How I Got There: Global Business Advising | Rebecca Yang (SFS ’12)

Posted in Student & Alumni Stories

Rebecca Yang studied International Politics and Asian Studies in the School of Foreign Service and is now a Business Advisor (Worldwide Public Sector, U.S. Education & State and Local Government) at Amazon. At the time of this interview, she had just started at Facebook as a Global Trust and Safety Operations Analyst. Learn how Georgetown shaped her path, what led her to her current position, and more insights regarding her company and the broader tech industry:

What activities at Georgetown did you find the most valuable and why?

• DC Schools Project – as a daughter of Chinese immigrants, this served as opportunity to pay it forward and teach and mentor other Chinese immigrants.
• The Carroll Fellows Initiative – taught me how to think critically, intellectually rigorous).

What does a typical day look like for you?

Too new at this moment to describe a typical day and currently going through 6-week onboarding. What I know now: I’m on a new, fast-moving, and critical team at Facebook that ensures Facebook remains a safe and trusted platform for users, businesses, and Facebook.

What surprised you the most when you started working at Facebook?

The workplace culture – Facebook’s workplace culture is incredibly supportive and genuine and this is truly a mission-oriented company. The current negative external perceptions of the company vs. the positive internal experience I’ve had so far are at very much at odds with one another.

What skills are most needed in your role?

• The ability to adapt to change.
• The willingness to learn.

What are the best ways for students to learn more about your industry?

• Follow tech companies on LinkedIn.
• Read tech blogs and newsletters