Innovation begins with the “challenge” of pioneering paths that others have not taken. However, from the perspective of corporations, such challenges inevitably come with unpredictable risks. To manage these risks wisely and establish business strategies, the role of financial leaders with keen financial acumen and strategic thinking is crucial. Coupang runs a unique program designed to cultivate exceptional financial leaders who can thrive not only in Korea but also on the global stage. This article provides an overview of the “Coupang Finance Development Program (CFDP).”
The “Coupang Finance Development Program (CFDP)” is a talent development initiative designed to help top financial professionals grow into Coupang’s financial experts, offering them an opportunity to experience real-world operations at Coupang. Targeting MBA graduates and soon-to-be graduates, the program runs for a total of 18 months.
Successful applicants to the CFDP are placed in two different teams within Coupang’s finance organization, rotating every 9 months. This rotation system gives the participants an opportunity to gain hands-on experience across various financial functions, helping them expand their capabilities and broadening their perspectives.
After completing the program, participants are placed in the team that best suits them, where they grow into key players driving Coupang’s financial strategy.
Last May, Coupang signed an MOU with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies’ Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation to secure top talent.
Last July, Coupang hosted a 7-day internship program (Coupang Career Jumpstart) for aspiring interpreters and translators.
Known for its logistics innovation centered around Rocket Delivery, Coupang has focused on nurturing talent across various fields. Through pragmatic programs such as industry-academia partnerships with major universities in Korea and intern-to-hire programs, Coupang has consistently discovered top talent.
These efforts to develop talent have now expanded into the financial sector, giving rise to programs like the CFDP. With financial professionals who possess both expertise and leadership, Coupang envisions its future, while participants confidently demonstrate their capabilities in Coupang’s inclusive organizational culture.
How do individuals who joined Coupang's Finance organization via CFDP view the experience? We spoke with Holly and Hanna, both members of the team.
Holly
Holly, an INSEAD MBA graduate, applied for CFDP last year and joined Coupang this February. Before Coupang, she had built a solid career by working as an analyst at a securities firm and later taking on M&A advisory responsibilities at an accounting firm. But one day, Holly found herself wanting an environment where she could move beyond short-term projects and contribute to real business changes. That's how her new journey with Coupang began.
“I was curious to see how far my skills could take me. And for that, I thought it was crucial to be somewhere with a clear view of my career path ahead. That’s what drew me to Coupang’s CFDP - it let me jump right into practical, real-world tasks. During the simulation exercises, Coupang’s business leaders actively shared their insights, and I also learned a lot from those interactions.”
Holly joined Coupang through CFDP and currently plays a role in analyzing and managing delivery-related metrics.
She shared, “The team rotations, in particular, helped me understand Coupang’s business more deeply. When I was working on delivery analytics, I had the chance to collaborate not only with my own team but also with other related teams. It was a valuable experience, filled with diverse projects and cross-functional teamwork.”
Her experience collaborating in multicultural environments during her international MBA curriculum also helped her adapt seamlessly to Coupang’s work environment.
“Coupang is a place where people from many different nationalities work together. Before joining, I had only studied and worked in Korea. But through MBA courses and internships, I had the chance to work on projects with people from various cultural backgrounds. That experience laid a strong foundation for my work here.”
Hanna
Hanna, who joined Coupang through CFDP after earning her Digital Finance MBA from KAIST, shared that transitioning from her long-time role as an analyst in New York to her new position at Coupang was one of the biggest challenges of her life.
“Leaving the finance industry, where I had spent most of my career, and stepping into a completely different field brought a lot of concern from those around me, and for me, it felt like starting from scratch. I was used to a structured way of working, so adapting to Coupang’s environment with open possibilities was a truly new experience. The culture of aligning around a shared goal, ‘Wow the Customer’, made the journey of discovering and driving internal value even more fulfilling.”
Hanna joined Coupang through CFDP and currently supports mid- to long-term planning based on financial metrics.
She remarked that, thanks to the ample learning opportunities she gained through CFDP, her bold challenge turned out to be a positive turning point in her life.
"Because it was a rotation-based program, rather than feeling pressured to deliver results right after joining, I was able to focus on learning. That gave me the time and space I needed to adjust to a new team, and every moment spent working within different perspectives and cultures felt fresh and deeply memorable.”
As both Holly and Hanna continue learning in their respective roles, they are preparing for even greater growth at Coupang.
Holly: “I believe that bringing in more people from diverse cultural backgrounds through CFDP could infuse Coupang with fresh energy. As a person with an international MBA background, I’d be glad to play even a small part in that shift. Inspired by the leaders I work with today, I hope to grow into an impactful leader at Coupang.”
Hanna: “When I first came to Korea and used Coupang, I was truly impressed by its convenience. The experience of receiving something I ordered at night by the next morning made my daily life better. For me, Coupang is pure ‘joy.’ As part of the team, I’m inspired by the culture that encourages new ideas over fixed frameworks, giving me the opportunity to fully express my potential. Moving forward, I hope to deepen my understanding of business operations and grow into a leader who bridges strategy and execution.”
A Special Meeting between Coupang Leaders and MBA Students from the University of Texas
MBA students from the University of Texas at Austin visited Coupang’s Jamsil headquarters to meet with Coupang’s financial leaders.
Coupang actively engages with top Korean universities like Seoul National University and KAIST, as well as top global MBA programs such as Wharton, Columbia, and Stanford GSB, to provide greater growth opportunities for talent with diverse backgrounds. This past May, MBA students from the University of Texas at Austin visited Coupang's Jamsil headquarters, where they spoke with Coupang leaders about the CFDP and finance organizations.
During the visit, Suhrob Radjabov, VP of Corporate Finance and Strategic Initiatives, and Jonathan Kim, VP of Finance at Coupang Logistics Services (CLS), offered insights into the direction of Coupang’s strategic business expansion and shared their vision clearly for what financial talent can do to contribute to it.
Jonathan Kim, VP of Finance at CLS
As Coupang continues to expand its business onto the global stage, a series of questions arose concerning how the company is implementing its operational strategies in different countries. In response, VP Jonathan Kim of CLS, provided the following explanation.
“Rather than focusing on ‘cultural differences’ between Korea and other countries, we focus on ‘ensuring Coupang’s culture takes root and thrives in other markets and keeping it consistent.’ Preserving ‘Coupang-ness’ matters more than focusing on market differences. We always think hard about how to ‘make our services even better and keep costs even lower.’ It’s a challenging task, so we absolutely need exceptional leaders to take it on with us.”
VP Suhrob Radjabov explained Coupang’s culture, which prioritizes delivering a better customer experience above all else.
Through their conversations with Coupang’s leaders, the students gained a deeper understanding of Coupang, including its growth story, how it operates its business, and its corporate culture. As the meaningful event came to a close, VP Suhrob Radjabov shared the following remarks.
“Whatever business we pursue, we ponder over ‘how to reduce waste and generate profit.’ But our first principle that comes before it is to ‘wow the customer’—that’s the most essential goal we strive for.”
The Coupang Finance Development Program (CFDP) offers more than just “career development” for those reflecting on their post-MBA career path. It’s a journey to becoming a core leader driving the company’s growth and shaping “Coupang-ness” alongside diverse talent.
“Talent” is essential for corporate growth. Dreaming of a better tomorrow built with exceptional talent, Coupang is looking for outstanding colleagues to help make that dream a reality.
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