Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Lee.
Hi Grace, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my first business in Atlanta, 13 years ago, right in the heart of midtown. It was a small restaurant right by Piedmont park on 5th & Durant. I had a crazy idea to open a Cuban Pan Latin restaurant with zero experience. The city embraced me and was so kind to support me as a young entrepreneur (before Yelp!) and I loved every moment of the journey. A year later, I opened CRU on Glen Iris in midtown before they broke ground on Ponce City Market. For five years, I lived in between both locations and really established long lasting relationships & friendships that I still cherish to today. I then sold my business and became a private investor. Unaware of what to do next, I moved to New York in 2018 and got curious about venture capital and spread my wings. In 2024, I joined Profluence Capital as a venture partner and entered the world of sports. Now I get to work at the intersection of sports, entertainment, finance, & startups. It’s an unconventional path but it was organic and has led me to work with some amazing projects and grow professionally and personally.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is nothing smooth about being an entrepreneur. I used to joke that my job every day was to be a firefighter & put out fires because inevitably some issue would hit the fan daily. There is a thrill in problem solving and finding innovative ways to grow your business with little to no resources. It is not for the faint of heart and requires some level of crazy obsession where every waking moment and breath revolves around your business. The highs and lows are steep and it’s also quite lonely. Even with all the support of family and friends, it’s just YOU trying to figure it out at all hours of the day. You have to believe in yourself and have complete faith in what you’re building. The reward on the other side is beyond your wildest dreams. To have customers patronize your business is a wild feeling that can’t be explained but there is a lot of sacrifice and it’s truly a labor of love.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
It’s hard to explain what I do in a simple manner. I believe it is the highest honor to serve; I have achieved the greatest joy in serving moments for my customers during my days of owning a restaurant. That included their special moments in life like celebrating birthdays, graduations, proposals, weddings, to wrap parties for tv shows, etc. That has transferred to serving as a board member for non-profit organizations to make a difference in the community. I have found the same joy in serving as an advisor for startups to bring in my resources to help build another entrepreneur’s dream. My greatest focus is on impact, community, & legacy. I am most proud of the authentic relationships I have built with visionaries to move the needle in multiple ways. I think what sets me apart is my sincerity to the dedication I have when I commit to something and my work ethic. I wake up every day passionate about how we can make a difference.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’ve always said I’m not the smartest or most talented in the room, but I will always show up and give my best. I have a deep gift of hope & optimism and that goes a long way. Doubt and fear can cast a very dark cloud and be very discouraging. We have enough madness in the world we live in, and I always say I’m allergic to stress and negativity. None of us are immune to the bad moments or tough days but you just power through. Stay focused on the end goal. The longer you stay in the mud, the harder it is to get out. Faith is something you can’t teach, you just have to believe in yourself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gracemyjourney
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/graceleeavery
Image Credits
Photos by @miked.shotme
Make up by @thisisnatbrown
Location at The Thompson Hotel Buckhead
