Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Lee.
Hi Victoria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m not even sure exactly how it happened – but for the past year or so, I’ve had a little inkling of my interesting in management consulting. I think it’s the analysis and problem-solving aspects of consulting, that is what I admire. Well, you know how rabbit holes work on the internet – one thing led to another, and I eventually found myself looking at the websites of some consulting firms I read about on a Forbes 100 article.
I thought to myself, I know it’s a super, super long shot, but what if I could actually intern at one of these firms? I ended up sending cold emails to about 35 different firms. So, this was in early January. And I did get quite the number of rejections and dead-ends, to which I say were life-learning opportunities. The Chairman and Principal Executive Officer of one company, Berkeley Research Group, Dr. David Teece, actually did respond to my email and offered me the opportunity to apply for their Associate’s Program under a research paper.
I was super stoked. You know, to get an email from someone like Dr. Teece, who is a renowned economist of such high caliber, that’s huge. So, I’m thinking, I definitely cannot pass up this incredible opportunity. But what would I write about? A few things ran through my mind, but I ultimately decided on the ethics and socioeconomic implications of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which is a gene-editing technology. I had actually briefly covered it with a few of my peers in an AP Seminar course earlier in the year, but with time constraints I felt like I wasn’t able to fully engage with the science. Even today, after, gosh, what is around 6 months since the term of my paper started, it feels like I’ve barely scratched the surface.
So, that happened. Mind-blown. To apply, I had to write a proposal summarizing the purpose and content of my research and secure a mentor independently. After a few emails to different thought-leaders in the realm of bioethics, Dr. Frederick Grinnell, Robert McLemore Professor of Medical Science in the department of cell biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and founder of UTSW’s Ethics in Science and Medicine Program, agreed to be my mentor. I’m really grateful for the mentorship of Dr. Grinnell especially because I was way out of water with this. He helped guide my thoughts, offered constructive criticism, and really supported me throughout the term.
Around April, I was officially accepted into the program. Which is where the journey really begins. The paper that was published by Berkeley Research Group’s Institute is a culmination of the entirety of the last 6 months. Reading journals and publications, reaching out to thought-leaders in economics, bioethics, religion, and like spheres, and meeting with some really awesome individuals like Harvard Medical School’s Dr. George Church to Princeton University’s Dr. Shirley Tilghman, this paper is the most challenging project that I have undertaken thus far. And it was riveting. Making connections across the realms that CRISPR-Cas9 technology influenced, such as disability ethics to economics, as I engaged in conversations with individuals who had such deep expertise, I was pushed out of my comfort zone.
In addition to learning a wealth of new information and insight from my research, I also learned that being uncomfortable is often a prerequisite to achieving comfort. I pushed myself to ask questions, engage in discussion, and pursue this opportunity, and while it wasn’t always easy, I consistently felt myself growing in my work ethic, self-accountability, and level of analysis. And while I know it can be hard, I encourage readers of this article, regardless of background, interests, or identifying factors to challenge themselves. This doesn’t have to be some astronomical, rapid growth or self-discovery. It’s in the little things.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. There were challenges in completing the application steps, securing interviews, and balancing everything when my senior year started up in August (midway through the term). But I’ve also realized that nothing truly of value ever comes easily. So, it’s a trade-off, one that I would do again in a heartbeat.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my life, I have 3, what I like to call, spikes.
The first is music – I’ve been playing piano since I was five or six years old, and singing in choirs since I was seven. Though it’s been challenging with schoolwork, I find ways to incorporate it into my daily life. I especially enjoy listening to classical music like Beethoven or Prokofiev (no, really, I’m not bluffing) and college acapella groups like the Stanford Fleet Street Singers (All-Nighter never disappoints). Today, I am the Soprano 1 Section Leader and Student Choral Director for the Varsity Women’s Choir and the Founder & CEO of Prestissimo, which is a music business that offers composing, accompaniment, performance, rehearsal, & piano lessons in contemporary, jazz & classical styles.
The second is my business/entrepreneurial side. I really am energized by applying unconventional approaches to routine issues, like “how do we get more members to come to our meetings?” In this, I am the Vice President for Education for the BPA (Business Professionals of America) chapter at my school, where I help members identify and excel in their chosen events for competition. In BPA competition, I have participated since 10th grade and have advanced to the state level in 10th and 11th grades in extemporaneous speech, placing as a national alternate in 11th grade. I am also a competitor in another business competition club, DECA, where I apply my problem-solving skills in the event Marketing Communications. I also exercise my entrepreneurial side in founding (2018) and leading my school’s chapter of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) as the Head Captain.
Lastly, I am also really interested in community service. I think I was always drawn to serving my community, but it wasn’t until recently with the complexity of policymaking, especially in schools, that I was like, I’ve got to get moving on this. Appointed by my high school principal, I serve on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, where I meet with other members, the Superintendent, and occasionally the school district’s Board of Directors to propose and help shape policies for the district’s 73 campuses.
I guess what also gets an honorary mention is my social media influence. I am a small creator (@victoriatheleek) on TikTok (~20,000 followers) where I create comedy-based content. I haven’t been able to keep up with it lately with academics and all, but I think it’s a great way to keep life a little lighthearted. I’ve also connected with some pretty great people on the app.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
My door/window/email address is always open! Feel free to contact me at victoriatheleek@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Email: victoriatheleek@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/victoriatheleek
- Other: tiktok.com/@victoriatheleek
