Sung Sohn

Former Executive Vice President & Chief Economist at Wells Fargo Banks

Sung Sohn

Former Executive Vice President & Chief Economist at Wells Fargo Banks

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Biography

Dr. Sohn was an Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at Wells Fargo Banks. He was also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hanmi Bank and Hanmi Financial Corporation (Public), a commercial bank in Los Angeles, California. He is an internationally known economist. Dr. Sohn is now a Professor of Finance and Economics at Loyola-Marymount University. He is also president of SS Economics, an economic consulting firm focused on the U.S. economy, international trade and technology including AI applications. Sohn also serves as a Commissioner for LACERS (Los Angeles City Employee Retirement System) managing $29 billion in assets. He was on the Board of Directors for Western Alliance Bancorporation (Public), and National Association of Corporate Directors PSW. He was also Vice Chairman of the Board at a retailer Forever 21. He has served on the boards of five public companies.

Dr. Sohn was Martin V. Smith Professor of Economics at California State University CI and director of the Institute for Global Economic Research (IGER) forecasting economic and investment conditions in the Pacific-rim countries.

Prior to Wells Fargo, Dr. Sohn was a Senior Economist on the President's Council of Economic Advisors in The White House. He was responsible for economic and legislative matters pertaining to The Federal Reserve and financial markets. Dr. Sohn has also been a tenured professor in Pennsylvania State University System.

In 2025, The Wall Street Journal named him as one of the top five forecasters in the country. In 2006, The Wall Street Journal featured a story naming Dr. Sohn as the most accurate economist in the United States. This is one of the most prestigious honors in the economics profession. He is on the Journal’s Board of economists. In 2001, Bloomberg News selected Dr. Sohn as one of the five most accurate forecasters in the United States. In 2002, Blue Chip Publications picked him as the most accurate forecaster for the Western States, and he was named to Time Magazine's Board of Economists.

Dr. Sohn was chosen as one of the 100 most influential Minnesotans of the 20th century by the state’s largest daily newspaper, The Star Tribune. Others on the list included Charles Lindberg, Sinclair Lewis, Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Charles Schultz of Peanuts.

Dr. Sohn was a Commissioner of the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest seaport. He has also served on the boards of Hanmi Financial Corporation (Public), First California Bancorporation (Public), Cryo Cell International (Public), Ministers Mutual Life Insurance Company, LA Music Center (Performing Arts), Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles, Foreign Affairs Council of LA, Park Nicollet Health Services, The Blake School, Minnesota Community College System, North Memorial Medical Center, Harvard Business School Association of Minnesota, Crystal Evangelical Free Church, Children's Theater Company, and the American Heart Association of Minnesota and Girl Scouts of Minnesota.

He is the author of two books: Global Financial Crisis and Exit Strategy (2009) and The New Economy (2014).

Dr. Sohn was educated at Harvard Business School, MIT, the University of Florida and the University of Pittsburgh,

Speech Topics

The Midterm Election: Economic and Financial Consequences

As the United States approaches another midterm election cycle, policy uncertainty can have meaningful implications for economic growth, financial markets, regulation, and fiscal policy. This presentation examines how election outcomes historically influence the economy, investor sentiment, and key industries, and what businesses and investors should watch during election periods.

The Global and the U.S. Economy and Financial Markets: Implications for Your Industry

An overview of current economic conditions, financial market trends, and the outlook for growth, inflation, interest rates, and employment. The discussion connects macroeconomic developments directly to industry-specific opportunities and risks.

Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Modern leadership requires integrating several powerful forces shaping organizations today. This talk explores leadership using four key lenses:

Strategic planning
Behavioral science and decision-making
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation
Demographic changes in the workforce and marketplace

The presentation discusses how leaders can combine these tools to improve decision-making, productivity, and long-term organizational performance.

Understanding the New Age of Artificial Intelligence and Its Application to Your Business

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at a rapid pace. This session explains how AI works in clear and practical terms and explores how AI-driven strategies can be applied to improve efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage across different industries.

Building a Strategic Plan for Your Organization Using AI

This presentation provides a practical framework for developing a modern strategic plan that incorporates artificial intelligence. It explains how organizations can integrate AI into planning, operations, and decision-making to improve performance and adaptability.

Building Winning Business Strategies

Successful companies create and capture value through thoughtful strategy. This session discusses proven strategic frameworks including Blue Ocean Strategy, value creation, and value capture, and how organizations can develop sustainable competitive advantages.