Thai Lee

Early Life

Thai Lee was born in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1958, but spent most of her childhood in South Korea. Her family moved frequently due to her father's work as a Korean economist promoting South Korea's postwar development plan. She moved to the United States in her teens and attended high school in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Rise to Success

Lee earned a double major in biology and economics from Amherst College in 1980 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1985, becoming the first Korean woman to graduate from Harvard Business School. In 1989, she co-founded SHI International, a software reseller, with her then-husband, Leo KoGuan. Under Lee's leadership, SHI transformed into a global IT solutions provider with over $15 billion in revenue and is one of the largest woman-owned businesses in the U.S.

Key Business Strategies

Lee's strategic vision and dedication to customer service were key to SHI's growth. She focused on building a strong company culture and empowering employees, which led to high customer retention rates and significant expansion. SHI has more than 15,000 customers, including Boeing and AT&T. The company recently invested in an AI & Cyber lab to test AI solutions for customers.

Philanthropy

Lee serves as a Life Trustee at Amherst College and is involved in various educational and philanthropic initiatives. She has established the Thai Lee Foundation, a private philanthropic organization that supports educational, charitable, and human rights initiatives.