Pauline Lee

Pauline Lee is the Founder and Executive Director of the Program for Intellectual Empowerment (PIE), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan through education, creativity, meaningful work, and community.

PIE was born out of both personal calling and lived experience. At 19 years old, Pauline felt a clear calling from God to serve others, even before she fully understood what that would look like. That calling became deeply personal through her cousin, whose experiences as a neurodivergent individual opened Pauline’s eyes to the gaps in traditional education and support systems. She saw intelligence, creativity, and potential that were often overlooked — and a world that too often focused on compliance instead of understanding.

Grounded in Neuro-Semantic Learning Language Theory (NsLLT), Pauline built PIE to prioritize meaning, communication, and conceptual development over surface-level skill training. Her work centers on helping individuals build agency, confidence, and full participation in their communities — not just support, but empowerment.

Under Pauline’s leadership, PIE has grown into a multi-program organization that includes education, creative arts, community engagement, and long-term visioning toward an inclusive village model that connects learning, work, creativity, and independent living.

Outside of her work at PIE, Pauline enjoys fostering dogs (she currently has five foster dogs at home), creating content for small businesses, and sharing food and local place reviews. She is bilingual, plays both piano and violin, and has a twin. While she spends much of her time connecting with people and building community, she considers herself an introvert at heart and values quiet, reflective time.

Above all, Pauline’s life and work are rooted in her faith. She loves Jesus and seeks to glorify Him through service, creativity, and building spaces where people are seen, valued, and given the opportunity to thrive.

pauline@piempowered.org