Let's talk about

• My experience in the Korean army
• The importance of humility

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Gooroo founder and CEO Scott Lee is on a mission to reimagine education, unlock every student’s potential, and promote lifelong learning for all. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee relocated to the United States with his family at the age of 16 without knowing a word of English. Through constant support from his parents, and with the help of tutors and mentors, he worked hard and constantly challenged himself to succeed.

As a Columbia University student majoring in Operations Research: Engineering Management Systems, Lee was required to take a break from formal education to enlist in the South Korean army, where he served as a Sergeant and Squad leader. Nearly two years removed from the college classroom setting, Lee returned to Columbia and immediately recognized that he needed tutoring support to get ahead in his classes.

However, he found it difficult to find a quality tutor that could offer the individualized instruction he desired. Thus, the idea for Gooroo was born: a next-generation, AI-powered tutoring and learning platform with a strong focus on personalization. While the Gooroo platform was materializing, Lee worked as a Senior Treasury Analyst at JP Morgan Chase’s Chief Investment Office. Previously, he had founded Peertutor, a non-profit platform that connected underserved children with over 7,000 English tutor volunteers; and Mud Café, a niche online fashion retailer.

Gooroo was ultimately established in 2015. Lee is heavily involved in philanthropy, including his work with Compassion International, where he personally sponsors six children from Indonesia, Ghana, Peru, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic, so they have access to proper education and healthcare. Lee, together with Gooroo COO Phil Hwang, also spearheaded Gooroo’s partnership with Books for Africa, where one book is donated for every Gooroo session scheduled.

Additionally, he advises for Readfeed, an online book club application that enables readers to learn from one another, making reading, discussing, and discovering books easier.