MAY LEE is an award-winning, broadcast journalist/host who has been both a US based and international anchor, host, correspondent and producer. At the start of 2020, May’s production company, Lotus Media House, launched “The May Lee Show”, a vodcast (video-podcast) focused on Asian and Asian American issues and stories. In 2022, the show metamorphasized into "Shoes Off Inside with MKT", which she co-hosts with ionic API actresses Kelly Hu and Tamlyn Tomita. Together they boldly, fearlessly and, often times, humourously dive into issues that matter, especially to women!
Through her recent work, May has become a prominent voice in the effort to combat anti-Asian hate that exploded due to COVID-19. She also has led the charge in breaking down stereotypes of Asian women and continues to elevate their voices. May has been working with various organizations, companies and media outlets to raise more awareness of API history and experiences. In July 2021, she was named one of Forbes 50 Over 50 women leading the way in impact. In April 2022, she was named one of 50 Unsung Heroes by Asian Hustle Network.
Along with her media projects, May is also a well-respected educator. She currently is an Assistant Professor at Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts where she teaches broadcast and digital journalsim. Prior to that, May was an adjunct professor at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. In 2021, she developed a new course, “Evolution of Asian Americans and the Media” to fill the educational gap when it comes to Asian American history. May also created a new student led media platform at USC Annenberg, “elevASIAN”, to give young journalists an outlet to feature API stories and issues.
May is also at the forefront of DEI work and has established herself as a respected educator and trainer in diversity, equity and inclusion issues in education, the workplace and non-profit. She customizes lectures and workshops using well-researched information and data effectively, which always leads to powerful transformation. Clients include Coca-Cola, Micron, Tonal, Scan Health, USC, Stop Asian Hate and Forbes. She also served on the USC Annenberg DEI Task Force.
May’s previous professional, jounalistic roles include being the LA-based correspondent for international network CGTN-America. She covered news, politics, business and entertainment throughout Southern California and beyond. In 2007, May founded Lotus Media House in Singapore and produced original programs including the first iteration of “The May Lee Show”, the first pan-Asia talk show for women.
May’s international experience as a broadcast journalist began in 1992 at Japan’s NHK network. From 1995 to 1999, May was with CNN as the Tokyo Correspondent and then the main anchor for CNN International in Hong Kong becoming the first Korean American anchor for CNN. In 2000, May joined the dynamic new women’s network, Oxygen Media, founded by Oprah Winfrey as one of its main talk show hosts. She headed back to Asia in 2004 to join CNBC Asia in Singapore as the primary anchor.
May is a graduate of Mills College in Oakland, CA where she attained her BA in communications. May is the author of “MAY LEE, LIVE AND IN PERSON. It all begins with Passion”, published by John Wiley & Sons and Random House Korea. She’s currently working on a new book, “So You Want to be On Air? A Guide to Anchoring, Hosting and Voice-overs", based on her wildly popular workshops at USC. The book, published by Cognella, Inc., was released in 2023.
