Yilin Zhang

Principal Strategist, Yilin Zhang Advisory

Yilin Zhang moderating a panel conversation at a Georgetown Law and 1882 Foundation event.

Yilin Zhang is a strategist who has led political campaigns, advised on strategy for local and nationwide advocacy campaigns, and worked with the White House and Congress to further the mission/vision of non-profit organizations. In 2023, she successfully worked with leadership in the White House, the 1882 Foundation, and United Chinese Americans on a Presidential Statement commemorating the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act on December 17.

Yilin began her career as a consultant with Fortune 500 companies, and spent many years working in healthcare and business development. Yilin was a candidate for DC Council - running to represent 80,000 residents – and raised nearly $80,000 in five months as a first-time candidate. She has also managed an At-Large DC Council campaign to represent 700,000 residents, and a budget of $140,000. In addition to providing political strategy, Yilin works with non-profits – such as the League of Women Voters DC and the 1882 Foundation – to further their work in DC Statehood advocacy and historical education, respectively. 

Yilin has appeared on Al Jazeera English, The Daily Drum on WHUR 96.3 FM, the feature-length documentary A Tale of Three Chinatowns, and interviewed with Congressional Quarterly and local news outlets in DC. She spoke at a League of Women Voters US 2021 nationwide rally and 2022 National Convention, and is a regular guest speaker at the George Washington Milken School of Public Health. Yilin has been a Team Rayceen Productions co-host and moderator; a regular guest speaker at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health; and a moderator for events with the League of Women Voters DC, Chinese American Museum in DC, 1882 Foundation, and Georgetown Law School Harrison Institute for Public Law.

Yilin has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, an MSc in Health Policy and Health Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and completed campaign management training at The Campaign School at Yale. She is a former Fulbright Fellow and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Yilin is a long-time resident of DC, and serves as a Logan Circle Community Association Board Member and Chair of the Fundraising and Giving Committee.

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