Hi! I am Celina. I am a career and executive coach, and the host of the podcast, Live Your Dream.
My mission is to help people pursue their dreams and live a life doing what they love.
Like you, I’ve had my fair share of transitions and struggles in my own career. After I started my career as an investment banker, I went to law school and worked at a big law firm in New York City as a corporate lawyer. Even though the paychecks and fancy offices were nice, I couldn’t help but feel that there had to be more to life than just getting a paycheck and living for the weekend.
It is ironic that I started thinking about what it is that I really want to do with my life after I was done getting all the degrees and jobs. I grew up believing that if I worked hard to go to good schools and get good jobs, I would one day end up being happy and successful. And how was it possible that after I worked so hard for so many years and finally achieved what I thought I had wanted, I would end up being so unfulfilled and unhappy?
As I looked around, I realized I was not alone. The world was telling us to “find our passions” but nobody was telling us how to find it. If that’s you right now, here are a few ways I can help:
My Podcast, Live Your Dream
My podcast features stories from inspirational people about what they have learned from their journeys. Guests include NYC Michelin chef Hooni Kim, Designer Debbie Millman, Michael Kim (co-founder of Kobre & Kim), Inventor Thomas Clement, Katrina Markoff (founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat), Rand Fishkin (founder of Moz), NY Times Travel Writer Seth Kugel, entrepreneurs, lawyers, scholars, and more. The Live Your Dream podcast now has listeners from over 100 countries around the world.
Coaching
All my life experiences led me to become a career and executive coach and I help people step out of fear and take action towards doing the work that brings them joy and living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful.
If you are feeling stuck and unhappy in your career, you are not alone. I have been there myself not too long ago. I would love to help you in your journey in discovering what it is that you truly, really want, and how you can take the steps to create a thriving career doing what you love.
If you are interested in working with me, you can learn more about how I coach, and contact me here.
Speaking
In addition to 1-on-1 coaching, I lead workshops, group seminars, and speak at various events, organizations, companies, universities.
As a professional communicator, I understand the important role speakers play in the success of an event. I’ve presented in private functions for clients and delivered seminars and keynotes at industry-leading events, universities, and organizations all over the world including TEDx, MIT, Stanford University, NYU, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), New York City Bar Association, City University of New York (CUNY), Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, Seoul Arts Center.
If you’re interested in having me speak at your event, check out my speaking page here.
The 3 Steps to Finding True Career Fulfillment
There comes a time in your career when you question your professional happiness and fulfillment. This can be a defining moment if you put your passion, aspirations, and needs into action.
With the right formula and a little momentum, you can be happy and fulfilled personally and professionally. If you’re looking for clarity and next steps, check out this free guide, The 3 Steps to Finding True Career Fulfillment.
I use a 3-part framework to help you cut through the noise and step into doing work you love and believe in. Get your free copy here.
My Story
In my desperate attempt to find what it is that I really want to do in my life, I started following my curiosities and pursuing interests that I found to be fun and meaningful, even though they had nothing to do with my career.
For the first time in my life, I gave myself permission to do the things that brought me joy even though they weren’t going to help me boost my resume to get the next job or get into a better school.
I remembered that my very first childhood dream was to one day have a book with my name on it. Many people including my mom said my dream was impossible and discouraged me from pursuing it, but that didn’t stop me from pursuing and achieving my childhood dream of writing and publishing a book. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life but also one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences.
In 2012, I published my first book,“꿈을 이뤄드립니다” (“Live Your Dream”) in Korea. The book features the life stories of nine Korean-Americans who have lived their dreams and their stories of overcoming failure to achieve success in diverse industries, and their unique journey to the top of each profession.
I dedicated the last chapter of my book to the readers to write their own dreams so they can become part of the book. After my book got published, I was surprised to hear from many readers who sent me their dream chapters.
I wanted to help them as many people have helped me to achieve my childhood dream. Therefore, I founded Give One Dream, a community that has become a global movement and inspires many people around the world to pursue and achieve their dreams.
I have learned a lot over the years about what it takes to discover what we truly want, and how to have the courage to pursue them. I have also met many people who really love what they do and are not only successful in their career but also are truly happy and fulfilled in their lives. (This is possible!) And I discovered the commonalities that made them thrive in career and in life.
As I looked back on my life, out of all the things I’ve done, I realized the ones that brought me true joy all had common themes. I learned that they all involved people and stories. I believe stories are powerful in inspiring and encouraging people as I’ve experienced in my own life.
My Bio
Celina Lee is a globally recognized career coach, podcast host, writer, and lawyer. With a passion for helping people to pursue their dreams and live a life doing what they love, she coaches many professionals on their career development, and has given speeches and delivered workshops in many countries.
On her podcast, Live Your Dream with Celina Lee, she interviews inspirational people from diverse industries about what they have learned in their journeys in life and career. The podcast has listeners from over 100 countries around the world.
She is the founder of Give One Dream, a global movement that inspires people to pursue and achieve their dreams. She has collected and shared dreams from people all over the world, and created Live Your Dream coaching program for students in which they experience an inspirational journey of making their dream a reality.
Celina started her career as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch and worked as a corporate lawyer at a law firm, Ropes & Gray LLP in New York City. She worked as the General Counsel and Business Development Director of AKA Study, a startup that develops artificial intelligence engine to create innovative educational services and software.
Celina is an author of an award-wining book in South Korea, “꿈을 이뤄드립니다” (“Live Your Dream”), a collection of life stories of people who overcame failures to achieve success in diverse industries. Celina wrote this book in Korean despite having only attended elementary school in South Korea, and her book was published by one of the best publishers in the country.
As a host of a talk show and a radio show, Celina has also interviewed guests representing a wide range of professions, and shared her stories and experiences as a New Yorker.
She serves on the faculty for the Associate Leadership Institute for the New York City Bar Association, an award-winning program recognized by the American Bar Association. Celina has also been honored as the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) Fellows, and the Network of Korean-American Leaders (NetKAL) Fellow.
She has been invited to deliver keynotes and speak at industry-leading events, universities, and organizations including keynote speech at Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) International Conference: Making Things Happen, TEDx, MIT, Stanford University, Princeton University, NYU, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), New York City Bar Association, City University of New York (CUNY), AmeriCorps, CreativeMornings, Six Degrees Society, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Future Leadership Academy in Sweden, World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Association, Consulate General of Korea in Canada, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY), Korean American Bar Association of Chicago, Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC), Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and Seoul Arts Center.
Celina received her undergraduate degree from MIT and law degree from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. She is a certified professional coach and is a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).
