MEET MINJU

• Etiquette is something I’ve been interested in since I was a college student. During my breaks from classes and practicing the piano, I was at Barnes & Noble across from my school in NYC browsing the etiquette book section. As a performing artist, I understood the importance of projecting a professional image, and I saw it as a natural progression in enhancing my craft.

• I credit my mother for my interest in etiquette. As a child, I watched her entertain our guests with utmost hospitality whether it was afternoon tea or dinner parties. She was great at putting people around her at ease. Growing up, she was strict about table manners at home during dinner times. My memory of her first etiquette lesson to me was when I was about six years old. She coached me to hand a pair of scissors to my grandmother with the handle facing towards the recipient as a sign of consideration. As an immigrant parent who moved to the U.S. at age 35, she navigated the world of parenting in a new country using etiquette as her dialect. Rather than shy away from immersing herself in the new culture, she used etiquette as an empowering tool for all her encounters. She would regularly tell me it didn’t matter whether you were Korean or American or any other race—because all human beings are first and foremost emotional creatures. She was an informal anthropologist. My mother taught me that no matter where you are from, respect and kindness remain the same. As an adult, I’ve found that to be true again and again.

• Amidst the challenges our country faced during the pandemic and driven by the determination to combat the negativity and hostility around us, I was motivated to use my voice for a meaningful purpose: teaching etiquette. Recognizing the power of consideration and its transformative impact on individual well-being and being a responsible member of society, I passionately embraced the mission of promoting respect and kindness as essential virtues. I firmly believe that irrespective of one's political stance, religious beliefs, or perceptions of others, the key to a fulfilling and contented life for all lies in the act of sharing kindness with one another and cultivating a culture of consideration.

• So during the pandemic, I made the bold decision to leave my college piano professor position to pursue my new passion. While teaching piano, I completed my Emily Post Etiquette Trainer program and received my teaching license. While piano and classical music will forever be intertwined with my identity, stepping away from a full-time professor position granted me the freedom to explore and pursue all of my passions without limitations.

• My method of teaching utilizes practical, approachable, and international approach to etiquette.

• I am located in Indianapolis, Indiana and I teach both locally and travel to teach. Empower Etiquette’s services include private consulting, group seminars, intercultural training, webinars, and speaking engagements.

• I’ve lived in Texas, Missouri, a decade in New York City, a decade in South Korea, one year in Paris, another year in Germany, and the rest in Indianapolis. This meant that I had to constantly adapt and make a positive initial impact in a city with a distinct culture that differed significantly from my previous experiences. So what I bring is a cross-cultural fluency as an etiquette teacher.

• My first name is pronounced “Min-joo” and my last name is pronounced “Witt-y.”