Following her Heart, Finding her Purpose: Jisung Shin’s Path to Illinois Public Service

During a business trip to the United States in 2014, Shin met her now-husband, Kichul Ko. The two had a long conversation that started at a hotel bar and continued at an Irish pub called Butch McGuire’s, a place Shin holds close to her heart. Her overall experience there along with the ambiance gave her a glimpse into what life could be like in Chicago. It later helped played a role in her decision to take a leap of faith. What followed seemed like a romance plucked from a novel with two weddings, one in Korea and one in the U.S. And while Shin embarked on a journey of love and self-discovery, she says she felt she betrayed her professional identity that she had spent years building by leaving her position in Korea for love and moving to the United States. She had always told her mentees that a career should be first.

At this point, Shin was starting from scratch in a new country, where she did not speak the language and had to rebuild her career. She enrolled at the University of Illinois Chicago and began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. She then went on to study at The University of Chicago, where she earned her a master’s degree in Public Policy. 

As she studied and began working in the U.S., Shin’s understanding of public service also evolved. Although she had considered federal government work, her interests shifted over time. She became increasingly drawn to state and local government because of its proximity to people, operations, service delivery, and visible change. Eventually, she looked at opportunities working for the State of Illinois. As a Green card holder, she was legally authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship, which is all the State of Illinois requires. 

Shin worked as a Senior Performance Evaluator and Analyst with the City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General for three years, where her interest in government performance accountability deepened. Over time, her focus expanded from system and compliance to the people affected by those systems. That perspective eventually brought her to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS). Now, as Deputy Director for the Bureau of Strategic Transformation, Shin collaborates with her team to help bureaus achieve their goals in easy, strategic ways with the assistance of IT tools and data insight to make informed decisions on policies and programs. For Shin, data and technology are not the purpose themselves. They are tools to support better decisions, strengthen operations, and create positive change within the agency.

Shin said she believes immigrant voices bring much needed diversity to the workforce. When values from different cultures are welcomed – even if they might conflict with traditional American values at first – Shin said it can make a difference in how people feel seen and are included in their workplace. She said a more diverse working environment challenges assumptions, broadens how organizations understand and approach problems. According to Shin, it will also help state and local government better serve diverse communities.

To explore career opportunities at the State of Illinois, visit: work.illinois.gov.