In a quiet moment of reflection, Yolanda Lee, Senior Vice President of Accounting at Dweck Properties, shares a memory that shaped her life’s trajectory: “When I was a kid, my mother told me that I was going to be an accountant and a CPA like my aunt.” With a warm smile, she adds, “I was a good kid, so I majored in accounting and finance in college.”

That simple childhood directive set Yolanda on a path that led her through various roles in public accounting and real estate before finding her home at Dweck in February 2022. But behind this dynamic career narrative lies a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, family values, and personal resilience that continues to inform her approach to leadership and community service.

As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month throughout May, Yolanda’s story offers a window into how cultural roots can strengthen professional foundations and inspire meaningful community connections.

Born in Washington, D.C., Yolanda is a first-generation Chinese American whose family story embodies the classic immigrant experience. Her parents grew up in different villages in southern China before making their way to Hong Kong, where they met in junior college. Her maternal grandfather was the first to come to the United States, eventually sponsoring Yolanda’s mother, who in turn sponsored her father after they married.

“Watching my parents as immigrants in this country, trying to make a life for their family — seeing how hard they worked, my whole family, my grandparents, my dad, my mom, my aunt, my uncle — understanding the sacrifices and the amount of hard work that I physically saw when they were going to work every day, early morning till late at night… I think that really gave me and my brother the grit to know that we would make it,” Yolanda reflects.

This emphasis on persistence and resilience became a foundational part of Yolanda’s character and professional approach. “If nothing else got preached to us, it was to work hard and be resilient,” she says. Even her grandmother, who was a homemaker, would tell them, “Don’t be the last person in and the first person to leave.”

Yolanda’s father was a Chinese chef, and after his passing in early 2020, she found herself connecting to her heritage through cooking. During the pandemic, she devoted time to mastering Chinese dishes that reminded her of her childhood.

“When I cook something that he either cooked for us or something that’s Chinese, I just feel like he’s looking down,” she shares. “Food is such a common thread in our culture. It has so much meaning, and it’s a part of our holidays and our traditions. You have to eat certain things during certain holidays for good luck and prosperity.”

Recently, Yolanda and her family celebrated the Qingming Festival, a day when families visit the cemetery to honor their ancestors. “It’s a tradition celebrated in China,” she explains. “Our family got together, and we went to the cemetery where my grandparents and my dad are buried. We bring flowers, say prayers, and have lunch together.” This connection to cultural traditions has deepened as Yolanda has grown older, helping her appreciate the significance of her heritage. She also shares her heritage with her colleagues whenever possible, like bringing moon cakes to the office during Chinese New Year or participating in internal #StayCurious panels where Dwecksters can learn about each other’s cultures.

Yolanda’s career path took her from residential real estate to public accounting, then to shopping centers and commercial real estate before she found her way to Dweck Properties through a serendipitous chain of connections — a conversation at a gym, a phone call on a Friday night, and a discussion with Dweck’s Chief People Officer while she was on a train to New York.

When asked about the unique perspectives she brings to leadership, Yolanda doesn’t hesitate: “I always feel like my superpower is that I have an intuition about people. I understand their strengths and what they need.” This people-focused approach has served her well as she’s moved up in her career. “As you move up in the ranks, your job isn’t really as much accounting anymore as it is managing your department and managing people.”

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Yolanda finds fulfillment in community service, particularly through her work with Girls on the Run, a program that teaches young girls life skills and confidence while training them to run a 5K race. “It’s a great program,” Yolanda enthuses. “Half curriculum where the girls are actually sitting down and learning lessons, and the other half is where they’re learning how to run. The curriculum teaches them about self-confidence, empowerment skills, how to be kind, how to give back — all these life lessons that young kids need to learn.”

For the past three years, Yolanda has volunteered with a DC school team, supporting girls as they prepare for their culminating race. “Each season ends with a race that we get all the girls to come to and participate in,” she explains. “Every time we get to a race, it’s the most rewarding thing.” Often paired as a running buddy with a child who’s struggling, Yolanda finds deep meaning in helping them through the challenge. “Being able to help them, to talk them through it, and just run with them — it’s just so cool. And they’re so proud of themselves.” This work resonates with Yolanda’s own childhood experiences. “I remember growing up and not having confidence, not believing. I needed all of that,” she admits. Through Girls on the Run, she can provide the encouragement and support she once needed. Yolanda also volunteers monthly at a women’s shelter, preparing meals for about 30 women. “I love to cook,” she says, “and it’s rewarding. It’s nice when they’re just like, ‘Oh, this is so delicious.’ “

As an Asian American woman in a leadership role, Yolanda understands the importance of representation. “I think it’s huge to have representation,” she says. “The more you see people in leadership roles, I think it gives kids something to be proud of, and then they maybe will not shy away from their culture.” She notes that even today, when looking at leadership teams across various companies, there are “Asian women somewhere, but not a lot.” This visibility gap can affect how young people see their own potential.

“Women in general, you just don’t have the confidence to think that you can really do that job,” Yolanda observes. “To even believe that you could be a leader in a company.” She credits mentors in her own career who helped her advance, including a woman who later worked for her and a CFO who put her up for promotion. “Without them, the leadership role would have been given to someone else,” she acknowledges.

When asked about resources that offer insight into the Asian American experience, Yolanda enthusiastically recommends “Boat Baby” by Vicky Nguyen. In this memoir, NBC News anchor and correspondent Vicky Nguyen tells the story of her family’s daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter with both humor and fierce love. Though Yolanda just started the book right before our interview, she admits she couldn’t put it down. “Reading stories about how someone got here changes your perspective about immigrants and people. It opens your eyes to the sacrifices made,” she says.

Looking ahead, Yolanda aims to grow in her role at Dweck, becoming more involved in the company’s strategic direction. In the community, she hopes to expand her volunteering to include AAPI organizations, particularly helping Asian immigrants with job opportunities or improving their English language skills. “I want to make a difference,” she says simply, “and in some small way, help Dweck get to its next phase — leave it better off than when I got here and be able to help the kids in our community.”

As Yolanda continues to balance her professional responsibilities, cultural traditions, and community service, she embodies the values that have guided her since childhood: strong family ties, persistence, resilience, and a commitment to lifting others up. Through her leadership at Dweck and her service with Girls on the Run, she’s building a legacy that honors her heritage while creating opportunities for the next generation.