Grace Lee is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Logic Solutions Inc., a global full-service development company that provides technological solutions and services. Under the watch of Lee and her team, the company flourished into an innovative powerhouse, and even received the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch Award in 2012. That year, she also received the MIT Enterprise Forum Excellence Award. To pursue her passion for entrepreneurship, Lee earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University, and her BA in Economics from UCLA.

Lee holds a position at several prominent Boards, including: Vice Chair at Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Board of Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE), Chair of Board of Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC), Treasurer for MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes Chapter, Vice President/Treasurer of Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE), and many more.

We were excited to interview her for this segment of our Minority Women Lead campaign, and wanted to share her advice with all of you:

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Throughout your leadership journey, from your first job to your current position, what are some key lessons you’ve learned that have shaped you as a leader?

Grace Lee: One of the key lessons I learned to grow the company and develop the leadership is to empower the team. No one can lead an organization to success on their own. By empowering the team, we were able to capitalize on employees’ expertise and judgment, increases their sense of both individual worth and commitment to the organization and develop the leadership. However, we still need to lead by example and take the responsibility on the result.

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

GL: To see our clients are successful because of our work.

What are three key characteristics or habits that have led to your success?

GL: Perseverance, Compassion and never stop learning.

Who are some up-and-coming women of color in your industry that we should know and keep an eye on?

GL:

• Linglong He: Linglong was the CIO of Quick Loans which is the largest private owned mortgage company in the U. S. She recently became the President/COO of Rock Central, a professional services company with more than 1000 employees, delivering innovative and effective solutions.
• Priscilla Tsai: Founder/CEO of Cocokind. CocoKind is a USDA certified organic skincare line centered around coconut oil and super foods. In less than six years since the inception of the company, you can find their products in over 500 supermarkets, such as Plum Markets, Wholefoods as well as in Australia and Hong Kong.

Knowing the unique challenges that you have faced as a professional woman of color, what advice would you give to your younger self?

GL: Get out of the comfortable zone. Challenge yourself. Don’t let other people tell you what you can or cannot do. Most importantly, don’t let “YOU” stop “YOU”.

What advice would you give to women of color who aspire to lead and make change?

GL: Like what Sheryl Sandberg said in “Lean In”: Believe in [yourself,] you deserve to sit at the table. We have to be present; we have to get involved; we cannot be on the sideline if [we] want to make change.

What podcasts are you listening to and/or books are you reading?

GL:

• Book: The First 20 Hours- How to Learn Anything Fast/Josh Kaufman
• TEDx: How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals/Stephen Duneier

Both have similar and very effective method to achieve our goals when we are crunching for time.