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With only hopes and dreams for the future, Don Kim moved to Tokyo in the 1970s to become the first ever Korean-born employee of Sony Corporation. Two years later he moved to Sony Hawaii Company working his way up through the years to eventually become head of the organization.
In 2004, Don replaced Ryozo Sakai, the longest-running head of Sony Hawaii, to become the company's seventh president. While talks of retrenchment within Sony's global workforce and shutting down of its factories are in circulation, Don Kim boldly deviates through plans of hiring more local people to join the 80-strong labor pool of Sony Hawaii Company, made possible by a robust business performance.
Don's leadership skills are manifested not only within the company but also to the greater community. He is an active member of numerous social organizations from religious to charitable groups. Don sits on the Board of East-West Center Foundation and Hawaii Baptist Academy, and is a deacon for the Agape M. Baptist Church since 1985.
His most notable social involvement is with Friends of Hawaii Charities Inc. as an executive director. Friends of Hawaii Charities is an affiliate and the main beneficiary of one of the world's grandest golf tournaments, the Sony Open of Hawaii, which continuous to draw professional golfers and enthusiasts from around the globe.
Youthfullness and exuberance brought him to Hawaii
Don Kim arrived in Japan in December, 1969 to pursue his post-graduate education. A year later, Don joined Sony Corporation in Tokyo, where he would start a long-standing career with the technology company. A series of events subsequently brought Don to the Hawaiian Islands to work for Sony Hawaii.
"I came to Hawaii for a vacation during the Golden Week, in the end of April and in the beginning of May," he said. "Then I fell in love with Hawaii. Two months later I was lucky to move to the State, where I joined Sony Hawaii Company."
His youthfullness and exuberance posed as his ticket to immerse in other cultures and taste the adventures of travel and living away from home.
"Young people they all want the challenge of new cultures and new areas like going to Europe or America or even Asian countries," Don said. "I think I was kind of one of those young people who has a challenging spirit."
In what would be another start to an already established career, Don Kim held a position as a management trainee where he gathered a holistic knowledge of the business. Having a well-rounded view would eventually secure him a place in the executive level.
"I started kind of like everybody, you know the management trainee positions, and all the way experiencing all other areas, and I appreciate it."
Slowly but surely, Don moved his way up the management ladder starting as Director in 1986, more than a decade after his debut for the company.
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