During her 30-plus years at P&G Beauty, SK Lee has held senior leadership roles across geographies at the beauty giant — from South Korea to the U.S. to Singapore, where she currently serves as president of the P&G skin care business.
Her purview ranges from billion-dollar brands like Olay and SK-II to the ever-buzzy Farmacy and more. Here, the 2026 CEW Achiever Award honoree talks how she got here.
What’s one word you would use to describe your career path? How would you describe that journey?
Choice. My career has not been a straight line; it’s been shaped by a series of choices. At different stages of life, different things mattered — career, family, personal growth. There was never a perfect answer, only trade-offs. The courage to make those choices and keep moving forward is what has defined my journey. The more you choose to be yourself, the more clearly you can lead others.
What female historical figure inspires you the most and why?
Growing up, I didn’t see many examples of women who could fully pursue both career and family in the way I aspired to. So I’ve drawn inspiration from many women who have navigated that balance in their own way.Â
How are you cultivating the next generation of leadership in your company?
It starts with the belief that there is no single mold for leadership. I often share with my teams that authenticity is not just a personal trait, it is a leadership capability. When people feel they can lead as themselves, they build stronger trust, make better decisions and create more meaningful impact. Because when you lead as yourself, you don’t just grow as a leader — you create space for others to grow as well.
What does achievement mean to you?
It’s not defined by a single milestone, but continuous learning and growing. It’s about the impact created over time; the people you develop, the trust you build and the opportunities that you open up for others. What has kept my journey meaningful is that I’ve never felt I’ve stopped learning. Of course, moments like this are deeply meaningful, but what matters most is what continues beyond you — the people you’ve helped to grow and the possibilities that you’ve created.
