willie-yao

Willie Yao is a junior Hotelie from Orange County, California. After attending a culinary arts and hospitality high school, he discovered a passion for hospitality through cooking and seeing how food brings people together. Outside of HEC, Willie serves as the President of Student Agencies, the oldest independent student-run company in the nation, and hopes to pursue a career in hospitality real estate.

In addition to his involvement on campus, Willie enjoys exploring the intersection of hospitality, business, and the outdoors. In his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, backpacking, scuba diving, skiing, and hosting dinner parties for friends.

Willie began his HEC journey as a Donor Relations Manager for HEC 100 before joining Culinary as Chef Tournant for HEC 101. Through these experiences, he has come to appreciate both the guest-facing moments and behind-the-scenes coordination that make hospitality so special. For HEC 102, he is excited to strengthen long-term partnerships and help create memorable experiences for guests and students alike.

For Willie, Donor Relations is about more than securing sponsorships. It is about building meaningful relationships that create lasting impact for HEC year after year. Members of the department will gain hands-on experience in partnership development, professional communication, and collaboration across teams, while helping elevate every aspect of the HEC weekend experience.