Jessica Shao is an Associate at The Asia Group’s China practice, where she uses her research and analysis to inform clients how to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, respond to the latest developments in the U.S.-China commercial relationship, and achieve success in China’s evolving regulatory environment.
Prior to joining The Asia Group, Jess worked with the China practice at Albright Stonebridge Group, where she supported client projects by tracking U.S.-China trade and technology competition and conducted due diligence research on key entities. Jess also has experience at several DC-based think tanks, including the Brookings Institution, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Wilson Center, where she collaborated with prominent scholars in the China studies field. Prior to her time in Washington, DC, Jess gained exposure to corporate strategy and policy advocacy with the Government Affairs and Policy team at the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing.
Jess holds a Master of Arts in Asian Studies with a concentration in International Political Economy and Business of Asia and a Bachelor of Science in International Political Economy with a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Her work has been published by the Discussions research journal of Case Western Reserve University, the Brookings Institution, and The Diplomat.
Born and raised in Shanghai, Jess is a native Mandarin speaker and has extensive experience living in and studying in China. In her scant spare time, she enjoys collecting books about China, producing content for her baking account, writing punchy one-liner Beli reviews, and trying to find her high school varsity golf self.