Christina Lee (C'00, W'00)
Christina Lee serves as Vice President of Reputation & Content Strategy at Amazon, leading a team that includes research, paid marketing, owned content, channels, and internal communications.
Before joining Amazon, Christina was the marketing and communications partner at venture firm Kleiner Perkins, where she managed all aspects of the brand and provided strategic marketing and communications counsel to early- and late-stage growth companies across digital, life sciences and sustainability sectors. In 2000, Christina graduated with a B.S. in economics and a B.A. in international studies from the Huntsman Program in International Studies at the Wharton School of Business at Penn.
Q: What is your favorite memory from Penn?
My most cherished Penn memory is studying abroad at Tsinghua University in Beijing. I was fortunate enough to matriculate as a local student, fully immersed alongside China’s brightest minds. The language was tough, but being so integrated into the university was incredibly unique. The local students were welcoming and remarkably hardworking. Seeing their dedication firsthand gave me a deep appreciation for the Chinese people, their work ethic, and the immense talent coming out of their universities. That semester in Beijing ultimately inspired my later decision to live and work there early in my career.
Q: What was your favorite place to hang out while at Penn?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I always loved hanging out on Locust Walk. Locust Walk is the heartbeat of Penn’s campus — it’s where the university’s energy really comes alive. The constant buzz of students, the spontaneous run-ins, the energy of campus life unfolding right in front of you. Some of my best memories — laughing with friends, rushing to class, soaking in the traditions like Hey Day and Convocation — all happened right there. It’s always felt like the heart of Penn.
Q: What is one lesson from your time at Penn that you would share with Annenberg students?
The best questions are often better than the right answers. They invite dialogue, spark curiosity and lead to new discoveries. In a world that is moving fast — where industries evolve, information shifts and certainty is rare — asking the right questions is often more powerful than having the right answers.
So don’t wait until you’re 100% sure before you speak up. Keep questioning. Keep exploring. Don’t take for granted that Penn is a place that not only encourages curiosity but also nurtures it as a mindset. And it’s one of the most valuable things you’ll carry with you beyond graduation.
Q: What has inspired you to connect with Annenberg?
The entire communications landscape is shifting in real time. Traditional media has been upended by new platforms like TikTok, podcasts and newsletters, empowering individuals and brands to become their own media channels. Meanwhile, the attention economy has raised the bar — content has to be short, emotionally compelling and visually striking just to stand out. And underlying all of this is AI, rapidly changing how we create, personalize and optimize content.
All of this creates an urgent need for strategic thinkers who understand not just tools, but people. With audiences demanding more authenticity, now is the perfect time to connect with the Annenberg School because it’s one of the few places blending deep academic insight with real-world innovation. Whether you’re looking to lead in media, tech, policy or storytelling, Annenberg is at the center of where communication is headed next.
