When Donald's son faced repeated bullying and racism at school, the "zero tolerance" policies proved to be nothing more than empty promises. Like many Asian American parents, Donald and his wife found themselves navigating a system that didn’t do enough to protect their child while grappling with their own cultural experiences of staying quiet and deferring to authority. But instead of accepting the status quo, they chose to act. In April 2025, they founded Rising Asian American Youth (RAAY) under the mentorship of NAAAP Tampa Bay, creating the safe space their community desperately needed.

As a first-generation Korean American and engineering manager who helped build facilities to develop life-saving gene therapies, Donald brings both technical precision and deep empathy to youth advocacy. His journey from a respectful child who avoided eye contact with elders to a leader who encourages young people to "be visible, be heard" reflects the complex navigation many Asian Americans face between honoring their heritage and thriving in American culture.

In this candid Q&A, Donald shares how cultural humility became his strength, why trust is the foundation of true empowerment, and how RAAY is breaking stereotypes while building bridges for the next generation of Asian American leaders.

1. Can you share your upbringing and what values from your family shaped who you are today? 

My parents were first generation immigrants from Korea. My siblings and I were born and raised in Tampa. We had a humble upbringing and learned the value of hard work and independence from a very young age. 

2. Growing up as Korean Americans, what challenges did you face in school or early career that you now want to help others overcome? 

The biggest challenge was finding a balance in embracing expectations from both Korean and American culture. In high school, the most controversial discussions I had with my parents revolved around being agreeable with elders. I wasn't completely agreeable to giving respect just because someone was a few minutes older than me. In school, and amongst my peers, the social expectation was to be respectful to everyone, but true respect should be earned and can be lost in an instance.  I try my best to treat everyone with utmost respect, but that doesn't mean that I must be agreeable with everything they say. The cultural differences that arose from growing up in a first-generation household were a roller coaster ride of pride and humility. Humility can be perceived as a negative undertone, but humility allowed me to discover my worth. Humility allows me to embrace self-awareness, the willingness to learn, and value my service to others. 

Not sure if I want to include this, but I do share this story: As a professional, my very first industry manager was a woman. Growing up with Korean parents, it was always rude to look at an elder or someone with prestige in the eyes when talking to them. So out of sheer respect, when I addressed my manager, I would focus my view on her chin or neckline. As one would expect, this cultural difference was misconceived and put us both in an uncomfortable scenario. We can laugh about it now, but overtime, I made what I would consider cultural corrections to certain behaviors. 

3. What pivotal moment in your career made you realize you wanted to give back?  

I've always wanted to give back. The most memorable and impactful contributions were serving as the engineering manager for the construction, commissioning, and validation of a brand new CGMP facility and quality control lab to develop gene therapies to battle Battens disease. In under a year, we built out a new site and we created a personalized drug, with encouraging results, to save a young girl. She loved to sing, loved to talk, and was full of energy. When I heard her story, she reminded me of my sons, and I gave it my all to get the facility online. 

4. Why RAAY?

We were so excited when the leaders of NAAAP Tampa Bay agreed to take us under their wing. Rising Asian American Youth (RAAY) was formed in April of 2025 because our son was being bullied and experienced repeated racism at school.   Every instance was another hit to his emotional and mental health, without an end in sight. The school administration was not generating any results, and their "zero tolerance" policy was just a facade to fixing an ongoing problem. My wife and I agreed that there wasn't a single solution, but we wanted to give the kids in our community a safe place to gather and have a healthy discussion about how to overcome their experiences. Access to like-minded kids and mental health professionals was a springboard to awareness and healing for all the families that attended our events last year.   

5. What does empowerment mean to you in the context of education and leadership?

Empowerment is about trust. If a teacher, a parent, or a leader doesn't establish trust, they can never fully empower their students, children, or team. 

6. How do you hope this nonprofit will change the trajectory for young Asian Americans?

I hope that the formation of RAAY encourages other community organizations to follow suit. To not only focus on business professionals and networking, but to focus on our youth. There are many generations of Asian Americans, each with a unique blend of cultural experiences. I hope that our youth can develop their own voices and not be bound in their opportunities. I hope that the youth can embrace and be proud of their culture and heritage, and find balance. 

Education & Back-to-School

7. What advice would you give to Asian American students heading back to school this fall to start strong? 

Focus on the present and remember that the effort you put in now, will make your progress later. Don't focus on the end goal, focus on the steps to get there.

 
8. Looking back, what would you have done differently in high school or college? 

I wouldn't change anything. The unique experiences that I had helped to form who I am today. I'm not perfect, but sometimes, perfection is the enemy of good enough. 

9. How can students advocate for themselves in the classroom and beyond?

Be visible, be heard. Always be selling. Every interaction, conversation, or gesture you have with a stranger, your peers, your leaders, your audience, is an opportunity for you to have a voice.  Even an introverted person can be visible and heard in a more meaningful and memorable private setting. 

