Julie (Dongju) Lee has 25 plus years of career achievement working for various global companies and industries in leadership role. After her BS degree in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University, she continued her academic journey in South Korea where she also began to build her professional career. Julie joined the development & pre-opening team for The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul which was the 2nd Ritz-Carlton hotel in Asia at that time. Her role covered wide range of pre-opening matters including technical administrative support, liaison between the owner and Ritz-Carlton headquarter, and finally Training Manager of approximately 800 employees. After a successful opening and settlement of the hotel, she expanded her professional career into cosmetic industry. Julie worked for L’Oreal Korea in multiple business divisions including parfume & beaute and hair product division in the capacity of Training/HR role. Julie moved back to the hospitality industry to launch another international hotel brand in Korea, JW Marriott Hotel Seoul. Beginning as Training Manager for the opening team, Julie expanded her role in HR leadership position, later she got promoted to the dual role of Director of HR at JW Marriott Seoul and Country Director of HR for Korea under Marriott International. She also served as IMTN (International Management Trainer’s Network) for Marriott International delivering various leadership and service training programs in Asia Pacific region. After a short break back at home in Duluth, Georgia, Julie joined an global integrated resort development and operation company to plan and execute the first integrated resort project in South Korea with total investment size of 1.8 billion US $ and 2,800 employees. Julie also taught at multiple universities in Seoul as an Adjunct Professor for Tourism Marketing and Hotel Management courses.
After her career built up in South Korea, Julie moved back to US with her three sons.
Julie created few monumental records during her HR leadership time in Korea. She was the youngest Training Manager, the youngest and first female Director of HR in Korea’s hotel industry. She was also the first Korean honoree for J Willard Excellence Award by Marriott International. During her tenure as Director of HR, JW Marriott Seoul hotel was honored as the first hotel company selected as top 10 Best Employers in Korea by AON Hewitt.
