Brandon Lee, Ph.D.

Experience

• 

  University at Albany

  Jan 2008 - May 2010

  Instructor + Teaching Assistant

  • Taught larger lectures of 80-120 students and smaller classes of 10-30 students in ethics, applied ethics, and logic. Engaged with a very diverse student population through office hours, group discussion, team-based work, and lectures on course material.

• 

  University at Albany

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2013

  Research in Philosophy and Social Psychology

  • Completed a dissertation examining the drivers of ethical behavior, how contextual features can influence people’s perception, judgments, and actions, and the possibility of overcoming these effects through strength of character.• Conceptualized the project, structured project goals and timelines, managed research in two separate disciplines, presented and defended to a committee the impact, relevance, and contribution of the project to advancing the study of character.

• 

  LRN

  Dec 2013 - Jun 2015

  Consultant, Project Manager, Content Production

  External Engagement:• Core member of the CEO’s external-facing team, engaging prospective partners and securing engagement opportunities at the World Economic Forum, Clinton Global Initiative, U.S. Army, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and with companies such as PwC, IBM and Barclays.People and Operations:• Helped on-board colleagues across functions and departments, including Chief of Staff, marketing, sales, editorial, and data analysis roles on the company’s values, mission, and business strategy.• Interviewed candidates for thought leadership, consulting, and data analysis roles, with a keen focus on individual character, critical thinking, and commitment to the greater good.Strategy and Project Management:• Co-led a strategic initiative with the President, Executive Committee, and Directors to connect partners’ risk areas with compliance services offered; created meeting agendas, led bi-weekly calls, coordinated deadlines and deliverables, and designed a cloud-based tool to increase communication among colleagues company-wide on projects, priorities, and progress of deliverables.Consulting in Behavior, Ethics, and Character:• Contributed subject matter expertise in ethical behavior for partner proposals, evaluation of partner initiatives to improve compliance efforts and culture. Worked with the Governance, Culture and Leadership team to revamp the missions and values of three Fortune 500 multinationals to instill values-based conduct and culture. Show less

• 

  Achievement First

  Jun 2015 - Oct 2018

  Associate Director, College and Career Success

  Program Oversight and Operations:• Direct and operate career and college supports for 320+ students in the pursuit of their postsecondary goals. Led program expansions to meet the needs of a rapidly growing student body located across 82+ college campuses and career training programs. • Personally advise students in academics, college guidance, career planning, finances, self-advocacy, and life goals.Partnerships and External Engagement:• Developed and supported working relationships with a range of organizations, including companies such as JPMorgan, Cargo, career training programs at Year Up and Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, CUNY, SUNY, and private colleges, and non-profits such as Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room Initiative. Doubled the total number of partnering institutions in 1 year. • Represent organization and program at regional conferences, meetings, and networking events.Program and Opportunity Matching:• Interviewed, evaluated and matched students with best-fit internships at JPMorgan, Cargo and Achievement First, professional training programs such as YearUp, NPower, and vocational training programs at CUNY community colleges. Metrics and Content Strategy:• Execute real-time data analysis and reporting to highlight key performance indicators in student progress, evaluate approaches that are leading to successful completion of academic and professional goals, and identify pain points to success and strategies for resolution.• Serve as creative producer of content (e.g., infographics, engagement, presentations) for digital and hard-copy distribution to increase student retention. Shifted content focus to provide more holistic support such as mental and emotional health, finances, social justice and inclusion, and professional development. Increased engagement by 25% as measured by event attendance, student responsiveness, and survey participation. Show less

• 

  SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)

  Dec 2018 - now

  • Lead a team of 3-4 to manage historic partnership growth from 44 to 160 partners in the past 2 years, resulting in the program's largest increase in early talent hires to 960+ hires. Partners included bulge bracket banks, boutique investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds, fintech, technology companies, consulting firms, portfolio companies, and big brand corporate partners.• Serve as a direct advisor to partners on recruiting and retention strategies for diverse talent, including communications, compensation, recruitment timelines, interview best practices, talent growth plans, remote work structures, and more. Advising was informed by macro-level DEIB trends observed across our work with 160 companies and industry research. Partner contacts included c-suite executives, principals, hiring managers, recruiters, and more. • Ensure annual financial targets were met by executing on hiring requests from partners, driving expansion opportunities, and identifying potential shortfalls in projected support. Program contributions saw 163% growth over the past 2 years. • Serve as the lead for producing executive summaries and partner proposals that highlight program results, historical trends, growth objectives, and plans for expansion. Show less • Manage partner processes to help 678 diverse early-career professionals secure internships and full time offers with 114 partner firms in investment banking, private equity, global markets, corporate finance, consulting, HR, marketing, and technology. Serve as a primary liaison for partners (e.g., American Express, IBM, Vanguard) and internal colleagues to support hiring placement requests, training, and job offers.• Assist with data management of partner requests, opportunities, and intern offers through cross-platform tracking in Excel, Blackboard, Thrive TRM, and Genius, with future integration into Salesforce. Create targeted communications and data-collection surveys to partners and prospective interns via Constant Contact and Survey Monkey. • Research trends, strategies, and data on workforce development for underrepresented youth, socioeconomic + racial equity initiatives within companies, and relevant topics that strengthen the consideration, representation, and recognition of young professionals of color. Leverage research to create actionable plans and guidance for partners to promote the success of their young professionals of color. Show less

  • Assistant Director of Partner Relations

    Sept 2021 - now

  • Client Services Manager

    Dec 2018 - Sept 2021