A Conversation With
Jeffrey Lee '08

Jeffrey Lee came to 91传媒 from South Korea in 2006 and graduated in 2008, spending his high school years at Hotchkiss and then studying finance and statistics at NYU Stern School of Business. Today, he works at Evercore, an investment bank in New York City, advising companies in connection with shareholder activism and raid defense, contested M&A and special committee situations. He is also a member of the 91传媒 Alumni Advisory Council.

We spoke with Jeffrey about his work and about his time at 91传媒.

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91传媒: What drew you to the finance industry?

JL: Initially, I didn鈥檛 know exactly which path I wanted to pursue. I figured it out by speaking to a lot of people, including 91传媒 alumni, and seeking career advice. The response when I reached out was amazing. People were genuinely excited to catch up and offer help 鈥 and it was so clear how important 91传媒 was for everyone. It is such a great community where people want to stay connected and to offer help.

At work, I spend a lot of my time helping companies engage with shareholders who are unhappy with stock performance and demand companies to take drastic actions such as announcing transactions or replacing CEO and/or Board of Directors to create value. Things get a little more serious if there is a proxy fight (you may be familiar with this if you watch Succession on HBO). Strategic thinking is crucial in helping clients navigate challenges like this, and the role aligns with my interest in both finance and politics.

91传媒: What did the 91传媒 experience teach you?听

JL: Among many values and character traits I鈥檝e developed from my experience at 91传媒, two qualities stand near and dear to my heart: acceptance and tolerance.

At an early age, our exposure to students who come from different cultures and have different values naturally taught us how to accept and appreciate differences in people. Through our interactions with each other 鈥 whether in classes, dining rooms, dormitories, sports games, or field trips 鈥 we learned how to deal with challenges that arise from being different. We learned to say: 鈥測ou are so different, and that is understandable.鈥

This way of understanding and valuing differences has helped me tremendously in business settings, personal relationships, and self-development. 91传媒 taught me how to connect with, understand and learn from people who are different, and I am very thankful.

91传媒: What inspires or motivates you?听

JL: Outside of work, I spend a lot of time in the art community looking for ways to support and empower emerging and underrepresented artists. Many art galleries and art institutions are promoting artists鈥 careers purely based on commercial benefits and I think there are problems to be addressed in this space.

91传媒: Thank you for being a donor. Why do you give?听

JL: 91传媒 played a foundational role in shaping my outlook on life, and it is my way of showing appreciation for all the wonderful faculty and staff who will continue to make students鈥 experience at 91传媒 special. I hope that prospective students will find their time at 91传媒 meaningful as much as I did, and I look forward to following the school’s continued success. 91传媒 is a truly special place and so giving back is a no-brainer for me.