Willie Yao

President of Student Agencies, Inc. | Cornell Nolan Hotel School

Ithaca, New York, United States

About

Hello! My name is Willie Yao, and I’m a sophomore at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration with an intended minor in real estate. I’m passionate about hospitality and how operations, real estate, and people come together to shape meaningful experiences. This summer, I will be joining Three Wall Capital as an Acquisitions Intern, focusing on hospitality investments. At Cornell, I serve as President of Student Agencies, overseeing seven student-run businesses and ~$4.3M in annual revenue, and previously managed a $36M+ mixed-use real estate portfolio across residential and commercial assets. Across these experiences, I’ve worked on leasing, property operations, and asset-level decision making, while also leading teams and managing relationships with tenants, partners, and stakeholders. My background in hospitality, from culinary training to large-scale event execution, has shaped how I approach real estate: with a focus on people, service, and long-term value. Outside of work, I enjoy photography, backpacking, scuba diving, and hosting dinner parties with friends. Feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Experience

  • Acquisition Intern at Three Wall Capital LLC
    Jun 2026 - Present · 2 mos

  • Hotel Ezra Cornell ()
    • Donor Relations Director
      Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    • Chef Tournant
      Jun 2025 - Apr 2026 · 11 mos

    • Company Outreach Manager
      Sep 2024 - Jun 2025 · 10 mos

  • Student Agencies, Inc. ()
    • President
      Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

    • Real Estate General Manager
      Oct 2024 - Dec 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Bonnie Enzian Memorial Award

  • Slope Day - Director of Finance & Sponsorships at Cornell University
    May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

  • Startup Consulting at Cornell (9 mos)
    • Associate
      Jan 2025 - May 2025 · 5 mos

    • Analyst
      Sep 2024 - Dec 2024 · 4 mos