Leadership Behind the Scenes: Vandana Boolell Reflects on the Grit and Genius of Hwang Dong-Hyuk, Creator of Squid Game

Now Streaming: Season 3 Breaks Records with 60.1 Million Views in 3 Days

With Squid Game Season 3 smashing Netflix records  clocking over 60.1 million views in just its first three days  it’s no surprise the world is once again captivated by its chilling brilliance.
(Was she one of those viewers? Absolutely.)

But beyond the surreal visuals and suspenseful plot twists lies a raw, human story of sacrifice, vision, and resilience. In her latest reflection, Vandana Boolell peels back the layers of this cultural phenomenon to examine the extraordinary journey of its creator, Emmy Award-winning director Hwang Dong-Hyuk, through the lens of leadership.

Despite his success in South Korean cinema, Hwang faced crushing challenges:

• ⭕ At one point, he was in such crippling debt that he reportedly sold his laptop just to make rent  a real-life hardship that inspired the now-iconic Squid Game plot.

• ⭕ Over the course of three seasons, the stress of production reportedly cost him nearly a dozen teeth. A staggering, physical reminder of the toll high-stakes leadership can take.

“As a society, we often celebrate the glory of success, yet remain blind to the costs behind it,” Vandana notes.
“We need to tell the whole story  not just the headlines, but the heartache.”

In this powerful piece, Vandana explores how resilience, conviction, and creative risk-taking define not just Hwang’s career, but what true leadership looks like under pressure. It’s a sobering reminder that greatness isn’t glamour  it’s grit.

Her reflections serve as both a tribute and a call to action: to honour not just the finished product, but the journeys, sacrifices, and unseen struggles that make such breakthroughs possible.

📄 Read the full reflection PDF attached :  vandana
🔗 Connect with Vandana Boolell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandanaboolell/