Grace Lee | Co-Founder and President, AMH Catalyst Center
A conversation with Grace Lee, Co-Founder & President of AMH Catalyst, on reclaiming quiet strength, validating women’s emotional truths, and building systems where entrepreneurial dreams and emotional wellness are treated as essential—not optional.
What truths from your upbringing continue to anchor your approach to career and advocacy?
Self-confidence and self-value are not obvious norms for girls and women in both my ethnic culture and in the US. Patriarchal norms are pervasive, but there are two things I will never forget that continue to guide me both personally and professionally: 1) everyone has self-agency and 2) all people are fragile and human, no matter their power or wealth. These can be challenging when I deal with difficult people, but it also has allowed me to turn my anger and frustration into compassion or action.
Was there a time when your quiet strength was misread – and how did you reclaim your path?
One common experience I've had is with challenging managers, both men and women, who have told me that I'm too quiet and not confident or assertive, and was used as reason to delay promotions or other professional opportunities. As someone who internalizes a lot, these were soul-crushing. Stressful, confusing, and deflating. Ironically, it was other managers who helped me see it differently, focusing on my strengths and giving me room to be authentic. Seeing them value and trust me gave me reason to find my own path.
Who has stood beside you with validation, presence, and perspective when you needed it most?
One friend has been an ally to me for many years. Her training as a mindfulness coach was and continues to be instrumental for my growth in understanding bias and how to protect or channel my energy. She is an incredible listener, validates my experiences, and helps me reflect on tough situations as life lessons. I wish more women had their experiences validated and were allowed to feel their emotions so that we didn't have to feel ashamed of them.
How are you reimagining systems that center women’s voices and dreams?
I co-founded the AMH Catalyst Center with my dear friend Jenny Flores. Our vision is to ensure that all women are able to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. One of the ways we're doing that is by collecting data directly from women founders to inform the tools and resources that best meet their needs.
When only 2% of venture capital is invested in women-led companies, it's clear that the current system was not created with us in mind. We've seen the wealthiest wield untethered power and influence on policies, so this is also part of my long-game to ensure more women, as they become more economically empowered, to have more presence in those decision-making processes.
Why must emotional wellness be part of how we understand equity and power, and how does SeekHer’s collective mission help sustain that truth?
SeekHer's mission is one that is so close to my heart. Connecting gender equity and mental health is exactly what we are working to do at AMH Catalyst. The two cannot be separated if we want women to truly thrive. Whatever emotion you feel - from joy to frustration - channel it towards the kind of world you want to be part of.
“Whatever emotion you feel, from joy to frustration, channel it towards the kind of world you want to be part of.”
About Grace
I'm a first-generation eldest daughter with a blue-collar upbringing. After a career in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, a friend and I started our own nonprofit because we were fed up with seeing how women founders, especially women of color, lacked the support, understanding, capital to achieve their entrepreneurial goals.
Connect Further
Website: amhcatalyst.org | LinkedIn: Grace Lee