Amber Lao

Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

“I am a mix of the following personalities: Hermione Granger, Olivia Pope, Mia Thermopolis, and Alex Russo.”

Fun fact about yourself: In the spring of 2023 during my study abroad experience, I traveled to 15 countries over four months!

Hometown: San Jose, California

High School: Valley Christian High School

Major: Applied Economics and Management

Minor: Information Science, Inequality Studies

Favorite Business Course: Emerging Markets

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Dyson Dean’s Office (Lead Student Assistant)

Social Business Consulting (Director of Professional Development; New Member Educator; Senior Consultant)

Dyson Undergraduate Council (founder of Better Business Week; Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)

Alpha Kappa Psi (Professional Chair)

Cornell Marketing

Dyson Diversity Scholars

Society for Women in Business

United Nations Development Programme (Volunteer)

Dean’s List (all eligible semesters)

Where have you interned during your college career?

Adobe (Digital Strategy Analyst Intern, New York City, 2023)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Global Government Relations Intern, Washington D.C., 2022)

monday.com (Social Impact Coordinator, New York City, 2022)

Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. (Strategy, Communications and Partnerships Intern, Philadelphia, 2021)

Life Changing Labs (Intern, Ithaca, New York, 2021)

Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Research Assistant, Palo Alto, California, 2020)

Where will you be working after graduation? Adobe (Digital Strategy Analyst)

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? One of the main reasons I chose the Dyson School was because of its motto, “Our Business Is a Better World.” During my time at Cornell, I’ve combined my Dyson degree with minors in Information Science and Inequality Studies to truly understand how I can leverage my business knowledge to create a positive impact on society in the realms of digital inclusion, climate change, financial literacy, international development, and more.

I’ve learned that corporations in the private sector will continue to play an integral role in advancing solutions to global social impact challenges for generations to come. The future of business is inherently intertwined with the public sector and civil society, and it’s particularly important to ensure that markets in developing countries aren’t left behind. It’s up to future leaders to remain courageous in their decisions, objectives, and efforts toward prioritizing more than just the bottom line.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Talk to lots of people across different careers in business to find pathways that you can envision yourself walking down. Schedule meetings with those who are more experienced and senior, and don’t be afraid to reach out to classmates, mentors, or co-workers to pick their brains and learn about their work experiences. Pay attention to which topics in school excite you the most or come naturally. Think about how you can build a career based on your discovery process and information gathering.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The sheer ambition, grit, and intellect exhibited by my classmates on a day-to-day basis! The friends that I’ve made through Dyson never fail to inspire me, and I’m so grateful to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are constantly surprising me with their accomplishments. They truly raise the bar and encourage me to be the best version of myself.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? If I were to redo my undergraduate business experience, I would spend more time getting to know people outside of my clubs and organizations. It’s easy to get pigeonholed into friend groups within business organizations that you’re affiliated with at Cornell. Looking back, I would have tried to spend more time making friends across Dyson who are studying areas of business or involved in clubs that I’m not immediately familiar with. I truly believe that one of the best ways to learn is through listening to people’s unique backgrounds, work experiences, and worldviews. I think that making meaningful connections across the school would have helped me gain a deeper understanding of different facets and niches within business.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am proudest of my work with Better Business Week, Dyson’s annual student-led social-impact career event. I was two weeks into my freshman year when the idea for BBW first came to me. I remember sitting in my freshman year dorm room on a 1:1 career advising appointment to learn about how I could get involved with social impact careers and internships. To my disappointment, the advisor suggested that I look into other schools at Cornell for social impact opportunities. A lightbulb went off in my head at that moment to create the ultimate social impact career opportunity that paid homage to Dyson’s mission statement, “Our Business Is a Better World.” I envisioned a weeklong career services event consisting of an educational series about social impact careers; an alumni panel; a student panel full of entrepreneurs creating social ventures; and a networking event with alumni and professors.

Fast forward to today, and BBW is heading into its fourth year. For the past three years, I have expanded BBW’s influence across Dyson and mentored new generations of leaders to make BBW a self-sustaining tradition. I’ve worked with students and faculty to form partnerships across the school, integrated the event into the syllabi of Dyson courses and garnered thousands of dollars in funding to elevate BBW’s visibility and programming. It’s gratifying to hear positive feedback from younger Dyson students who feel inspired to pursue a career in social impact after attending BBW events because many students come into Dyson with causes that they’re passionate about. Still, it’s only after they see other students and alumni working at the intersection of business and social impact that they can imagine a career that aligns with their purpose. Ultimately, BBW is a testament to the relevance of social impact to business in the 21st century and the power that every day students have to make a difference.

Which classmate do you most admire? I met Talia Singer in my freshman year at Cornell through the Dyson Undergraduate Council. In the past four years, I’ve grown to admire her for her intellect, selflessness, and compassion for others. She is not only an incredibly bright and talented leader with a strong reach across campus, but she is also always willing to help others and mentor younger students. One example that comes to mind is during sophomore year when we were both preparing for a finance prelim that was less than three hours away; she took the time to sit down with me and work through problems that I had questions about before she went on to finish her own studying. Beyond the many examples I have of her being an amazing colleague and student, she is also always willing to impart her wisdom to younger students and give back to the Dyson community.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My mom is my biggest cheerleader and an extraordinary role model from a personal and professional standpoint. She helps me navigate adversity with grace and confidence while also keeping me grounded during times of success. I’m very grateful that I have her as a sounding board for my new ideas and a confidant for any challenges that come my way. She embodies everything I hope to become one day, and she inspires me endlessly to achieve extraordinary feats with my own life!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Get an MBA and start my own business.

What made Amber such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“When I think of Amber Lao, I see a person who is deeply committed to the motto of our school, “Our Business Is a Better World.” Amber is a strategic thinker and always keeps the Dyson School’s mission in mind. Amber founded and created Better Business Week, a showcase of student events put on by and for students every spring. Now in its fourth year, Better Business Week has become a weeklong series of events that is an integral part of the Dyson School. It features the spring Dean’s Distinguished Lecture as the keynote speaker and the popular Grand Challenges pitch competition.

Amber proposed the idea for Better Business Week as a member of the Dyson Undergraduate Council and has seen it through from conception to implementation. She continues to mentor students in the Dyson Undergraduate Council to continue her vision of making the week impactful for the students.

During her senior year at Dyson, Amber was appointed as the lead assistant in the Dyson dean’s office. She is responsible for managing a team of four students and ensuring that daily tasks are organized and executed efficiently. Amber’s contributions will have a lasting impact, and we are all proud of her achievements.”

Tracie Kennedy
Executive assistant to Dean Jinhua Zhao
Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Cornell University

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