Claudia Kelly Li

My family is from Hong Kong and I grew up on the West Coast of Canada. Throughout my career as an entrepreneur and leader of social change, I've collected some of the world's best practices in designing a life of meaning, purpose, direction and ease. Some of these tools were gathered during my tough times: working through addiction, surviving battery, sexual assault, and gang violence. Other tools came in handy during good times: incredible teamwork, peak leadership, and having a direct hand in passing policies for social change. I hope the tools I've learned through both the good times and the bad might help you in your journey as a friend, coworker, parent, leader, or as a human in general.

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My career: business school -> culture -> policy change

I started my career in business school with plans to become a management consultant. Somehow I found myself starting a nonprofit to change Chinese culture: by phasing out shark fin and phasing in youth leadership. After receiving public recognition for my work, I became interested in public office and worked as a consultant to the Mayor of Vancouver. This experience set me up for furthering my commitment to advancing policy change for my community.

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We all want to change the world

The following maxim encapsulates my philosophy of life: "We all want to change the world, but can we just help one person closest to us?" If I were to be brazen with this maxim, I'd extend it to say: "To change the world, we must first start by understanding how change happens within ourselves." My aim as a professional is to support changemaking: creating change for yourself, for others, through compassionate understanding and inquiry. Read more about integrity on my blog post here.

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My large family system was my original training ground 

My interest in people and culture began at a young age having grown up in a large family system. With 10 aunties and uncles and 20 cousins (most of whom were living within a 5-minute drive of my house!), I was given the gift of human connection and understanding in one of the most direct forms – relationships. I am the median age of my 20 cousins and the first cousin to have been born in a new country. Being in the "middle" and living between these two cultural worlds gave me a rich perspective of life. My father has degrees in computer science and mathematics. My mother is an entrepreneur and small business owner.

 

In my personal life, I love to dance, cook, bake, sing, and write. I am a mother and step-mother. I am also a practicing Buddhist of the Khyentse lineage.