Lee Cortez

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LEE CORTEZ

People are the core driver of enterprise value. I design global people strategies that enable growth, strengthen culture, and embed fairness into the fabric of organisations.I am Head of Global Benefits and HR Programmes at Block, where I lead enterprise-wide strategy across benefits, mobility, and immigration. My remit spans 20+ countries and ensures the company attracts, retains, and empowers talent in pursuit of its mission of economic empowerment.Over 18 years, I have built and scaled HR strategies across every major region — EMEA, APAC, LATAM, and North America. At Google, I helped shape global benefits and advised on the HR infrastructure for “Other Bets” during Alphabet’s corporate restructuring, navigating the complexities of high-growth, fast-evolving business units. At Okta, I drove end-to-end global benefits strategy during a period of rapid expansion. Earlier, as an international human capital consultant, I advised multinationals on cross-border workforce strategies, honing a strategic and global lens that continues to guide my leadership.My leadership philosophy is rooted in empathy, fairness, and impact. Trained as a licensed social worker, I began my career counselling individuals facing homelessness, incarcerated youth, designing workforce programmes for foster youth, and teaching labour systems and organisational practice as an adjunct professor at Columbia University. These experiences continue to shape how I lead at scale: embedding inclusion into strategy, balancing business and social outcomes, and building workplaces where people thrive.I hold an Executive MBA with Distinction from the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College, Judge Business School), where I received the inaugural Dean’s Diversity Scholarship. As the elected EDI Class Representative, I championed culture change within my cohort, reinforcing my belief how those at the top can significantly impact equitable outcomes. My focus was on preparing senior executive peers to drive inclusion within their organisations and beyond.A first-generation immigrant, I bring lived experience and global perspective to my work. My journey from Manila to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and London informs how I build people strategies that are both globally consistent and locally resonant.