Jaime Lee, USC trustee, real estate CEO, and keynote speaker to thousands, once hyperventilated into a paper bag before speeches. In this vulnerable conversation with Melinda Lee, she reveals how she rewired her mindset from "I can’t say the alphabet if called on" to commanding boardrooms and commencement stages. Discover her counterintuitive secret: preparedness isn’t about perfection, it’s about pivoting.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The “Rubber Band” Moment

How immigrant roots and a "keep your head down" upbringing fueled Jaime’s terror of speaking, and the visceral physical reactions she had to conquer (shaking hands, a burning neck, and a mind going blank).

The Volunteer Cure

Why saying "yes" to unpaid speaking gigs (even while shaking) became her secret weapon: "It doesn’t get easier until you do it. But every time you do, it gets easier."

• The game-changer: Speaking about scholarships for deserving students gave her a "mission over fear" mindset.

Jaime’s "decision tree" method for high-stakes negotiations, and why she backtracks to the human element when things derail.

"People surprise you. If you’re only prepared for ‘perfect,’ you’ll crumble."

Gen Z, Nuance, and the Art of Disagreeing

Why social media trains us to avoid hard conversations, and how to "dance" with differing opinions without sacrificing conviction.

"You can’t change systems by throwing rocks from the outside. Get in the room, then speak truth with gravitas."

Connect with Jaime L. Lee

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jleela/

About the Guest:

Jaime Lee is the CEO of the Jamison group of companies, a powerhouse real estate enterprise that owns and operates over 18 million square feet of commercial, multifamily, retail, and medical properties across Southern California, with a $3.2 billion net asset value. Her expertise has earned her 100+ speaking engagements for organizations like ULI, JP Morgan, and UCLA, covering real estate, global supply chains, and leadership.

Fun Facts:

• 🏊 Triathlon Newbie: After completing her first triathlon in 2023, she’s training for another, proving that growth happens outside comfort zones.
• 🧬 Longevity Geek: Fascinated by the science of aging, she’s as curious about life extension as she is about real estate development.
• 👧 Big Sister Energy: The eldest (and only daughter) of four siblings, she’s been leading since day one.

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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