What does leadership look like when it’s rooted in service, community, and lived experience?

In this special encore episode honoring AAPI Heritage Month, Coach Dora Mendez welcomes Bora Lee, Chief of Staff at the Fifth Avenue Committee in Brooklyn, New York.

Bora reflects on growing up as the child of Korean immigrants, discovering community organizing through public service, and building a leadership journey grounded in communication, care, and operational excellence.

Together, Dora and Bora explore the realities of nonprofit leadership, the importance of supporting the people doing frontline work, and why communication remains one of the most important leadership skills in any organization.

This conversation is for leaders who are navigating growth while trying to stay connected to purpose, humanity, and community.

00:00 Welcome + honoring AAPI Heritage Month
00:00:27 Dora reflects on meeting Bora Lee
00:03:42 Bora shares her immigrant family journey
00:06:52 Discovering leadership through community organizing
00:09:19 Supporting immigrant seniors and families
00:11:42 Building systems that support people
00:18:25 The mission behind the Fifth Avenue Committee
00:20:20 Bora’s path from AmeriCorps to executive leadership
00:24:12 Why nonprofit operations matter
00:25:16 Burnout, growth, and investing in education
00:29:54 Becoming Chief of Staff
00:31:09 Communication and stakeholder management
00:32:46 Leading across generations
00:35:19 Leadership beyond titles

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