Today we’d like to introduce you to Yeonjeong Lee.
Hi Yeonjeong, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely! I was born in Daejeon, South Korea, but my family moved to the U.S. when I was only five months old. I grew up in Nebraska, which shaped a lot of who I am today. It was a unique experience—on one hand, I had the grounding of a Korean family and culture at home, but on the other, I was surrounded by very traditional Midwestern life. That contrast shaped my perspective early on, and I carried that sense of navigating between different worlds into much of my upbringing.
When I went on to the University of Illinois, I found myself in a completely different environment. It was larger, more diverse, and exposed me to people from many different backgrounds. For the first time, I was able to see and connect with a much broader cultural community, which helped me better understand and embrace my own identity. That was also the place where I dove deep into my academic passions— industrial design and psychology. I was drawn to industrial design because it gave me a way to problem-solve visually and creatively through a human-centered lens, and psychology because I’ve always been fascinated by people—how they think, communicate, and grow. Studying both gave me a really well-rounded way of thinking, balancing creativity with empathy, and human understanding.
After graduation, I moved to Kansas and began working as a Registered Behavior Technician. This role has been (and still is) incredibly rewarding—it’s taught me steadiness, versatility, and how meaningful it is to help children and their families make progress in their daily lives. It’s work that requires a lot of energy and focus, but it’s also given me experiences that I carry with me outside of the job.
Alongside that, food—and especially baking—has been a constant thread in my life. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my family, and I realized how powerful food can be in bringing joy and connection to others. That love of baking has stayed with me, and I see it as both a creative outlet and a way to share something meaningful with people.
Right now, I’m continuing to grow in my work, nurture my design interests, and keep developing my baking skills. My hope is to keep building on these (and many other) passions in ways that connect with and bring value to others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To be honest, the path hasn’t been entirely smooth. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating identity and belonging. Growing up in Nebraska, I often felt like I didn’t fully fit into either world—too Korean in some spaces, too American in others. That feeling of being “in between” could be isolating at times, and it took me years to see it as a strength rather than a limitation. College helped shift that perspective, but the process of getting there wasn’t easy.
Professionally, I’ve also faced challenges around confidence and direction. Coming out of school with two fields of study was exciting, but it also left me wondering how to blend those passions in a way that made sense. Early on, I sometimes felt pressure to “pick a lane” or explain how my interests fit together neatly, when in reality, I was still figuring that out for myself.
Even with baking—something I love deeply—there’s been a personal hurdle around impostor syndrome. I’ve had people encourage me to think about pursuing it more seriously, and while that’s flattering, I’ve often second-guessed myself. Am I good enough? Could I really do it? Learning to quiet that inner doubt and lean into my passions with confidence is still something I’m working on.
Looking back, though, each of these challenges has given me something valuable. They’ve taught me adaptability, patience, and the ability to embrace complexity instead of running from it. I wouldn’t say the path has been easy, but the harder parts have shaped me just as much—if not more—than the easy ones.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I’ve mentioned above, I currently work as a Registered Behavior Technician, which has been incredibly meaningful for me. But beyond my day-to-day work, I have been intentionally following the passions that I feel currently define me—design, baking, and music.
One of the most eye-opening experiences in my life was studying abroad in Denmark. While there, I took a furniture-making studio class and built a chair from start to finish. That process sparked something in me immediately—it wasn’t just about the craft itself, but about what furniture represents in design: objects that become part of people’s everyday lives. That experience opened my eyes to how different cultures view and express design, and how deeply design is woven into everything we do. It solidified my love for design as both a creative and human-centered practice, and it’s an area I want to continue exploring more seriously, along with the specialization of CMF (color, material, finish) and trend forecasting: skill sets I am currently focused on honing and strengthening.
What I think sets me apart is the combination of my background and the people who have influenced me along the way. Growing up Korean American and bilingual gave me one layer of perspective, but the experiences and connections I’ve had with so many different people—friends, mentors, classmates, collaborators—have given me so many more. Each person leaves a piece of themselves behind, and I’ve learned to carry those perspectives with me. I’m someone who doesn’t just accept change—I welcome it. I think that mindset helps me see opportunities where others might only see obstacles.
Academically, my studies in both design and psychology have been equally influential. I’ve always been drawn to understanding people and solving problems creatively, and I see a lot of potential in merging the two. Figuring out exactly how to bridge those passions professionally has been challenging, but I’m excited by the process and motivated to keep learning.
Music has been another constant in my life. I started playing piano as early as kindergarten and later explored violin and guitar. In college, joining a student music organization was transformative. I got to be part of different bands each semester, collaborate with other musicians, and even take on a leadership role as head of media. That experience taught me how to work with diverse groups of people, how to lead, and how to nurture creativity in others. It also gave me confidence in taking music seriously as a part of my life and as something I could envision pursuing more deeply.
And then there’s food. Baking has always been my way of connecting with others and spreading joy. I grew up in the kitchen alongside my family, and now I’m actively working toward the dream of opening my own bakery. It’s not easy—there are financial, logistical, and personal hurdles—but the idea of creating something that brings people happiness keeps me moving forward, no matter how difficult the process gets.
Looking back, I think what I’m most proud of is the way I’ve let my passions guide me, even when the path hasn’t been clear. Design, psychology, music, baking—they might seem like different worlds, but together they shape how I approach life, creativity, and connection. They’re what give me a unique lens and keep me curious, driven, and open to the possibilities ahead.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy, honestly, are the simple things—moments that remind me of connection, care, and being present. My cat kneading biscuits on my stomach to wake me up in the morning, the kind of weather that feels perfectly balanced, or even something as simple as a good cup of coffee— those small, ordinary things bring me a lot of joy. I’ve realized over time that happiness for me isn’t just about big milestones as much as it is about appreciating those everyday details.
But at the core, what truly makes me happiest is bringing joy to others, especially through kindness. Even small gestures of kindness—making someone laugh, sharing something I’ve made, or just being there for them—create this cycle of joy that comes back around. For me, happiness is genuinely about connection and those everyday reminders that we can make life better for each other in simple ways. Oh, and did I mention coffee?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeonjeonngg
- Other: https://bio.site/leeynjng
