About
I’m Jihye (Jay) Lee — an entrepreneur, artist, and coach with 15+ years in tech and a life across borders.
I began university at 16, earned a master’s in international economics by 21 — and was already raising my newborn daughter.
Since then, I’ve spent 15+ years navigating multiple industries and identities — as a mother, marketer, CMO, startup operator, artist, platform founder, solopreneur, and coach.
Many of these roles I’ve held at once — not by accident, but by design.
Over the years, I’ve:
- Led marketing and product growth at leading startups in Seoul and San Francisco, including Soomgo, Styleshare, and Blind
- Advised VC-backed companies (via Kakao Ventures, Techstars, and independently) on go-to-market strategy and scaling
- Built art-tech platforms such as reviewedbyartists.com
- Exhibited work as an interdisciplinary artist across 10+ countries
- Lived and worked nomadically for 5+ years — in Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Norway, the U.S., Korea, and beyond
Now, I coach startup executives, tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives ready to move past fear and navigate growth, reinvention, and bold transitions with courage.
🌀 Why What Matters is a space for that journey — with coaching, writing, and resources to help you align with what truly matters and build from that clarity.
Want to connect?
You can find me on LinkedIn for more on my work in startups and strategy, or on Instagram for glimpses of my art and nomadic life.
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