Leading Innovation Where Mind Meets the Mission
Healing is my mission. Science is my language. Humanity is my why.
Hello,
I am Younok Dumortier Shin. I’m someone who loves exploring the intersection of curiosity, purpose, and healing. My journey has taken me from scientific research and leadership to entrepreneurship, counseling, and holistic well-being. Along the way, I have discovered one guiding truth: true happiness is possible for everyone, no matter where they begin. Everything I do now is guided by this one mission: helping people grow, heal and thrive.
I’ve been fortunate to devote myself on developing medicines to improve quality of life, guide individuals toward personal and professional growth, and support communities through mental health initiatives. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that innovation isn’t just about new ideas. Rather, it’s about creating space for people to connect, support one another and rise together.
This space is for connection, inspiration, and exploration. Whether you’re here to learn, reflect, or simply be inspired, I hope you feel welcome.
More About Me
I was born and raised in South Korea during a time of rapid industrialization. My parents survived famine and devastation after the Korean War, and they worked tirelessly so their children would never know the same hardship. Yet society taught me that, as a girl from a working-class family, my future was limited. Everyone told me that the only way to live well was to marry rich.
At 19, I chose a different path and left for Canada. Alone in a new country, facing unfamiliar culture, language, and challenges, I thought: if my life is doomed anyway, so why not follow my heart and explore the world? What do I have to lose. What began as hopelessness became courage, and with it a profound sense of freedom and possibility.
That mindset has guided me ever since. I earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering and rose to a C-level executive role in the pharmaceutical industry, leading teams and overseeing the development of life-transforming medicines that help millions worldwide. I reached the summit of what society calls success: wealth, stability, recognition, and the joy of a family I loved. From the outside, it looked like I had it all. But inside, I became overwhelmed by a deep emptiness. That feeling pushed me to question not just what I was achieving, but why I was pursuing it.
That led me on a long, challenging inner journey. With guidance from many amazing people, I immersed myself in science, philosophy, psychology, yoga, and psychotherapy. I read, practiced, and reflected. Slowly I uncovered a deeper truth: happiness is not a destination, but a way of being. Life is not about chasing society’s definition of success, but about exploring who we truly are and finding joy along the journey.
I now bring together the rigor of a scientist, the discipline of a C-level executive, and the heart of a lifelong seeker. This combination allows me to guide others with both credibility and empathy, helping them find clarity, purpose, and joy.
Life is profoundly beautiful if only we dare to look within. My hope is to help others discover the happiness, meaning, and freedom that already live inside them, just as others once helped me.
More About Me
I was born and raised in South Korea during a time of rapid industrialization. My parents survived famine and devastation after the Korean War, and they worked tirelessly so their children would never know the same hardship. Yet society taught me that, as a girl from a working-class family, my future was limited. Everyone told me that the only way to live well was to marry rich.
At 19, I chose a different path and left for Canada. Alone in a new country, facing unfamiliar culture, language, and challenges, I thought: if my life is doomed anyway, so why not follow my heart and explore the world? What do I have to lose. What began as hopelessness became courage, and with it a profound sense of freedom and possibility.
That mindset has guided me ever since. I earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering and rose to a C-level executive role in the pharmaceutical industry, leading teams and overseeing the development of life-transforming medicines that help millions worldwide. I reached the summit of what society calls success: wealth, stability, recognition, and the joy of a family I loved. From the outside, it looked like I had it all. But inside, I became overwhelmed by a deep emptiness. That feeling pushed me to question not just what I was achieving, but why I was pursuing it.
That led me on a long, challenging inner journey. With guidance from many amazing people, I immersed myself in science, philosophy, psychology, yoga, and psychotherapy. I read, practiced, and reflected. Slowly I uncovered a deeper truth: happiness is not a destination, but a way of being. Life is not about chasing society’s definition of success, but about exploring who we truly are and finding joy along the journey.
I now bring together the rigor of a scientist, the discipline of a C-level executive, and the heart of a lifelong seeker. This combination allows me to guide others with both credibility and empathy, helping them find clarity, purpose, and joy.
Life is profoundly beautiful if only we dare to look within. My hope is to help others discover the happiness, meaning, and freedom that already live inside them, just as others once helped me.
Where Science Meets Mission
Healing is my mission. Science is my language. Humanity is my why. OnusBio and Coding of the Mind® were born from this calling: to develop medicines that improve quality of life and to guide individuals toward personal and professional growth.
Founder and the CEO
OnusBio is a biotechnology company developing innovative medicines to treat debilitating conditions affecting the nervous system. Our approach combines proven scientific knowledge, best-in-class analytics, and fearless innovation.
Founder and the CEO
Coding of the Mind® is built on a unique blend of human physiology, psychology, and clinical modalities. We offer tools and techniques that are proven to be effective in reframing different dimensions of the human mind to lead to positive outcomes.
Alongside my leadership roles, I also spend time in community mental health centers, offering psychotherapy and counseling to those who are struggling most. These sessions remind me, again and again, of the quiet strength people carry inside them. Their stories—the pain, the resilience, the raw honesty—move me deeply. They are why I continue to fight for better medicines and more human-centered care.
I also write, books, essays, and reflections, sharing what I’ve learned from science, personal experience, and the many lives I’ve had the privilege to witness up close. My hope is that by telling those stories, I can help others feel less alone, more understood, and more empowered to live with intention and joy.
Educations and Professional Credentials
Professional Highlights:
- 20+ years of senior leadership in pharmaceutical industry.
- Launch of life saving therapies leaching millions of people around the world.
- Entrepreneur leading innovation and healing.
- Actively participating in community services helping people with mental health and disability challenges.
Education:
- B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering.
- M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.
- M.B.A. Entrepreneurship.
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Professional Licenses & Certification
- Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC): NJ Dept of Consumer Affairs.
- National Certified Counselor (NCC): The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
- Board Certified Coach (BCC): Center for Credentialling & Education.
- National Association of Corporate Directors-Certified Director (NACD-CD).
- Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200): Yoga Alliance Approved.
Educations and Professional Credentials
Education:
- B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering.
- M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering.
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.
- M.B.A. Entrepreneurship.
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Professional Highlights:
- 20+ years of senior leadership in pharmaceutical industry.
- Launch of life saving therapies leaching millions of people around the world.
- Entrepreneur leading innovation and healing.
- Actively participating in community services helping people with mental health and disability challenges.
Professional Licenses & Certification
- Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC): NJ Dept of Consumer Affairs.
- National Certified Counselor (NCC): The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
- Board Certified Coach (BCC): Center for Credentialling & Education.
- National Association of Corporate Directors-Certified Director (NACD-CD).
- Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200): Yoga Alliance Approved.
Maintaining Balance
Driving change, whether developing medicines that transform lives or helping others for their growth, is a path full of challenges, hard decisions, and moments of uncertainty. To stay grounded through it all, I turn to yoga and meditation. These practices are more than routines; they are a gentle reminder to breathe, to pause, and to honor the balance within.
