Her Story
About Terri
Terri Lee is a consumer strategy and innovation executive, business consultant, and organizational leader with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations transform consumer insights into successful products, scalable innovation processes, and sustainable business growth. Driven by a lifelong curiosity and passion for understanding human behavior, Terri's journey into innovation began at an early age as a natural tinkerer who enjoyed taking things apart to understand how they worked and finding simpler, more effective solutions to everyday challenges. That inquisitive mindset became the foundation of a career centered on solving complex business problems through consumer-centered innovation. Her diverse background spans consumer products, kitchenware, children's museums, exhibit and toy design, food service and café management, packaging, experiential marketing, pop-up retail, and consumer packaged goods across multiple categories, including pet care, health and wellness, home goods, water filtration, and functional beverages.
Throughout her career, Terri has built a reputation for bridging the gap between consumer insight, innovation strategy, and commercial execution. She has held executive leadership roles overseeing innovation, brand strategy, product development, and consumer insights for global consumer brands, leading portfolios of 26 brands and cross-functional organizations of more than 250 professionals. She has directed over 120 new product development initiatives annually, implemented strategic commercialization and stage-gate governance processes, and helped organizations achieve significant business outcomes, including scaling revenue from $53 million to $180 million, improving contribution margins by 30 percent, reducing cost of goods sold by more than 20 percent, increasing e-commerce conversion rates, securing multiple utility patents, and implementing artificial intelligence-enabled workflows that dramatically improved operational efficiency. Her ability to translate consumer insights into practical business strategies has consistently accelerated innovation while delivering measurable commercial results.
Today, as Principal of THL Growth Lab, Terri partners with consumer-focused companies to strengthen collaboration across marketing, sales, product development, research and development, operations, and executive leadership. She helps organizations break down functional silos by designing cross-functional innovation teams, implementing structured stage-gate systems, and building scalable innovation frameworks that enable faster decision-making and more successful product launches. A passionate advocate for collaboration, continuous learning, and purposeful innovation, Terri believes the strongest organizations are built on trust, curiosity, and a deep understanding of customer needs. In addition to her consulting practice, she has served as an adjunct design instructor at several respected universities, mentoring emerging creative professionals while remaining actively engaged in thought leadership, innovation, and organizational transformation. Her commitment to helping businesses innovate with clarity, agility, and customer focus has established her as a trusted leader in consumer strategy and innovation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Terri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a deep sense of curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. Throughout my career, I have embraced new ideas, remained open to change, and viewed challenges and setbacks as valuable opportunities for growth. I also believe that bringing people together around shared goals fosters collaboration, innovation, and lasting impact. By maintaining a growth mindset and learning from both successes and failures, I have been able to evolve professionally while helping teams achieve meaningful results.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received has come from leaders and colleagues who challenged my thinking and helped me recognize my strengths. One of the most transformative lessons was learning to reframe my communication—moving from simply asking questions to confidently articulating what I need, what I want, and what I believe. This shift has strengthened my confidence, enhanced my leadership presence, and enabled me to communicate with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to embrace opportunities with confidence and not be afraid to take calculated risks. View setbacks as valuable learning experiences that foster resilience and growth. Stay curious by asking thoughtful questions, listening actively, and continuously expanding your knowledge not only in your field of expertise but also in essential leadership skills such as communication, relationship building, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Above all, remain authentic and stay true to your values, as genuine leadership is built on integrity and self-confidence.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges organizations face today is breaking down internal silos that hinder collaboration and slow innovation. As emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence continue to reshape the way businesses operate, organizations must adapt quickly while ensuring these tools are implemented strategically and remain focused on delivering value to customers. At the same time, there is tremendous opportunity for companies that embrace cross-functional collaboration, foster open communication, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning. Organizations that thoughtfully integrate AI into their workflows while empowering diverse teams to work toward shared goals will be well positioned to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable long-term growth.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my professional and personal life are collaboration, curiosity, integrity, innovation, continuous improvement, and lifelong learning. I believe the strongest organizations are built on trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to growth and adaptability. I strive to create environments where diverse perspectives are welcomed, creativity is encouraged, and individuals are empowered to work together toward meaningful goals. These values shape my approach to leadership, strengthen relationships, and inspire a culture of continuous innovation and positive impact.
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