Yan Liang is a Harvard graduate, where he completed his Master's degree in Instructional Technology, complemented by interdisciplinary coursework across the Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. His academic experience reflects a cross-system understanding of education, policy, and innovation within globally leading institutions.

Alongside his academic work, Yan has been actively engaged in international leadership and policy-oriented initiatives. He serves as an Ambassador of the Harvard Center for International Development and has held leadership roles within global networks, including the World Economic Forum Global Shapers community. His work has involved convening and contributing to dialogues with policymakers, economists, and institutional leaders across organizations such as the World Bank, the European Commission, and global foundations.

During his time at Harvard, he co-founded and led the Harvard GSE Politics and Economics Association, establishing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue across education, policy, and global development. His broader experience includes research work within Harvard's Computational Cognitive Development Lab and participation in international forums such as the APEC Voices Youth Summit, reflecting sustained engagement with global systems and cross-cultural collaboration.

Beyond academia, Yan has held leadership and advisory roles across education, cultural, and entrepreneurial organizations, further strengthening his perspective across institutional and international contexts.

As Co-Founder of Counselion, Yan leads the firm's operational strategy and global execution. He works at the intersection of advisory design and delivery, ensuring that complex processes are translated into structured, coordinated, and high-impact engagements.

His approach is defined by:

• system-level thinking across global academic environments
• integration of interdisciplinary insight into practical strategy
• and the ability to align diverse inputs into coherent execution

Working closely with the founding team, he oversees how advisory frameworks are implemented, ensuring consistency, precision, and alignment across all engagements.

His work extends beyond individual outcomes to a broader understanding of how institutions evaluate, structure, and position within global systems.

Yan Liang is deeply engaged in philanthropy. Under his leadership, the association launched a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with the China Cultural Heritage Foundation, the “Philanthropy + Venture Capital” Charity Model Project: International Youth Leadership, infusing new energy and innovation into the realm of charitable endeavors.

In the field of film and media, Yan Liang's short film The Deep Love was shortlisted for the 2024 China Science Fiction Convention's Recommended Film List and won multiple accolades, including the Red Maple Leaf Award at the Vancouver Chinese Film Festival.

Links to Harvard's Center for International Development's official podcast website featuring Ambassador Yan Liang's interviews with guests:

• https://soundcloud.com/harvard-cid/climate-change-modeling-applications-and-lessons-for-action?in=harvard-cid/sets/road-to-gem23
• https://soundcloud.com/harvard-cid/loss-damage-obligations-non-political-climate-policies-and-the-importance-of-compelling-climate-communication?in=harvard-cid/sets/road-to-gem23