Growth rarely stops because opportunity disappears. More often, it slows when we become comfortable with what we already know. The most successful professionals understand that learning is a continuous journey, and that every stage of a career presents new opportunities to expand perspectives, challenge assumptions, and rethink what is possible.
In her latest Fast Company article, Yumi Clevenger-Lee, Chief Strategy Officer at Quest Global, reflects on the habits and mindsets that help professionals continue evolving throughout their careers. Drawing from her own experiences, she shares practical insights on thinking beyond current roles, making intentional choices about where to invest time and energy, and embracing the humility that comes with lifelong learning.
At Quest Global, we believe growth begins with curiosity. Whether it is preparing for a future role, empowering others through delegation, or having the courage to ask questions, meaningful progress happens when we remain open to new ideas and experiences. The leaders who continue to learn are often the ones who create the greatest impact for their teams, customers, and communities.
Read Yumi’s perspective on how we can continue to grow, adapt, and avoid the invisible ceilings that can limit our potential.
Yumi Clevenger-Lee
Yumi Clevenger-Lee is Quest Global’s Chief Strategy Officer. She is accountable for Brand Building, Lead Generation and Sustainability. Additionally, she is the chief architect for the company’s five-year growth plan and collaborates across the organization to ensure its measured implementation. Yumi joined Quest Global in August 2021 and works to advance its purpose of being the most trusted partner for the world’s hardest engineering problems. She balances a strong general manager approach with a passion for brand building and creating teams that deliver business results. With over 20 years of marketing experience and strong business acumen, she has a track record of transforming businesses and reinventing brands through purpose, developing engaging campaigns, launching new product innovation, elevating margins, and delivering PNL results. She is a firm believer in “delivering a superior and consistent brand experience and emotionally connecting brands with people.” She loves to find the intersection of helping brands be both a force for growth and a force for good. Prior to joining Quest Global, Yumi was the EVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Nestle Waters North America where she led the growth of a $4.5B portfolio of 16 brands with operations across 30 factories. She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and earned an International Business BSBA and International Studies BA degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she was valedictorian.
