Meet Kana Lee | Storyteller, Mom, Podcaster, EQ specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kana Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kana, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Relationships and really deeply caring for and about the people in my ecosystem. Building the friendships and making sure my connections with others are genuine and rooted in being human with one another.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional journey has not been linear. I’ve been really lucky to have worked with some great people and some who have challenged me to my core. I’ve had some really tough bosses who’ve made me feel really low but have also given me some of the best lessons in life. Allowing for the paradox has become part of my strength and feeds my optimism.

I’ve worked in a marketing and business operations capacity in most of my career. From legal to architecture to high end hospitality to entertainment to small business to real estate to venture capital to mental health, the through line continues to be curiosity, grit, resilience, openness, and overall finding some good people to collaborate with.

I’m proud of the relationships I’ve made in every role I’ve held. That’s likely the most unique thing about me is my ability to connect with people on a deeper level pretty quickly. I’ve been called a “culture carrier” a few different times and also the “emoji queen”. I think it’s because I enjoy work and consistently go in with an attitude of joy coupled with hard work.

During the challenging times, I’ve learned to hold my tongue and tears (for the most part) back so that I could reassess and just get whatever needs to be done, done. Some might not agree with this, I might not always agree with it… but it’s definitely served me well. Knowing what battles to pick and what you’re willing to “fall on the sword for” and what you’re not is really important when building relationships and your professional reputation.

In the past year I launched a new podcast: Learning to Human with Kana & Keegan. This show has been a really nice way for me to explore and create as well as get my voice heard after many years of feeling creatively stifled. Have a listen.

What I want the world to know about me is that I lead with kindness because it feels good and is right. It’s the best way to make an impact and I live by the quote “people will remember how you make them feel, long after they’ve heard your words”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oooo this is TOUGH! I’ve lived in Los Angeles most of my life and I’m pretty proud to say I’ve got impeccable taste.

Nature:
Point Vicente Interpretive Center is one of my absolute favorite places in LA, all of Palos Verdes is just gorgeous
The Huntington Library
The Observatory / Griffith Park
There’s hike in Malibu that’s next to a seafood restaurant off of PCH

Food & drink:
– Din Tai Fung for Xiao Long Bao – hands down the best – I’ll go to battle about this one. Don’t forget to get the chocolate mochi
– Tea Brick for fresh fruit tea boba drinks
– K-Town for some Korean BBQ and Korean shaved ice, I don’t have a specific one right now, I’d hit up some Korean friends before we go and decide
– Capital Seafood for Dim Sum
– Jim’s Bakery for Egg Tarts and Po Tarts
– Gale’s for Italian
– 101 Cafe – I haven’t been back since they opened again under new ownership but I heard they still have the brownie waffle so this would be fun to go to after Griffith Park
– Canter’s for The Brooklyn sandwich
– Donut Man for the Strawberry Donut
– Bay Cities Deli – The Godmother sandwich
– Alexander’s Steak House
– Republique – Dinner and Brunch (everything is so good but their french toast is amazing)
– Nobu Malibu
– Red Bird
– La Colombe for coffee
– Nabemono Shabu Shabu

Art:
Hauser & Wirth
The Getty Villa
The Broad
The Getty
The Bradbury Building

Experience:
The Langham Hotel in Pasadena
Hotel Cafe
Grand Central Market
The Edison
Terrenea
An urban walk around Art’s District DTLA
The Last Book Store
Hennessy + Ingalls Bookstore

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are SO many people I want to shoutout. I wouldn’t be who I am today and where I am without the love, support, encouragement, and belief garnered from my community. My friends, teachers, and family have held me throughout this entire journey of life and they continue to do so. In no particular order, my dance community the ladies of Groovaholix and my tripod leadership partners: Leilani & Leslie Ann Siy – Thank you for gifting me sisterhood. Burst Rock, the Funny Bones Crew, and 27 Junkies family for accepting and loving on my dorky self and lending me a little bit of street cred. My Saturday Cohort – getting through our masters program would not have been nearly as fun and warm without you. Shira my resident rockstar sister, Ameila my mystery school sis, Judene & Nafeza we’re taking on the entire tech ecosystem, Kel with your giant heart, and Karen from middle school to beyond, all of you see me in my higher-self and power and I’m so grateful. Keegan, my co-pilot who made my podcasting dreams come true. Helen, wow the many times you pulled me out of the dark hole or sat there with me, I could never repay the time you spent with me, thank you for being family. Nessy, how would I have gotten through the first years of motherhood without you? You’re always there to remind me of my “dopeness”. My therapists, past and present. My 2 angels Jessica and Leanne, may you rest in power, though you’re not here with me physically our memories and the impact of your friendship continues to flow through my soul. Our babysitter, Tita Mayet: without you we’d be an absolute ball of chaotic mess and I wouldn’t be able to do half the things that I do. My life partner, Jonathan who continues to create and shape this little family with me, which will forever be the best thing I’ve ever done and will ever do, thank you for loving me and walking by my side. My daughters: Everything is for you, all of it, and I’m so honored to have been chosen to be your mom. My mom and dad, the sacrifices and the love that I never have to question, is more than I deserve, you consistently remind me of what true family means and I am so blessed. And last but not least, God, I am able because of Him.

Website: https://learningtohuman.podbean.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanalee/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanalee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kanalee?lang=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aquaria337

Image Credits
Lori Dorman Photography, Joe Flores, Nathan Kim, XPrize