Testimonials
I often ask myself how my story might have unfolded without the Lily Li Future Foundation. I might still be doing interesting work, but I suspect my focus would be narrower—more centered on deal flow than on public impact, more on technical innovation than on institutional fairness. LLFF did not change my skills; it changed the frame through which I see my work. It gave me a North Star: to help design systems that are more transparent, more inclusive, and more humane, especially in the space between China and the United States where misunderstanding is easy and trust is hard-earned. I am deeply grateful to Lily Li, to the LLFF team, and to the broader community around the foundation. As I move forward—whether in further study, cross-border investment, or public service—I carry with me the example that LLFF has set: that leadership is not only about vision and strategy, but also about the courage to invest in people long before their stories are “proven.”
-Yuanwei (Wayne) Gao
Founder, Topaz Global Management LLC
I was a Sophomore at Brown while I met with Lily. One of my main goals at the time and still to this day is to become fluent in Mandarin and live and experience China. I did not know how to manage that and how to best move forward with my goals of public service and working on the US-China relationship from a technological and national security standpoint. Ms. Li’s guidance has also helped me think through many transitions in my life. My transition when preparing to leave college and deciding what job to pursue, and even now thinking through how to value a business and its future and thinking through the costs and benefits of graduate school.
–John Michael Slezak
Current Business and Technical Affairs Consultant at the iSpark Group Inc.
My nearly two years with the Foundation have profoundly reshaped the way I see both the world and my own values. Through the Foundation’s programs and events, I have had the opportunity to meet outstanding leaders from the United States and around the world across education, medicine, finance, the arts, and many other fields. Even more importantly, I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how Ms. Lily Li, as the Foundation’s founder and as the organizer behind so many of its initiatives, turns ideas into action. Through her extraordinary vision, extensive network, and ability to bring people together, she creates meaningful connections and opens doors for young people to expand their opportunities and broaden their horizons. With Ms. Lily Li’s encouragement and recommendation, I will soon begin my studies at Columbia University, where I will continue developing a solid foundation in business and finance.
-Steven Chen
Incoming Columbia Business School Student