Evan Siu
Evan Siu (BS ’23, Informatics) is an Associate Product Manager at Visa in San Francisco. During his time supporting products across AI powered fraud-and-identity, cross-border payments, small-business products, and crypto he learned how to launch global products that reach millions of users. He now works with Visa Ventures, supporting the firm’s strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide. Seeing how financial technology broadly can bank the unbanked, reduce friction for commerce, and make interactions between nations more seamless, Evan aims to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.-China collaboration.
At the University of Washington, he matched his Informatics studies with entrepreneurship groups, many of which he held leadership positions in. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, UW Blockchain Society, UW Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.
Chinese by Ethnicity but born and raised in the United States, Evan traced his passion for U.S. China exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where ubiquitous QR-code payments illustrated technology’s power to simplify daily life. A broad technology enthusiast, he intends to use his time in China to engage with the technology scene. Learning about China’s intricacies in design language, involvement in the greater Asia, and differences in the services available to consumers.
The Schwarzman Scholarship places Evan at the center of that pursuit. In Beijing, while earning a fully funded M.A. in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University, he will pair coursework with engagement among technology, business, and policy leaders across Asia. The 10th Schwarzman cohort gathers 150 scholars, selected from roughly 5,000 applicants representing 38 countries and 105 universities, who share a commitment to shaping the future of global cooperation.
Goals
Whether through code, policy tables, investment, or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information, and trade networks so geography isn’t the limiting factor in human potential. I’m excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.
Tips
Reflect on all the work you have done in school, work and life to find a through line that ties all your decision's together. Going through this exercise will help you learn about yourself and craft a stronger story.
