A Harvard Business School graduate and former JP Morgan employee has openly listed what she called her biggest failures, in an attempt to help others avoid similar mistakes. Grace Lee, 30, shared her reflections in a candid Instagram post that quickly resonated with students, startup founders and corporate professionals who often feel pressure to appear successful at all costs.
Lee, a member of Harvard Business School’s Class of 2025, described her experiences as a “museum of failures,” offering a raw look at life behind elite degrees and high-profile jobs. In her post on Instagram, she explained that despite impressive credentials, she spent years feeling inadequate, overwhelmed and stuck. Rather than presenting her journey as inspirational success, Lee focused on what did not work for her and why ambition alone is often not enough.
She clarified that these experiences were not shared out of regret, but as lessons that shaped her understanding of herself and the systems she worked within. According to Lee, many high-achieving people struggle silently even when everything appears fine from the outside.
Despite putting in extra effort, the sense of barely keeping up never went away. Lee explained that this experience deeply affected her confidence and contributed to a long-standing belief that she was simply not smart enough.
After the diagnosis, Lee said she began reframing how her mind works, choosing to see the constant flow of ideas as a potential strength rather than a flaw.
She said the experience forced her to confront the dangers of hustle culture and the long-term cost of ignoring physical warning signs.
She admitted that these struggles have shaped her anxieties about future life stages, including pregnancy and long-term health.
Lee concluded by saying she plans to continue sharing both her lessons and unresolved struggles. Her goal, she noted, is to help others recognise what does not work early on and avoid repeating the same painful cycles. The reflections were shared via her Instagram account, where the post continues to draw widespread engagement and discussion.
Lee, a member of Harvard Business School’s Class of 2025, described her experiences as a “museum of failures,” offering a raw look at life behind elite degrees and high-profile jobs. In her post on Instagram, she explained that despite impressive credentials, she spent years feeling inadequate, overwhelmed and stuck. Rather than presenting her journey as inspirational success, Lee focused on what did not work for her and why ambition alone is often not enough.
She clarified that these experiences were not shared out of regret, but as lessons that shaped her understanding of herself and the systems she worked within. According to Lee, many high-achieving people struggle silently even when everything appears fine from the outside.
Feeling behind at JP Morgan
In the Instagram post,Lee reflected on her time as an analyst at JP Morgan in New York City, where she worked between 2017 and 2019, as noted on her LinkedIn profile. She said that during this period, she constantly felt slower than her peers and doubted her own abilities. Even basic concepts took her significantly longer to grasp, which led her to avoid substantive roles during presentations and compensate by working longer hours.Despite putting in extra effort, the sense of barely keeping up never went away. Lee explained that this experience deeply affected her confidence and contributed to a long-standing belief that she was simply not smart enough.
Late ADHD diagnosis changed her perspective
A major turning point came when Lee was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30. She shared that for decades she believed her struggles were due to laziness or a lack of discipline. According to her, academic success, leadership roles and strict punctuality masked the condition, as perfectionism and anxiety helped her overcompensate.After the diagnosis, Lee said she began reframing how her mind works, choosing to see the constant flow of ideas as a potential strength rather than a flaw.
The cost of building a startup
While studying at Harvard, Lee invested around $200,000 into building a startup, which eventually shut down after reaching about 1,000 users. She even pitched the venture on stage to investor Kevin O’Leary, but the business did not survive. Lee described extreme burnout during this phase, including chronic sleep deprivation and stress-related health issues that she ignored out of fear of appearing weak or uninvestable.She said the experience forced her to confront the dangers of hustle culture and the long-term cost of ignoring physical warning signs.
Career instability and health struggles
Lee also shared that she had been laid off or witnessed companies shut down multiple times within five years, leaving her with no equity despite spending much of her career in startups. Alongside professional instability, she spoke about ongoing health challenges, including significant weight fluctuations since college and knee problems that made exercise difficult.She admitted that these struggles have shaped her anxieties about future life stages, including pregnancy and long-term health.
Learning to show up publicly
The post also addressed her fear of visibility. Although Lee has recorded more than 50 videos, she has only shared a fraction due to overthinking and self-doubt. She revealed that the now-viral Instagram post itself was nearly deleted for the same reasons.Lee concluded by saying she plans to continue sharing both her lessons and unresolved struggles. Her goal, she noted, is to help others recognise what does not work early on and avoid repeating the same painful cycles. The reflections were shared via her Instagram account, where the post continues to draw widespread engagement and discussion.
