An Engineer’s Path to International Affairs

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As a result of a strong work ethic and a desire for a broader vision for my career, I chose to pursue an academic path beyond the requirements of my Electrical Engineering degree from Santa Clara University. While foreign language courses were not required for engineers, I chose to study Mandarin Chinese, a decision that would prove to be pivotal.

This seemingly unconventional choice made sense to me. My father, an engineer for Apple, spent weeks every summer in China helping factories manufacture Apple’s products. I aspired to follow in his footsteps, and I understood that by learning a non-technical skill like Mandarin, I would be able to perform my technical position more effectively when abroad. This decision to go above and beyond not only led me to a lifelong love of foreign languages but also gave me the rare opportunity to work in a technical field in China.

Sent back to the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I returned to the United States with a new sense of purpose. I resolved to pursue a career in policy and began my Master’s in International Affairs at American University. This career pivot allowed me to merge my technical and language skills with a pursuit of policy, empowering me to approach complex international issues, such as AD/CVD investigations, more holistically and with a commitment to comprehensive understanding. This strong work ethic, which prioritizes truth over convenience, is a value that continues to guide my professional life.

Experience at the Intersection of Technology & Policy

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Government, Policy, and Compliance

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• Contributed to the strategic implementation of a major U.S. trade law (the CHIPS Act) by providing crucial policy and analytical support for program management at Blu Omega.

• Conducted regulatory compliance analysis on over 50 comments on Notices of Proposed Rulemaking for Texas Instruments, guiding senior executives on regulatory changes.

• Supported staff with legislative inquiries and research projects for the U.S. House of Representatives, writing informative memoranda on emerging legislative issues.

• Conducted legal research to promote intellectual property protection, writing memoranda on research findings to advance the team’s strategic objectives at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

International Relations & Research

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• Provided crucial research and writing assistance to a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, contributing to multiple articles and a book project published by Columbia University Press.

• Gathered open-source intelligence on the People’s Liberation Army’s joint training exercises by consolidating over 30 Chinese government press releases and state media news stories into a comprehensive timeline.

• Led cross-functional teams across multiple countries to manufacture high-quality plastic parts for a multi-trillion-dollar client, adapting leadership style to diverse cultural norms at Jabil Greenpoint Technologies.

Project Management & Engineering

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• Developed innovative technical solutions to complex engineering problems, contributing to client satisfaction and project success at Depew Engineering.

• Facilitated effective communication between international stakeholders, utilizing Mandarin Chinese skills to translate documents and interpret during meetings.

• Maintained professional client relations through reports, meetings, and presentations, ensuring clear communication and project alignment with client objectives.

Core Competencies

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Languages:

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• English: Native

• Mandarin Chinese: HSK Level 6 & HSKK Advanced

Technical & Analytical:

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• Analytical Reasoning

• Data Analysis: Data Visualization, Ggplot2, R, Python

• Engineering: Circuit Analysis, Semiconductor Technology

• Legal & Policy Research: LexisNexis, CNKI, International Trade Law, International Finance and Business Concepts, Legal Research, Due Diligence

• Risk & Strategy: Business Strategy, Risk Management, Market Research

• Professional Communications: Briefings, Correspondence, Report Writing, Copy Editing, Writing

Software & Tools:

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• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)

• Adobe Suite (Photoshop, etc.)

• Productivity: Notion

• Version Control: Git, Github

• Operating Systems: MacOs, Unix/Linux

Get in Touch

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For more details, please take a look at my resume.

For secure communication, my PGP public key is available here: ND PGP Key.