Grace Lee’s experience spans more than two decades in international business. Born in Japan and educated in Asia and the U.S., she's bilingual and equally at home in both cultures.
Grace spent the first 14 years of her life in Japan. Her mother, who came from an influential Japanese family, and her father – a West Indian, Ivy League educated diplomat – made sure she was well-trained in both Japanese and Western social graces. This bi-cultural upbringing, combined with her background as a certified John Robert Powers Finishing School instructor, plus 20 years’ experience in domestic and international business consulting, gives Grace Lee a unique perspective on multi-cultural interactions.
She is an internationally recognized business and etiquette consultant for corporations such as Hansen Natural Juices, Exxon, American Airlines, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce. Lee has worked with American and Asian firms to set up profitable businesses on both sides of the ocean while always honoring the host country’s culture and traditions. Her successful international import-export company moved goods from Japan, India, Taiwan, and Singapore to markets throughout the U.S. Her efforts have generated millions of dollars in trade in pharmaceuticals, auto parts, sports equipment, clothing, food, and gift items.
Lee has served on Chambers of Commerce in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Denmark, France and China, gaining a wealth of practical knowledge from seasoned professionals around the world. She has given popular workshops in Japan, including “How to Market in the U.S.” and “Western Business Etiquette,” and she has helped American companies set up successful operations in Japan and manufacturing in Asia.
Today Grace Lee teaches Western social graces and etiquette with an Asian influence, treating both as a fine art. Her unique ability to blend Western and Asian etiquette with the customs of other cultures shows students how to expand their boundaries and gives them the confidence to handle any social situation. Grace’s mission is to bring back the art of social graces by empowering women with the knowledge to be passed on to their families. People’s etiquette and social graces have serious consequences as to the perceptions others have of them. Most negative perceptions can be turned into positives if you know, and practice proper etiquette and social graces.
“Americans are unique because they can select the best traditions from other cultures and incorporate them into their own,” says Grace. “This allows the best social graces from every culture to become part of America."
