Name: John Lee
Title: Product Manager
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Absecon, New Jersey
Fun fact: I've played the violin for about 15 years now and recently bought an electric violin. During my college years, I was even performing in a traveling Jazz Orchestra.
Tell us about your background. How did you end up at Pledge? 💜
I received my Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University. I moved across several states working as a Systems and Integrations Engineer in the Aerospace Industry at companies like L3Harris Technologies and Raytheon. After several years, I wanted a change in my career and decided to pursue my MBA at UCLA. Since then, I entered the product world working at various startups, Snap Inc., and even my own ventures. I was affected by Snap's layoffs late in 2022 and happened to connect with James (Pledge CEO) around that time. We hit it off, and I soon joined Pledge with a newfound excitement to build products that help people around the world every day!
What's your favorite part of your job?
I really enjoy the moments when we connect with the nonprofits we support. Since I joined Pledge, I've been able to meet wonderful individuals who are truly making a positive impact like our friends at Worthy of Love, LumenSparq, Miry's List, and so many others
What unique perspective do you bring to Pledge in our mission to Power Generosity?
After graduating from Villanova, I decided to volunteer at a high school in Kansas City, MO for about seven months. The school was designed to support lower-income families and students with a competitive educational environment at an affordable cost. This time period was pivotal for me in many ways, and I gained a sense of empathy during this time I had not had prior. I like to think that I bring this same perspective of empathy to Pledge, especially as it relates to understanding our partners and organizations to build the best products we can.
What's a project you've worked on at Pledge that you really enjoyed or felt was really meaningful?
We recently launched a new fundraiser landing page that took a lot of time and effort to bring to life. We went back and forth on design and functionality for weeks at a time to make sure we were building what our community needed. After the launch, we've been getting so much positive feedback both internally and externally. It's been incredibly rewarding to work with such a dedicated team and see the fruits of our labor.
What causes do you care about most?
Stemming from my time as a volunteer at a high school, I care about causes that focus on education for the next generations. Access to education is so crucial and resources are overwhelmingly limited. I want to continue to support these areas and push the needle on providing access to education for young minds.
What brings you joy outside of work?
Outside of work, I love going to the gym and spending time with my friends and family. Photography, videography, and content creation have been my go-to hobby for years now as it's a way for me to capture moments and make them last a lifetime. Aside from that, you can always find me playing board games, especially Settlers of Catan.
What is your #PledgeToDoGood?
I #PledgeTo support access to education 📚💜
…Thank you, John, for being part of the #PledgeToDoGood each and everyday!
Learn more about our wonderful team at Pledge and how we incorporate our company values – Authenticity, Care, Community, Optimism & Trust - across everything that we do