This week’s Spotlight features Analyst Sophia Lee. Sophia serves on project teams in a wide range of industries, including healthcare and higher education, in addition to being a member of CFAR’s RDEI Committee. Originally from Pasadena, Sophia graduated from Swarthmore College with a BA in Psychology, with minors in Educational Studies and Asian Studies. Click here to read her full biography.
First and last name
Sophia Lee.
What is your role at CFAR?
Analyst.
How long have you been with CFAR?
Since July 2021.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Getting to work on multiple different projects at the same time can be challenging, but it’s one of the things I enjoy most about the work. The ability to work with so many different clients who are tackling all sorts of challenges is a great learning opportunity, and I love working with and learning from so many members of the firm across my projects.
What are three words you would use to describe CFAR?
Curious, thoughtful, and driven.
What motivates you to go to work?
The opportunity to consistently put myself in situations where I have tons to learn from my colleagues, our clients, and to practice and develop new skills and ways of thinking.
What has been your favorite memory at CFAR?
I would say that Offsites are some of my favorite memories at CFAR. The opportunity to work and be in conversation in new and different ways at the Offsites is really important to me, and I always come out feeling more connected to the people work with and the work we do.
What is your favorite thing about working at CFAR?
Hearing about and learning from the exciting projects and work that everyone else here is doing. At any given moment, there are so many different things happening, both internally and with our client work, and I love hearing about what everyone else is up to and what they’re taking away from their work.
In five words or less, what advice would you give for others in your profession?
Always find something to learn.
What book are you currently reading right now?
Most recently, I’ve been reading the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab..
What is your favorite book/podcast?
My favorite book is A Tale for the Time Being, by Ruth Ozeki.
If you could gain a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
I’d really like to be more adept at using statistical software, so I’d want to learn something like Stata or SPSS.
What’s one thing -either industry-related or not- you learned in the last month?
I learned that you can substitute mashed, ripe banana for oil in most baking recipes!
If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would it be and why?
Angela Duckworth. I’m a huge fan of her work and research, and I think all the questions about motivation, development, well-being, and many other things she asks are super interesting and important, and my dream would be to work with her in a research capacity.
How do you define success?
Right now, I’d define success at the ability to do work you believe in and feel motivated by, and having the ability to support yourself.
What inspires you?
Reading good books. I love to read, and I feel inspired by the books I read, the ways they make me think and feel, and the ability to enter into a totally different space through reading.
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