Linda Kim.

• Position: The Wonderful Co. Senior Tax Director

Things to Know About Linda Kim

TITLE: Senior Tax Director

ORGANIZATION: The Wonderful Company

TEI CHAPTER: Los Angeles

EDUCATION: BS in business administration, University of Southern California; MST in taxation, Golden

Gate University

AFFILIATIONS: TEI Los Angeles Chapter, member. 2005 to present; chapter vice president and president, 2013-2016; chapter Institute representative, 2017-2018,2021; and chapter board of directors,

(2011) to present; TEI Executive Committee 2020-2021; member, Institute State and Local Tax Committee,

(2015) to present; member, Institute Federal Tax Committee. 2020 to present; and chair, Engaging Tax

Professionals Subcommittee, 2020-2021; TEI Region X vice president 2018-2021 and Region X nominating committee chair, 2014-2016; and volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, 2014 to present

BIRTHPLACE: Seoul, South Korea

HOBBIES: Traveling, volunteering, gardening, cooking, running

Since Linda Kim was young, she knew she would go into accounting because of her father. She fought it for a while, thinking she might become a teacher. However, after working with her father one summer, she decided to follow his advice: If she pursued a career in accounting or tax, she would always be able to find work.

Kim, now senior tax director at The Wonderful Company (TWC), previously worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation. She says her experience at TWC has been an invaluable opportunity, enabling her to expand and sharpen her repertoire in tax controversy and planning--specifically in negotiation (with tax authorities)--as well as in modeling, interviewing subject matter experts, and making presentations.

Having previously worked only for publicly held Fortune 100 companies, Kim initially did not know TWC. "When I started researching the company for my interview, I realized I consumed many of their products--FIJI Water, POM, Wonderful Pistachios, etc. These were products that not only I believed in but loved to eat. It's hyper-important to me to believe in the products or services provided by my employer."

At a time when people switch companies often, Kim has remained at TWC for more than eleven years. "The company has more than tripled since I started, which alone is challenging, but what has also kept me here is the nontax stuff--the owners' commitment to education, health and wellness, and sustainability is demonstrated by how they have given back to the community and the world. I can go on and on about how truly wonderful it is to work...