THE MEDTECH MAVERICK - THE PATH TO BECOMING A SENIOR EXECUTIVE IS OFTEN TRADITIONAL. CHRIS LEE CHOSE TO GO TO IRAQ INSTEAD.

In 1991, Chris Lee found himself in a car trundling along a deserted highway in Baghdad. There would usually be a lot of traffic on the road, but the first Gulf War had caused all people to flee. Everyone except Lee, that is.

- FARHAN SHAH

Iraq had purchased $6 million worth of vaccines from his company. As war broke out, the Iraqi government told Lee’s employer that it would pay cash if they sent someone to the city. Lee volunteered. “I was young and brave. However, If you asked me to do it now, I might have second thoughts,” the 53-year-old laughs.

Such maverick behaviour is typical of Lee. He was born into a medical family. His parents were renowned doctors in Korea, and his three elder brothers followed in their footsteps – yet he left Korea at a young age to study in Japan because he was always at the bottom of the class back home, he candidly admits.

“It was tougher than Korea,” he recalls. “I naively thought that I would get into medical school in Japan. But it was much more competitive.”

Lee decided to try his luck in the US. Once again, he did poorly because classes were taught in English and he barely knew the language. Still, his global adventures gave him a better appreciation of the world. Along the way, he even became the US representative for taekwondo in the 1988 Olympics. “I wanted to go home during the summer and Korea was hosting the event, so I got a free ride.” He also helmed DJ decks in Korean nightclubs.

His circuitous path helped Lee realise that there were many routes to success and being a doctor was not the only way. His parents, however, were initially disappointed that he didn’t follow in their footsteps. He shares that his father was even embarrassed with his first job: a sales representative selling medical devices to doctors.