Lyn Lee

Lyn R Lee is one of Asia’s leading voices on inclusive leadership, organisational culture and human-centred business transformation. She is best known as Shell‘s first Asian Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. During more than two decades with the company, she helped shape one of the world’s largest organisations into a more inclusive and resilient business.

From 2018 to 2024, Lee led Shell’s global DEI strategy during a period of profound change. She embedded inclusion across leadership development, workplace culture and business practices. Her work earned international recognition, including Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, EVCOM Clarion Gold Awards and Brandon Hall Gold Awards for leadership and belonging.

What makes Lee distinctive is the perspective she brought to a global conversation. As the first Asian to hold Shell’s global DEI leadership role, she challenged conventional thinking. She showed that inclusion cannot rely on universal frameworks alone. It must reflect local cultures, lived experiences and everyday realities. She believes the people closest to barriers often see solutions others miss.

Her philosophy rests on three principles: courage, curiosity and care. She views inclusion as a leadership discipline. The goal is to remove barriers so people can contribute at their best. Whether improving accessibility or strengthening psychological safety, Lyn Lee focuses on turning good intentions into daily behaviours. These small actions create lasting organisational change.

Today, Lyn Lee continues to influence business and society through speaking, writing and board leadership. She serves as Chairwoman of the Advisory Council for the School of Humanities & Interdisciplinary Studies and as a Council Member at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. She also sits on the board of the Singapore Association for Mental Health. Her debut book, Tiny Rice Grains, became a The Straits Times non-fiction bestseller. It explores inclusive leadership through a distinctly Asian lens and argues that small actions often create the greatest impact.