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Tina Lee      

Mother of Kodi Lee, Winner of America's Got Talent

Tina Lee was born a fighter, dreamer and advocate for those who didn’t have a voice, or those who were marginalized. Even as a teenager, she protected the one’s that couldn’t stand up for themselves and always challenged the status quo by always marching to the beat of her own rhythm. She let her heart lead and a strict moral code kept her on the right path.

A lover of animals all her life, a path to becoming a veterinarian was on the horizon. But soon that all changed when she gave birth to her first son, Kodi Lee. Kodi was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, and later diagnosed with autism. Being a new mother to a special needs child, she had to find her own way, and she transformed her life to being a dedicated advocate for her children. At the same time, having to deal with inter-racial strains and cultural clash for marrying a Korean American man, her beginnings started in a turmoil of struggle, prejudices and disillusionment. And all the obstacles in her way only made her stronger.

Quickly she learned that to be an advocate for her son, she had to fight without fear to get him what he needed to survive in this unforgiving world. She learned to challenge the education system to insure her son had the help he needed and paved her own path. Through this fight she learned the importance of advocacy, persistence and to have a strategic mindset in order to get what her family needed. Learning to listen to her heart and to truly be connected to the needs of her child, she helped him succeed and find his way in the world.

After helping Kodi win America’s Got Talent Season 14 which catapulted his career as an entertainer and true inspiration to the world, she knew that anything was possible with the right attitude and focus. Because of the newly-found platform of her son, she wanted to help educate and inspire anyone who was willing to listen. Kodi broke down barriers and gave hope to the marginalized groups that have not been given the same opportunities. Tina speaks around the world to the media, corporations, NPO’s and to the community about what it means to live a life of example, hope and the unwillingness to accept defeat.

Speech Topics


  • Special Needs Children

  • Business

  • Parenting

  • Social Change

  • Autism

  • Structure

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