Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Heaven Lee.
Hi Angel Heaven, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I always say my story isn’t a straight line, it’s more like a winding path with a lot of unexpected turns, but every piece of it matters.
I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the U.S. as a child when my father, a Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army, was stationed here. Growing up as a biracial child with a disability, I learned early on what it meant to navigate systems that weren’t built for me, and that sparked a lifelong passion for advocacy and breaking down barriers.
Professionally, I built a strong foundation in executive administration and human resources. I’ve worked in nonprofits, workforce development, and political spaces, gaining firsthand insight into how policies and practices impact real people. Over time, I moved deeper into disability advocacy and community organizing, serving on boards and councils that champion independence, accessibility, and equity.
But I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, too. I started a gardening business called No Thumbs Needed to make SC native plant gardening fun and accessible for everyone, regardless of ability. I’m also developing a tech startup called Focus Play, an ADHD-friendly productivity app that uses gamification to make getting things done actually work for neurodivergent brains like mine. And I host a podcast, Breaking Barriers with Angel Heaven Lee, where I lift up stories and issues that often get ignored… from disability rights to the fight for a living wage.
Along the way, I also discovered a love for voice over work. I’ve recorded everything from audiobooks and phone systems to video game characters and commercials, bringing stories and scripts to life with a voice that’s warm, clear, and versatile. It’s another way I get to connect with people, tell meaningful stories, and contribute creatively to projects that matter.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple idea: everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported in building a life they’re proud of. That’s what drives me, whether I’m speaking at the State House, recording a character in my home studio, planting milkweed in my yard, or writing code late at night.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I live with a disability, so navigating a world that often overlooks accessibility has been a lifelong challenge… from physical barriers to the attitudes that still exist around disability. I’ve also dealt with financial instability, especially while trying to build businesses and work in advocacy, which isn’t always the most well-funded path.
As a neurodivergent person, I’ve faced my own internal hurdles too, like managing executive dysfunction and burnout while balancing multiple projects.
And honestly, there’s been a lot of discouragement along the way… people who didn’t believe in what I was doing or didn’t think someone like me should be leading these kinds of efforts.
But each challenge has shaped me into a more determined, creative, and empathetic person. It’s pushed me to find new ways to solve problems, build community, and keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wear a lot of hats, but everything I do is rooted in advocacy, accessibility, and building community power.
At the core of it, my work is all about helping people feel seen, valued, and supported… because I know what it’s like to move through a world that doesn’t always make space for you. Whether I’m recording a voice over that brings someone’s story to life, designing an app that makes productivity actually work for neurodivergent brains, planting native flowers that help local ecosystems thrive, or hosting a podcast that tackles the issues so many of us face.. it all comes back to that same purpose.
I’m most proud of the way my work brings people together and gives them tools to thrive on their own terms. Whether it’s someone finding hope in a podcast episode, discovering they can keep a garden alive, finally feeling understood by an app that doesn’t shame them for how their brain works, or hearing a voice over that truly connects… that’s what keeps me going.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t just work for communities like mine… I work from them. I’m disabled, neurodivergent, biracial, a lifelong South Carolinian, and every bit of that shapes how I show up. I’ve built a life that’s deeply personal and mission-driven, and I hope that comes through in everything I do.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the most important quality that’s carried me through everything is heart. It might sound simple, but it’s true. I lead with empathy and a deep belief that people matter, and that shapes how I build businesses, advocate for policy change, and even how I show up in everyday conversations.
I’d also say resilience. Life has thrown a lot my way, from personal challenges to systems that aren’t designed for people like me. But I’ve learned how to keep going, to adapt, and to find creative ways around obstacles without losing my sense of purpose or compassion.
At the end of the day, I think caring deeply… about people, justice, and building a more accessible world, is what drives my success more than anything else.
Pricing:
- Focus Play: My ADHD productivity app is still in development, I’m offering free beta testing spots right now, so people can try it out and help shape the final product.
- Native plant consultations: starting at $50 for a personalized garden plan.
- Workshops & speaking on accessible gardening: pricing varies based on event size and travel.
- Speaking, podcast interviews & panels: often offered at no cost for community groups, with standard honorarium rates for larger organizations or conferences.
- Custom voice overs for audiobooks, commercials, podcasts, phone systems, video games & more. • Rates vary by project length and type, starting around $100 for short scripts, with flexible pricing for indie creators and nonprofits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://focusplay.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusplayapp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ArzghYsaL/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-lee-21540540
- Soundcloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/angelheavenlee
- Other: https://angelheavenlee.wixsite.com/voartist