Identity & Representation
10. How has your Korean American identity influenced your personal and professional journey?

My identity gave me experience in various leadership roles as early as High School and has continued to this day. It allowed me to learn how to lead different settings; cultural clubs, team sports, undergraduate student associations, and mentorship in NAAAP. 

11. Why is it important for Asian American youth to see leaders who look like them?

It is important so that we can break down stereotypes. Youth need to see that they can do anything, like anyone else, if they put in the time and sweat equity to be successful. It's also important for our youth to hear our stories, so that they know that we are also navigated through humility, adversity, and cultural expectations.  It is important to recognize that you may look different, but it isn't a limitation. Advocate for yourself. 

12. What do you say to students who feel pressure to follow a “safe” educational path to achieve success?

Follow your own path. If you aren't a risk taker, that's okay. There's a balance, and you'll have to find the path, one step at a time, to achieve your goals. There's a saying that I like, "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." Going slow allows you to take the time to learn and execute with focus. Being smooth allows you to be deliberate and efficient, with less errors. Once you master slow and smooth, you can go fast. Fast can be mastered through slow methodical practice. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but it hurts a lot less if you make a mistake going slow than it does if you make a mistake going fast. 

A quote from Jay Shetty, "When your focus is a success, and you don't get your break, it will break you. When your focus is service, you'll never need a break because there are so many opportunities."

Networking & Mentorship
13. Networking is often intimidating for students. How can they start building connections early?

Be willing to try new things, eat new foods, and go to new places because you'll meet new interesting people along the way. 

14. Did you have mentors that impacted your success, and how can students find mentors?

My first industry manager really helped me to break down some cultural behaviors that didn't quite align with American business culture. She also was a good example of a very passionate leader who cared for her team.  She enjoyed playing the Devil's advocate and would challenge my work. If there was a hole to poke, she poked it. The constant challenges were pivotal to opening my perspective and to really understand not just a problem, but the possible solutions to a problem. "Race. Don't chase." We would always race ahead to ensure we could consider every possible scenario and outcome, before it became a problem.  The alternative was to chase and try to fix everything after the fact. 

I'd say my parents taught me at a young age, to work hard, and to appreciate the value of what I earned. They valued service to the church and their community. It was never a question for them to step up and help anyone in need.

15. Why is community so important for Asian Americans in professional spaces?

Community is important because our presence is underrepresented in most regions of America. It is a unique challenge because Asian culture embraces modesty, but the landscape is changing rapidly with multigenerational Asian American households. 

Legacy & Vision

16. How can students or parents get involved right now?

For the students: Students can join RAAY for free! Support your local organizations by being present and advocating for your peers to be involved as well. As we experience rapid culture and technology shifts, we [the parents] need the students' help to spread the word. If you have an Asian club at your middle or high school, invite them to RAAY events.  

For the parents: We need your help! As a parent, be there for your kids and encourage them to participate (Drive them to events). As we grow, RAAY will need options for venues, food, speakers, and ideas for additional engagement. We want to keep it fun but also be prepared to support our youth in whatever way we can. 

17. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self before starting school, what would it be?

Your education is important, but don't forget to have fun. Surround yourself with good people, be present, make memories, laugh, and remember to just take it all in every once in a while. 

Donald's story reminds us that sometimes the most powerful movements begin not in boardrooms or policy meetings, but in the hearts of parents who refuse to let their children suffer in silence. Through RAAY, he's created more than a support group—he's built a launching pad for young voices that deserve to be heard.

His message is clear: success isn't just about following the "safe" path or meeting cultural expectations. It's about finding balance, building trust, and having the courage to advocate for yourself and your community. As he tells students, "Be visible, be heard. Always be selling." Every interaction is an opportunity to share your story and change someone's perspective.

For Asian American families facing similar challenges, Donald's journey offers both hope and a roadmap. Whether you're a student learning to navigate cultural expectations, a parent seeking resources for your child, or a community leader looking to make a difference, RAAY represents what's possible when we move beyond networking and business connections to invest in our youth.

As Donald reflects, "Your education is important, but don't forget to have fun. Surround yourself with good people, be present, make memories, laugh, and remember to just take it all in every once in a while." It's advice that captures the essence of what RAAY stands for—not just academic achievement, but holistic growth, cultural pride, and the confidence to shape their own futures.

To learn more about Rising Asian American Youth (RAAY) or to get involved, students can join for free, and parents are encouraged to participate by supporting events and helping spread the word throughout their communities.

• Join NAAAP Tampa: https://tampa.naaap.org/join
• Connect with Donald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldjoolee/
• Contact RAAY: [email protected]

Ready to connect with leaders like Donald and expand your own professional network? Join NAAAP Tampa today and discover a community where your heritage is celebrated, your ambitions are supported, and your success contributes to something bigger than yourself. Visit us to meet Donald and fellow Asian American professionals who are shaping Tampa Bay's future—one connection at a time.