized the importance of partnership.

In the afternoon, we had a valuable session with Meister Lee Ki-dae, who taught us about startup HR and organizational culture. We learned why startup HR can be chaotic, how to align the growth of individuals and the company, and the overall characteristics of startup HR. We also learned that startup organizational culture is the way the CEO works. It's important to find and motivate key talents to work voluntarily. We were challenged to think about becoming high performers and growing the company as a startup CEO.

In the morning, Meister Shim Hye-hwa shared her experiences with the Annyang Culture and Arts Foundation and the Daelim Cultural Foundation. Through her excellent writing skills that surpass her art background, she plans exhibitions and tells stories that compel people to visit. We realized how powerful planning ability can be. Her words, "You can do anything regardless of the environment and conditions," encouraged us to continue seeking opportunities and taking on challenges no matter what. It was an energetic session that moved us by seeing how hard each maker was working.

In the afternoon, we shared our personal projects as makers and provided feedback to each other. We were impressed by how hardworking each maker was and how we supported each other's growth by sharing our opinions. I'm looking forward to what's to come from these makers!

In the morning Soul of Leadership session, we talked about Dream. We learned about the power of declaration, which goes beyond just dreaming, and how it helps realize our big dreams by gathering partners. We realized the importance of the declaration and learned that "People found their heart's hope through connecting with others, knowing they needed to draw on the community of partners they had created in order that their hope could flourish." Let's not forget to declare our dreams!

In the afternoon, Meister Noh Sang-min from Logi Brothers discussed computational thinking, design thinking, and PMF-related topics. He is currently running his third startup and said that finding PMF involves the "Trough of Sorrow" period, but finding the right product-market fit and scaling up can be thrilling. We learned that understanding the consumers' mindset is the most important thing and how to propose a value proposition. It was a practical session where we learned what we need to do in our current stage.

Looking back at the sessions held this week at METES, we learned a lot. METES continues to offer various sessions to support the growth and development of makers and help with their projects and businesses. We'll keep you updated with METES’s news every week and support your challenges and growth as a maker! Let us know if you need anything!