Rachel Lam

For Rachel Lam, the American dream isn't a tangible concept. Instead, her vision is in her value of bridging two worlds together. As a Chinese-American, she's eliminating stigmas surrounding both cultures and solving the challenges of immigration by fusing eastern business with a western market.

Lam is the founder of T.H.I.N.K. Liaison LLC., an NYC-based Chinese business consulting firm. T.H.I.N.K. stands for trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, noteworthiness, and knowledge. T.H.I.N.K. is not merely her brand but a mindset she firmly upholds. Through traditional upbringing and western studies, Lam's significance is through education. She mediates both cultures and navigates her legal knowledge with her experience at World Financial Group. Moreover, she introduces the American culture with her newly integrated clientele.

“There is a Chinese saying when the leaves fall, people only sweep away on their front door." She emphasizes that Chinese culture "doesn't stress community work.” Lam quickly realized how this ideology is not only a conflict but excludes them from economic opportunities. She helps create job opportunities in New York City by being a bridge to Chinese foreign offices. “I want to encourage diversity in hiring Americans as well as Chinese. They must be diverse if they wish to expand their market here.” Further stating “the Chinese need more willingness to approach the American market.”

After obtaining a B.A. in Law & Legal Studies, Lam began working in immigration litigation at a local law firm. Although the clientele was a broad group, she noticed the Chinese cases were of lesser priority than the rest. “They paid the legal fees on time and were courteous in conversation,” while seeing other clients negotiate their fees and even yell to grab an attorney's attention. “The Chinese are not vocal,” she adds. “In our culture, this would be disrespectful to the attorney even if they are not doing their job properly.”

Experiencing this phenomenon as the only Chinese liaison within her former firm, Lam informed her clients that if something isn't right, be vocal. Unfortunately, due to the language and cultural barriers, these actions prevent a lot of Chinese from seizing an opportunity. Nevertheless, Lam quickly rose to near attorney standing and was recognized for her dedication.

“I tried my best to get the Chinese cases to move forward," recalling as she spent countless off-hours and holidays working without payment. During her term in immigration litigation, she had no client complaints, an often-rare status. “I was just doing my job,” she states modestly. “I didn't take my value and strength to heart until I saw the new people take over and not work out.”

By seeing her self-worth, it's clear clients will pay extra for her consultation instead of an attorney. “It's simply not the translation,” she explains. “Sometimes there's a gap in how to talk and deliver what you say you mean”. There is a sense of genuine kindness to her approach. Lam also understands the benefits of being efficient yet producing quality. “That's the message I want to portray to my clients, we are not going to take the shortcut.”

Furthermore, Lam wants China to be known for more than politics, dim-sum, and bubble tea. “I am very proud of my history, but after the revolution, it destroyed the whole system.”

Lam was born in China but spent most of her childhood in Hong Kong, where her family immigrated. At the time, Hong Kong was under the rule of the British Crown. Not only did this require additional paperwork to reside, but it was also the first time she felt discrimination. While requesting to extend a book at the library, 12-year-old Lam's rejection was because her I.D. card identified her as Chinese-born.

“The librarian asked me if I knew what the letter on my I.D. meant,” she recalls. “He said it represented that I was not a true Hong Kong native. It was the first time I felt unwelcome and aware of my identity.” These feelings carried over well into relocating to New York City with her family, where she attended high school and college. Shortly after integrating into her new society, the Indonesia Massacre occurred, propelling Lam back into her identity.

“I was in the 10th grade, and I remember thinking, why is this happening? This is not the first time the Chinese were subjugated in a way that excluded us. So, I went out to protest and raise awareness.” A younger Lam caught the attention of a local newspaper, which asked, ‘why are you here as a 10th grader?’

Vanquished by bullying in high school and Asian hate, Lam felt a pull towards practicing law. She affirms that acquiring knowledge of the law will protect her, her family, and the Chinese community. Furthermore, she respects the U.S. Constitution, and despite current political tensions between nations, she profoundly appreciates China's culture and the American spirit.

“I feel grateful for the opportunities America gives people,” she proclaims. “In Hong Kong and China, you can only succeed by being academically smart.” But unfortunately, many overlook experience due to this educational standard. “What I appreciate, in America, are the chances for others. Here they try to be equal; even those with disabilities they welcome. You don't see it in Asia. I have to pay credit to the African-American society because we, as other minorities, benefited from their movement.”

Although she has traveled to almost all 51 states, Lam believes that “there is no place like New York City, the diversity of its people, and transportation.” For the time being, her focus is building within the community of New York City. “My resources are focused here,” stating, “I don't want to expand without the knowledge of other places.” However, that doesn't keep her from connecting with communities through volunteer work and attending functions and festivities, living up to her belief in the impact of diversity.

She invites clients, acquaintances, friends, and family to experience life and make them feel warm and welcome in a city most people find cold. “A lot of people are friendly here once you start to talk to them,” she declares. “There are so many people who are confident to speak to others of different languages and cultures, even if they don't understand each other. That's how they learn.”

“In China, we don't speak to unfamiliar people in the subway or street. I grew up taught not to talk to strangers. Stranger means you used your judgment. My thinking is that sometimes people fear Asian hate because of cultural differences. But by saying hi, this small gesture can break the gap.”

The beauty behind Rachel Lam is everything she has endured, experienced, and offered has led her to T.H.I.N.K.