OU’s Yejie Lee named among Detroit’s top career coaches by Influence Digest

Yejie Lee, a career and life design coach for students in OU's College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education and Human Services, was recognized by Influence Digest as one of the top 15 career coaches in Detroit.

Yejie Lee, a member of the dedicated team at Oakland University’s Career and Life Design Center, was recently named one of the top 15 career coaches in Detroit.

The recognition came from Influence Digest, an online publication that conducts an extensive search to identify coaches with strong professional coaching backgrounds. Their evaluation was based on factors such as LinkedIn profiles, professional websites, certifications, testimonials and overall reach, including audience demographics and engagement.

“Yejie does some incredible work in social media through LinkedIn, demonstrating the impact with our students, programs and partnerships at OU,” said Wayne Thibodeau, senior director of the Career and Life Design Center.

As a career and life design coach for students in OU's College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education and Human Services, Lee helps students identify their transferable skills, explore potential pathways and find opportunities for growth — both early in their academic journey and beyond, as many alumni return for guidance as they navigate their careers.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing students gain confidence as they recognize their own abilities and take action,” Lee said. “Drawing on my counseling background, I help them navigate anxiety around current challenges and future uncertainties, empowering them to move forward with clarity and self-assurance. If there are three things I hope students walk away with, they are a sense of support, empowerment and clarity — grounded in curiosity — about how to move forward, even when the next step feels small.”

Lee also enjoys collaborating with faculty, staff and advisors to create programming tailored to evolving student needs. She said that being recognized as a top career coach validates the meaningful work she and her colleagues do alongside faculty, staff and administrators across campus – all with the shared goal of helping students succeed. 

“I feel humbled and honored to be named a top career coach in Detroit, though the recognition feels larger than something I would ever take credit for on my own,” she said. “I truly wish my entire team could be named on this list, as so much of our work is collaborative, and we celebrate our successes together.”