Ms. Yee-Yin Pao joined AMA in 2012 after relocating from the United States, where she built over 25 years of experience in the education and banking sectors, to pursue her passion for training and cross-cultural exchange.

Yee-Yin began teaching as an instructor in the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program in the Los Angeles school system in order to provide guidance in language learning and cultural assimilation to foreign students who had recently immigrated to the US. Her efforts to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultures, and to aid students in the often difficult process of excelling in a new environment, earned her great recognition and eventually led her to transition to a liaison role as the representative of the school district to parents, representatives, and leaders of the community. In this capacity, Yee Yin facilitated all communication on behalf of the district. This experience sparked her interest in cross-cultural understanding and highlighted to her the importance of effective communication and presentation. 

With her own children well off on their way to Columbia University, University of Delaware and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Yee-Yin transitioned into the banking sector with roles assisting the Executive Office and Board of Directors at notable banks like United National Bank, East West Bank, City National Bank, Cathay Bank and Mega Bank. Here, Yee-Yin honed an expertise in administration, communication, and coordination. Her sophisticated interpersonal skills and her ability to handle confidential materials led her to be a trusted assistant to the bank leadership, able to manage difficult cases as well as VIP clients. In 2005, Yee Yin attained the ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) certification, effectively launching her into a management role to ensure bank compliance with due diligence measures put in place in the American banking system post 9/11. She attained the key position of Bank Secrecy Act Officer and became recognized as one of the compliance specialists in the industry.

Yee-Yin’s increasing recognition of and interest in the movement towards globalization led her to co-found the “Peide Education Institute” in 2008 to teach and to train business leaders to be culturally aware and internationally effective. With a focus on personal development, PEI takes a different approach to “etiquette” than other manners-oriented etiquette programs. Built on the belief that understanding cross-cultural differences and influences, as well as oneself, is the foundation of true business etiquette, PEI endeavors to train leaders from the inside out. Yee-Yin is a California State University Fresno certified consultant on business etiquette and is currently writing a book on etiquette.

Yee-Yin’s great passion for training derives from a personal goal to empower others to reach their potential and to bring about better communication and collaboration in the world. For over 10 years, this passion has brought her to Mainland China to volunteer, teach, and fundraise on behalf of education-oriented charities. Yee-Yin’s hope is that greater cross-cultural understanding will bring more peace to the world.