In high school, Joyce Lee dreamed of becoming an artist, and she went on to pursue an art degree at UCLA. Shortly after enrolling, however, cultural expectations as a first-generation Chinese immigrant influenced her to rethink her studies.
“I always had an inner voice that questioned whether I should have a more practical major that would lead to a more predictable career instead,” she says.
Lee considered science for a future medical career, but, she says, “After attending an organic chemistry lecture that sounded like a foreign language, I quickly dropped the idea.”
Architecture came next, and it took one summer internship at an architectural firm for Lee to realize that wasn’t a great fit either. It was only after joining a business fraternity that she discovered her passion for finance and added a second major: economics.
“I ended up serving as the president of the organization and gained a lot of exposure to the finance industry and the Big 4 accounting firms,” she says. “After graduating, joining one of those firms was a natural career path.”
Lee began her career in public accounting at Deloitte, before working at a private equity firm and a mission-driven organization. In 2015, she joined the software company Autodesk; nine years and two promotions later, she’s the company’s Corporate Controller within the finance team.
Here, Lee shares what she’s responsible for in her role, how Autodesk supports career growth, and why she’s committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work culture.
What attracted you to Autodesk, and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
Over the years, I had heard wonderful things about Autodesk and its amazing culture from a former colleague. I was attracted to how Autodesk is a stable tech company with a growth mindset. I also love how our software enables people to make anything and how our products improve the world. What our software brings to the world is very tangible, from designing buildings, cities, and cars to visual effects in films. The company also ties back to my initial career path interests in art and architecture. I am proud of how our company is transforming the industry with an emphasis on sustainability. During my interviews, I was impressed with people’s career longevity, and everyone seemed genuinely happy to work here.
What are you responsible for as the Corporate Controller? What is your favorite part of your job?
I lead the corporate accounting organization, which owns our consolidated accounting functions. I am responsible for our company’s quarterly financial close cycle, including key accounting judgments, general ledger reconciliation, external audit coordination, and overall quality control. My team is also responsible for implementing new accounting pronouncements and managing M&A accounting. I take great pride in my compliance role, safeguarding our company and upholding high standards in financial accounting and internal controls.
My favorite part of my job is the exceptional individuals I have the privilege to work with every day. I love my team! The people at Autodesk are not only talented and extremely hardworking, but also a joy to be with. They are genuinely caring, and we lift each other up professionally and personally. We celebrate milestones at work, such as promotions, and personal celebrations like birthdays and baby showers.
How does your career path at Autodesk exemplify the company’s approach to professional growth?
Autodesk is dedicated to the growth of our people, whether it’s horizontal or vertical advancement. Throughout my journey here, I’ve had strong support from my direct manager and other senior leaders as well as my team and business partners. In my earlier years at Autodesk, I participated in career development programs like WILpower and Platinum Exchange Women’s Leadership Program. Since then, I’ve led key initiatives and have expanded my scope.
It makes me proud to work for a company that invests in me and sponsors great programs like these to deepen my leadership development. I am also fortunate to have gained great mentors. I try to pay it forward by serving as a mentor to others and through my involvement with the Finance Diversity & Belonging (D&B) Committee.
Tell us more about your involvement within the Finance D&B Committee. Why did you decide to become a member of the group?
I have led our Finance D&B Committee since its inception six years ago. When our finance org was looking for volunteers to form a committee, I jumped to take on the opportunity. I’m passionate about making Autodesk a welcoming place for team members of all backgrounds and experiences. The executive sponsor of this committee was a role model I greatly admired, and I wanted to collaborate more closely with her. When she invited me to assume a leadership role, I embraced the opportunity.
Why is this committee an important resource, and how does it foster an inclusive, diverse work culture?
Our committee has more than 30 members dedicated to our mission to “inspire a culture where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels a strong sense of belonging and can be their true selves.” We focus on three main pillars: recruiting and hiring, culture, and education and development. We are supported by our marketing and communications subcommittee.
I am proud of the accomplishments our committee has had. We’ve sponsored more than 70 women in WILpower, a year-long career development and leadership program. Amid the pandemic, we created inclusive spaces by hosting quarterly guest speakers, facilitating connections, and networking. Last year, we started a finance book club to foster collective learning. We launched a campaign for our finance organization to revisit Foundations of Belonging training, and we hosted Allyship for Leadership training for 100 members of the extended finance leadership team.
This underscores the remarkable support and commitment from our most senior leaders toward diversity and belonging initiatives, which include giving back to the community. Since 2021, we’ve partnered with DreamWakers flash chats to connect 862 students from under-resourced K-12 schools with Autodesk career role models. We’ve also connected mentors with students to brainstorm solutions for societal challenges, culminating in an inspiring in-person event. I am excited to continue our progress this year.
We understand that the People and Places - Culture and Diversity and Belonging team hosted the first-ever global Autodesk Diversity & Belonging Committees Summit. What did you take away from this experience?
The summit was a special time when we came together as a community to learn and drive further impact in diversity and belonging. Beyond our Finance D&B Committee, several groups were represented, including Legal Diversity & Belonging, Autodesk Women in Sales, and Women in Enterprise Systems & Experience.
One of the objectives of the summit was to create greater connectivity and alignment between committees. We had interactive training and held discussions on allyship, bias and microbehaviors, and conscious leadership. We learned how to leverage our committees’ effectiveness through an enterprise mindset and align to the 4C model (community, culture, career, commerce) with our strategic goal setting.
Everyone showed up with openness, vulnerability, and authenticity. I was deeply touched by the personal stories that people shared. My biggest takeaway was the invaluable connections built in person. The summit set the stage for the great achievements we accomplished in 2023.
You’re throwing a dinner party and plan to invite three guests, dead or alive, from any era of history. Who’s on your list, and why?
I would love to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who’s renowned for her impactful contributions to gender equality and women’s rights. I would also invite the actress Michelle Yeoh because I am a big fan of her and her movies, and she’s from my husband’s birth country, Malaysia. Finally, I would have my late grandmother, who lived to be 100 years old. She was pivotal in my life growing up, and I would like my kids to meet her.