Connecting customers, partners, cultures, and markets across the globe — these are the people helping shape the future of travel tech at Yanolja.

In this edition of Meet the Leaders, we spotlight the leaders driving Yanolja’s global business forward.

From their career journeys and experiences working across borders to the insights shaping the AI era, discover the stories behind the people building Global Yanolja.

Meet the Leaders | Behind Global Yanolja

― Marco Alexander Hagens, Vice President of Global Finance & IR at Yanolja

My Journey So Far

Tell us about your career journey—from where you started to what excites you today.

Hello, I’m Marco Hagens, Vice President of Global Finance & IR at Yanolja.

I began my career in financial services at Santander US. That gave me early exposure to institutional investors and the capital markets.

I later moved into the technology sector, where I eventually had the opportunity to support Activision Blizzard through a transformative period that culminated in Microsoft's acquisition of the company.
That experience reinforced my interest in helping global technology companies navigate periods of growth and change.

What drew me to Yanolja was its founding story and its ambition to build a global travel technology company. The opportunity to help support that journey is what brought me here, and it’s what continues to motivate me today.

Leading Across Borders

What has been your most memorable experience representing Yanolja globally?

It’s difficult to choose just one moment because I’ve had the opportunity to represent Yanolja in hundreds of meetings with investors across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

What stands out most is seeing how the company’s story resonates across different markets. Whether I’m speaking with investors in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, or Dubai, there’s a shared interest in how technology is transforming the travel industry.

Being able to help introduce Yanolja to investors around the world during such an exciting stage of the company’s growth has been the most rewarding part of my role.

How do you think investors and the global market perceive Yanolja?

One thing I’ve learned from speaking with investors around the world is that perceptions often evolve during the conversation.

Some have never heard of Yanolja, while others know it only as a domestic travel platform in Korea. As we talk, they quickly recognize that the company has evolved into a global travel technology platform with a strong enterprise solutions business, working with many of the world’s leading hospitality brands.

The questions I hear most often are about our long-term growth strategy, how AI will shape the future of travel, and our plans for international expansion.

What do you think is the most important quality for connecting cultures and markets?

I’ve learned that connecting cultures starts with curiosity and humility.

Every market and every team has its own way of communicating, making decisions, and solving problems. Rather than assuming one approach is better than another, I’ve found it’s far more valuable to listen, adapt, and learn from the people around you.

Working with colleagues in Seoul has taught me a great deal. They’ve been incredibly patient and generous in helping me understand both the company and the local business culture, and over time I’ve adapted my own approach to collaborate more effectively across time zones and cultures.

Outside of work, I’m even learning Korean on Duolingo and can now read Hangul. I don’t expect to become conversational anytime soon, but making the effort is another way to better connect with my colleagues.

What We’re Building Next

What role does the US & Europe IR team play in Yanolja's global growth journey?

Our team serves as the primary bridge between Yanolja and the global investment community.

We work closely with investors, analysts, banks, and prospective shareholders to help them understand the company’s strategy, financial performance, and long-term vision.

We also bring insights from the market back to the broader leadership team. Investor conversations often provide a different perspective, helping shape how we communicate with the market and where we focus our efforts.

As Yanolja continues to expand internationally, our role is to build long-term relationships with investors around the world and ensure the market has a clear understanding of the company’s global growth strategy.

What does it mean to represent Yanolja's value to global investors and the market?

Representing Yanolja to the global investment community is a responsibility I take very seriously. I feel privileged to help tell the company’s story to investors around the world.

The message I believe is most important is that Yanolja has consistently adapted to change. From its early days as a Korean travel startup to navigating COVID, and now the rapid evolution of AI, the company has continued to evolve while remaining focused on long-term growth.

That resilience and willingness to innovate are what give investors confidence in its future.

I take great pride in helping share that story and representing a company that continues to build for the long term.

As a global leader, what kind of change or impact do you hope to create at Yanolja over the next three years?

In the coming years, I hope Yanolja is recognized not simply as a Korean company, but as one of the world’s leading travel technology companies.

The company has already built a strong global foundation, and I believe the next few years are an opportunity to further establish Yanolja as a trusted partner to both the travel industry and the global investment community.

Personally, I hope to continue growing alongside the company by helping shape our long-term financial strategy, connecting with investors around the world, and communicating our strategy clearly as we deepen our relationships with the global capital markets.

I’m excited about what lies ahead and look forward to helping shape the next chapter of Yanolja’s journey.

One Word That Defines Me

If you had to define yourself in ‘one word’, what would it be?

“I’m Marco Hagens, a Curious Mind, always eager to learn.”

Whether it’s new ideas, new cultures, new technologies, or new languages, I believe curiosity helps us grow and build stronger relationships.

👀 LinkedIn Profile | Marco Alexander Hagens, Vice President of Global Finance & IR at Yanolja