Yihui holds a dual bachelor’s in Environmental Sciences and Economics from Renmin University of China and a Master’s in Environmental Health Sciences from Yale School of Public Health. With expertise in sustainability and international development, she has worked as a Fellow at Pacific Environment, advancing plastics solutions, and as a Project & Data Associate at Enveritas, promoting coffee supply chain sustainability. Passionate about systemic change, she integrates environmental health, economic development, and cross-cultural collaboration to drive impactful solutions for communities and global challenges.
Job Search & Entry
Could you describe your overall job‑search strategy and how it guided you toward the Fellow (Program Officer) — Plastics role at Pacific Environment and Project & Data Associate role at Enveritas?
My job search strategy combined direct applications and networking. For the Fellow role at Pacific Environment, I applied directly after reviewing the job description. For Enveritas, I secured an internship by reaching out to a director on LinkedIn two years prior. Later, they invited me back for a full-time role after multiple interview rounds.
How was the interviewee evaluated and selected? Which technical tools—GIS platforms, survey‑programming software, statistical packages, etc.—have proved indispensable across your recent positions?
At Pacific Environment, I had two interview rounds focused on campaign strategies and environmental policy advocacy. At Enveritas, I underwent multiple interviews and a data analysis test in Excel, assessing my analytical logic and formula proficiency. Key tools I’ve used include Excel (data analysis) and survey-programming softwares.
In what ways did the quantitative training you received at Yale help you assess corporate plastic‑reduction commitments and coffee supply chain sustainability in practice?
My Master’s in Environmental Health Sciences at Yale included rigorous training in R and SAS. While Pacific Environment’s plastics work was more policy-driven, my quantitative background strengthened my analytical reasoning and ability to manage large datasets at Enveritas for coffee supply chain analysis.
Day‑to‑Day Work & International Engagement
What does a “typical” week look like in your Program Officer role? Could you walk us through a project from strategy design to on‑the‑ground execution?
As a Fellow (Program Officer) at Pacific Environment, I develop campaign strategies and collaborate with grantees on project design and timelines. For example, we developed a ranking system with academic partners to evaluate major brands’ plastic reduction performance, pushing them toward stronger commitments. I also coordinate with international NGOs on joint initiatives, sharing best practices for single-use plastics reduction.
How frequently does your work involve international travel, and which regions do you visit most? Can you share a field experience that fundamentally reshaped the project—or your own viewpoint—once you were on site?
Both roles involve frequent travel (Asia most often), including site visits, international conferences, and retreats. A key moment was visiting Indonesian coffee farmers and their farms—this firsthand exposure highlighted the human realities behind our data work and the importance of solutions that address farmer needs, poverty reduction and environmental goals. This experience has fundamentally reshaped my viewpoint on supply chain sustainability work.
When operating in new cultural contexts, what tactics have you found most effective for earning the trust of local NGOs and community leaders?
Respect, curiosity, and offering tangible support are critical. In Indonesia and China, I prioritized listening to local partners’ expertise while sharing our global perspective and resources to foster collaborative, trust-based relationships.
Could you describe a significant challenge you faced while advancing corporate responsibility on plastics, and how you navigated it?
A major challenge was engaging beverage brands reluctant to collaborate with NGOs, as they didn’t think we were important people. We leveraged public pressure through social media and industry partnerships to initiate dialogue, eventually securing incremental commitments to reduce single-use plastics.
Guidance for Students & Early‑Career Professionals
For students aiming to weave sustainability, public health, and international development into a travel‑heavy career, which courses, internships, or extracurriculars would you recommend?
Focus on sustainability-related courses (water, energy, global affairs) and data analysis. Pursue internships at global organizations. Engage with international peers at school to gain cross-cultural insights.
Given today’s uncertain job market, what approaches helped you land roles in mission‑driven organizations, and how can students best leverage university resources?
Networking is key. Many impactful organizations aren’t widely known—use keyword searches to identify them and connect with their employees.
For students, university alumni networks are invaluable; you can reach out to those in your target fields for advice and referrals.
Looking Ahead
Which emerging sustainability trends or policy shifts excite you most, and where do you hope to make your greatest impact over the next five years?
I’m most excited by food sustainability and global supply chain transparency. Over the next five years, I aim to drive multinational companies to adopt stronger sustainability practices, ensuring equitable access to healthy food worldwide while preserving cultural food heritage.
