Dell CFO 'Hungry for More'

"A result-oriented quick learner and problem-solver with excellent interpersonal skills. Fluent in English."

Just a mere 13 words, but they describe Joe Kim to a tee. And they should—they are straight from his impressive resume. Since graduating from Kelley just eight years ago with an MBA in Accounting, Kim has embarked on an accounting career that just keeps soaring. After two years as a senior consultant at Deloitte & Touche in Chicago, he moved on to Virginia-based Lafarge, where he worked as a financial planning and analysis manager.

From there, he hit the big time: chief financial officer of Dell Korea in charge of $500 million and 500 headcounts. He oversees all financial transactions, cash flow accounting, and finance and manages the long-term/short-term strategy as well as profits and loss. Under his leadership, Dell gained 12 percent market share to become the fourth-largest corporation in Korea. At 37, he's the youngest director of Dell worldwide—and he's not done yet. "I'm still hungry," says Kim. "I'm satisfied, but I have more ambitions. I want to be Dell's Asia-Pacific CFO. I'm on the right track. My next move is China."

It's that can-do kind of attitude that has propelled Kim's entire career, starting from his earliest days as a Kelley undergraduate. The son of a Korean politician, Kim was sent to the United States for college to learn business and English language skills.

"At the end of the day, language skills and business knowledge are very important factors for success in Korea. There are many reasons why I picked IU for school. Kelley has one of the strongest business programs in the world. The tuition is really reasonable. Bloomington is a safe city. You can focus and study. Also, I like [former IU basketball coach] Bobby Knight. I had season basketball tickets," he says with a laugh.

Kim speaks fondly of his Kelley days. He thrived in the MBA program, graduating among the top 10. He notes Kelley's excellent curriculum, namely I-Core and its total integration of study, as benefits as well as the school's teamwork-oriented approach. He describes his professors as excellent, passionate, and very caring.

"To me, to be a CFO you need three things: leadership, passion, and intellectual horsepower," says Kim. "The Kelley School helped build those traits in me."

In Brief

Advice for current Kelley students: "It's OK to dream big but you also have to study hard. Otherwise, if you don't study, you're just a daydreamer."

Why I love my job: "Dell has one of the best business models I have known. Also, I know that every decision I make every second helps Dell gain market share. Michael Dell, Dell's chairman of the board and CEO, visited a few months ago, and he praised our accomplishments."