Read about Sarah Yunjung Jung

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

I decided to pursue a career at the United Nations because I believe in the timeless mission of the Organization and the ultimate responsibility to join hands together to forge a safer and more peaceful future. I believe that the UN reflects a collective, conscientious choice in human history to find common ground, to respect the dignity of everyone and to seek the right path even though it was not an easy one. Having grown up at the intersection of diverse cultures, religions, languages and perspectives, I have a deep appreciation for the values and organizational culture of the UN as a workplace. Colleagues from across the system inspire me with their insights and commitment to realizing the vision of the Organization, however challenging it is, on a daily basis.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

The Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD), particularly the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch (SCPCRB), is made up of exceptionally innovative, flexible and agile colleagues who are not afraid to adopt new approaches and methodologies by integrating advanced BI tools such as Power BI and Tableau to our work. In that context, our Team has been a data powerhouse, rolling out multiple Power BI dashboards on a diverse range of datasets regarding the Security Council, including the evolutions of PKO and SPM mandates, WPS languages in Council decisions, etc. Personally, my favorite initiative was developing the “Interactive Handbook of the Working Methods of the Security Council” by transforming a traditionally paper-based handbook into a more intuitive, web-based resource. The transformation turned the handbook into a searchable, user-friendly and accessible tool that could be accessed at any time, anywhere, ultimately turning the niche working methods document of the Council into an actionable one. It was my personal favorite because I was involved in the project from the very inception to the end, and it challenged me to bring together all my IT and project management skills, from website development and Power BI to video editing to come up with a user guide. I was lucky to be involved in the initiative and am grateful for the rare opportunity as a Political Affairs Officer.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

I think technological literacy is an inevitable reality for all job families across the UN system at this point. As a Political Affairs Officer, I have had many opportunities in which I could leverage my technological skills, which has been a fun journey, and I truly think that there is a place for everyone. At the end of the day, we are building a growing community, in varying levels of expertise, sharing best practices and knowledge in new tools, approaches and methodologies. So I believe everyone can bridge their expertise, regardless of the field, with technology to enhance insight-making and streamline processes more efficiently.