May Lee is a phenomenal, award-winning broadcast journalist and host with a history in anchoring and producing, and she currently works as a professor at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. One of her recent notable accomplishments from 2020 involved a partnership with NextShark to launch her own video-podcast “The May Lee Show,” turning her into one of the most prominent figures leading conversations about combatting Asian hate. She serves as an inspiration for many and is an incredible leader.

Beginning in 1992, Lee started her impressive career at Japan’s NHK network, then moved on to CNN as the Tokyo Correspondent and main anchor for CNN International in Hong Kong. She then expanded to Oxygen Media, the women’s network founded by Oprah Winfrey, as a talk show host then traveled to Asia as a primary anchor of CNBC Asia in Singapore. She’s also written her own book “May Lee, Live and In Person: It All Begins with Passion.”

Learn more about her story below and gain insight into the lessons she learned growing up, as well as during the pandemic.

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What are the biggest lessons you are taking with you out of this pandemic?

The pandemic allowed me to slow down and re-evaluate my life as well as the world around me. I was able to think long and hard about priorities, values, and purpose. We so often speed through life without even absorbing what we’re experiencing and are exhausted and unfulfilled. The pandemic, however, allowed me to assess and reassess where I was in life and where I wanted to go. Being able to do that in a calm, quiet and unhurried place was just what I needed to get a lot of clarity and direction and because of that, I was and am still able to pursue the purpose that organically developed at the start of 2020.

Every person faces their own challenges and women of color are certainly no exception. What contributes to your resilience as a professional woman of color?

I grew up in Ohio in the 1970s-80s so I was often the only Asian kid in school and in just about every other situation. For years, that feeling of being an outsider and the perpetual foreigner made me feel insecure and uncertain about my identity to the point where I wanted to shun my heritage. BUT, as I grew older, bolder, and more confident, I realized that my cultural background and experiences were something to be proud of. I knew that being a double minority…female and Asian would, to some, be reasons to dismiss or disrespect me, but that only made me fight harder, be louder, be smarter, and be better. Now I tell every young person, especially young women of color, to embrace who you are and own your power. Don’t let others dictate who or what you are. Push back on age old stereotypes and write your own story…one that is true to who you really are.

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

Don’t be afraid to speak up and speak out, especially if you feel strongly about something. Don’t be fearful! Take the risk even if you think you might fail because failure is inevitable, but you WILL get back up and grow stronger! And try and love who you are, your history, your identity because you have something great to share with the world.

Side hustle

Rescuing animals and having an animal sanctuary