We conducted an in-house interview with Manager Hyun of the Sales Planning Team, selected as CloudNetworks' Outstanding Employee for the second half of 2025.
Supporting the various situations that arise during the sales process, and collecting and analyzing data to form the basis for decision-making. Throughout that entire process, there is only one thing she never lets go of: "trust." We introduce the story of Manager Hyun, who has worked by the principle of making things accurately and delivering them carefully.
🏆 CloudNetworks In-House Interview - Manager Hyun, Sales Planning Team
Q. What led you to join CloudNetworks?
I previously worked in a similar sales support role, but at the time I was the only member of my team, so the division of work was somewhat unclear. When looking for my next company, I placed importance on how the team was structured and whether there would be a mentor. I applied to CloudNetworks after seeing the benefits and job description posted in the listing, and when I interviewed, the atmosphere was free and comfortable, which left a positive impression. I hadn't specifically targeted the IT industry, but I now feel it was a good choice.
Q. Was there a difference between the company you imagined before joining and the company you actually experienced after joining?
I had expected that, being in the IT sector, things would be somewhat conservative, but in reality the atmosphere was far more autonomous and friendly. The departments are structured to be interconnected and work together, giving a strong sense of integration. This was very different from my previous environment, where I handled everything alone, and I feel that difference has shaped who I am today.
Q. What kind of work does the Sales Planning Team do?
Our team is responsible for supporting and systematically managing the various situations that arise during the sales process. Starting with reviewing client creditworthiness, we work with sales representatives across the full scope of business operations, from feasibility analysis and cost analysis to contracts and post-completion maintenance management. In that process, we also collect and analyze related data to compile annual performance results, manage the supporting data for plans spanning the next several years, and use the accumulated materials to support executive decision-making. Recently, as sales operations have expanded, we have also been focusing additionally on managing a variety of solution partners.
Q. What specific tasks are you in charge of?
I mainly handle maintenance business, bidding, contracts, and surety insurance work. There are many routine tasks that need to be billed or inspected on a regular basis. For contracts, I carefully review the contract terms and comprehensively judge the appropriateness of the business scale before proceeding. At year-end and the start of the year, I focus on organizing performance results and forecasting, and during normal periods I handle maintenance, bidding, and contract work in a balanced way.
Q. What part of your work do you have to pay the closest attention to?
Since this is a data-handling role, accuracy is the most important thing. Because I have access to all business information, the data our team produces is trusted by many people, and I make sure to be careful so that accurate materials don't create unnecessary extra work. Data created for one specific purpose is often used in other business contexts as well, so I try to create it while considering how it can be used organically across various contexts. Also, since sales staff usually make requests from outside, I try to deliver feedback on their requests as quickly as possible.
Q. How would you describe your own working style?
I tend to communicate actively and accurately about requests. Since content exchanged verbally can easily be lost, I make sure to clearly document such content by email as well. When I make direct contact with clients, I try to first understand the structure of the business before proceeding. I believe that communication becomes clearer when you know what kind of structure the business operates under.
Q. You participated in the process of developing the in-house sales management system. What was that experience like?
At first, we considered adopting an external solution, but our sales structure consists of various exceptional cases and complex conditions, so there were limits to customizing existing solutions. After several attempts, we shifted toward developing it in-house. During the planning stage, it was difficult at times because people in other roles and I had different perspectives on how to view our work processes, but through the process of explaining our work, I was able to understand our own work structure even more deeply, and it was a good experience to be able to work together with people in other roles.
Q. What moment from your work in the second half of the year stands out to you the most?
In the second half of the year, forecasting work was the main focus. It involves compiling sales materials and breaking down in detail the revenue data to be recognized for that year, and I feel a sense of accomplishment when I notice that our forecasting accuracy is improving compared to the previous year.
Q. Having worked here for four years, what do you feel has changed the most about yourself?
At my previous company, I worked alone and bore full responsibility for the results, but now, because the division of work is clear and I have a team to work with, we give each other feedback, which distributes the burden and allows me to work in a more constructive direction. Because the company atmosphere is autonomous, I no longer feel hesitant about voicing my opinions, and being in an environment where I can actively make suggestions without worrying about others' reactions has made me feel I can work more proactively.
Q. Do you have a way of recharging your own energy while working?
Since my off-work time is guaranteed, I have no difficulty planning my schedule after work. These days I've been exercising consistently, and as my physical stamina has improved, my mental state has become much more stable as well. I'm directly experiencing the fact that when the body becomes healthier, the mind also gains more room to breathe. Being able to clearly separate work time from personal time is itself a great help in relieving stress.
Q. What were your thoughts when you heard the news of your promotion and Outstanding Employee selection last year?
Honestly, I didn't expect the Outstanding Employee award. Given the nature of our team's work, we frequently check in with or receive help from other departments, and I think that may be part of why we were viewed favorably. People say that career, the people you work with, and treatment/compensation are the three important factors in a work life, and I feel that all three are met here to a reasonable degree, which is satisfying.
Q. If you were to express in one sentence or word the attitude or values you consider important in your work, what would it be?
"Trust." Internally, as I manage data and carry out forecasting work, I place importance on working based on accurate data so that the people who view that data can trust it. Externally as well, since I am in a position to make contact with clients and partners, ensuring that the emails or opinions sent out officially convey the trust that the content has been sufficiently reviewed — that is my mission for everything that goes out under the name of the Sales Planning Team.
Q. Do you have an ultimate life goal you want to achieve?
I think the most important thing is to make choices I can be convinced of myself. Having experienced various situations in society, I've come to feel that the attitudes or basics one must uphold are not so different from one's own subjective thinking, and I've naturally come to believe that it's right to make choices focused more on myself than on external factors. I think this will remain important to me going forward, both in work and in my personal life, without much change.
Q. Is there anything you'd like to say to the colleagues you've worked with?
Even people in fields where it's hard to help directly often readily helped us when our team made a request. I'm truly grateful for that. And personally, since I started exercising, I've clearly felt a difference in both my physical stamina and my mental state. I hope everyone can have a healthy time at the company.
✏️ Editor's Note: Throughout the interview, Manager Hyun considered and refined each answer carefully. She described herself as "someone who taps the stone bridge and walks it even after testing it" [i.e., someone extremely cautious], and that carefulness was naturally woven throughout her way of working. Making data accurate, keeping communication documented, and understanding the business structure before communicating with clients — all of it connected back to that one phrase. It seemed to me that the trust she has built through close communication and collaboration with other departments has now led to this award. Her story of working and living by standards she can be convinced of herself will stay with me for a long time.
At her own request, this interview was conducted using "Manager Hyun" instead of her real name, and photos were taken in a way that avoided showing her face as much as possible. Of all the interviewees to date, she was the only one who did the photoshoot at her own desk while wearing CloudNetworks' company uniform. We close the interview with a candid shot of her perfectly hidden behind her monitor.
