As a visually impaired changemaker, storyteller, and cofounder of Collective Perspectives, Lim Lee Lee is breaking barriers and reshaping how Singapore approaches diversity and inclusion.
With over 15 years of speaking and training experience, she brings lived experience, deep empathy, and an entrepreneurial edge to her work, empowering artists with disabilities and building inclusive platforms for education and collaboration.
In this SG60 Showcase feature, Lee Lee invites us into her journey—one that challenges stereotypes, rewrites narratives, and proves that accessibility isn’t a side note, but a foundation for a resilient, future-ready society.
Read on for insights into how she’s helping Singapore evolve through inclusive leadership, artistic advocacy, and transformative education.
Highlights
Empowerment through Inclusion and Innovation
Q: Can you share a specific initiative you’ve led that has contributed meaningfully to Singapore’s development?
A: My work focuses on creating inclusive platforms for artists with disabilities. Over the past few years, I’ve helped these individuals receive equitable compensation, collaborate with mainstream artists, and negotiate contracts on their own terms. It’s about empowerment, not charity.
I’ve also encouraged adults with disabilities to develop new skills so they can continue contributing meaningfully to their communities. One initiative I’m particularly proud of involves training preschool teachers to use LEGO Braille bricks—empowering them to teach children who require alternative learning methods.
These efforts help reinforce Singapore’s goals for social cohesion and a future-ready, inclusive workforce.
Q: What unique expertise do you bring to Singapore’s next chapter of growth?
A: My vision is to help build a generation that sees inclusion not as a policy requirement but as second nature. I hope that through storytelling and engagement, we’ll reach a place where “diversity and inclusion” are no longer buzzwords—but simply how we live.
By sharing my lived experience and using storytelling as a tool for understanding, I help shift mindsets in schools, government, and corporate spaces.
Q: Who are some of the local partners you’ve worked with?
A: I’ve collaborated with SG Enable, MOE schools, *SCAPE, JLL, and Gateway Theatre. Across these engagements, the focus has always been the same—creating a safe space for empathy, listening, and transformation.
From Storytelling to Strategy: Her Signature Programs
Q: What are your signature programs, and how do they support national goals like leadership development and social inclusion?
A: My two main programs are Leadership and Empathy and Team Bonding and Goal Setting. These aren’t generic sessions—they integrate the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and blend them with universal leadership principles.
Through story-based teaching, I help participants reflect, connect, and grow as inclusive leaders. These programs support national priorities by nurturing more empathetic teams and resilient, adaptive leaders.
Q: What makes your approach different from others in the field?
A: I speak beyond sight loss. My anecdotes are grounded, human, and often humorous, which helps break tension and build bridges. I also keep up with global conversations, so I can speak off-the-cuff about current issues and weave in relevance that resonates deeply with audiences.
Q: How do you stay current and keep your training relevant?
A: I learn by watching others speak—on YouTube, at events, through networking. I pick up new skills regularly, not just to stay competitive but to prove that personal growth has no limits. The world evolves, and so must we.
Final Thoughts: Leadership Beyond Labels
Lim Lee Lee’s work proves that inclusion is a catalyst, not a constraint. Through bold advocacy, creative education, and the simple act of showing up as herself, she’s helping Singapore step into a more empathetic, empowered future. Her voice is more than inspirational—it’s instructional for any society serious about transformation.
Her Mantra: “The eyes are useless when the mind is blind. Learning is a treasure that follows its owners everywhere. So long as one is willing to learn, their minds will be nourished.”
Highlights
This article is part of the SG60 Showcase series—spotlighting leaders, changemakers, and visionaries shaping Singapore’s next 60 years. Stay tuned for more!
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
