Our Team
Earl Carr
Founder & CEO
Earl Carr is Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CJPA Global Advisors based in New York. With 25+years of experience, he manages the Global Research Team and guides the firm’s global thought leadership and cross-border business development mandate. Earl is also an Adjunct Instructor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs.
Winslow Robertson
Senior Consultant
Winslow Robertson is the founder and managing member of Cowries and Rice, a China-Africa strategic consultancy which promotes sustainable business practices by Chinese organizations operating in the African continent. Currently, Mr. Robertson is a Ph.D. candidate in Managing People in Organizations at IESE Business School researching the intersection between ideology and management.
David Zheng
Senior Consultant
David Zheng has over 16 years of work experience, half of which was spent in China and the other half was divided between Southeast Asia and the United States. He has worked in executive roles for Fortune 500 companies, Chinese state-owned enterprises, and private Chinese firms, often leading multinational teams. He is keenly interested in the role of geopolitics and cross-cultural relationships on economic activities.
Jacob Dreyer
Senior Consultant
Jacob Dreyer is a writer and editor based in Shanghai, whose research focuses on the Chinese middle class and their impact on Chinese politics, economics, and China’s relationship with the world. He is a regular columnist for FT Chinese and writes frequently for Noema magazine; he has also contributed to the New York Times, Nature, the Guardian, and more.
Owakhela K.
Senior Consultant
Owakhela is a Data Analyst who contributes quality data-driven solutions and statistical analysis to solve organizational questions, issues and goals. Before his Analytics education at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, he was trained in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics at New York University which formed the foundation of his skillset.
Christen Smith
Senior Consultant
Christen Smith is a filmmaker, creative director, and consultant who teaches animation production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Kanbar Institute of Film & Television. She is also the founder and director of Trellis Creative Strategies, a consultancy advising best practices for ethics-based media production. Over a career that spans decades, Christen has developed curricula and training on media production and critique for a diverse range of learners: from undergraduate college students to young adults incarcerated on Rikers Island; from employees at a digital publishing startup to volunteers serving in a megachurch.
Cole Walker
Associate Analyst
Cole is an analyst with experience in diplomatic, non-profit, think tank, and consulting spaces. He has full professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and lived experience in both Taiwan (summer 2022) and Mainland China (2023-2024). He was a 2024 graduate of Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman Scholars program, where he received his Master’s Degree in Global Affairs. As a Schwarzman Scholar, Cole authored a master’s thesis exploring the relationship between public transportation and historical preservation in Beijing’s urban planning. Before Schwarzman, he earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Policy and Chinese from Duke University. Cole has industry focuses in real estate, infrastructure investment, transportation, and renewable energy.
Lorena James
Analyst
Lorena is a Research Analyst with experience in tech media and green startups. As a Schwarzman Scholars Alumna, she earned her Master's Degree in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University. She has studied abroad in Shanghai, China, and is conversational in Mandarin. Prior to Schwarzman, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies at Davidson College, solidifying her foundation in sustainability and environmental awareness. She is passionate about innovation in green tech and sustainable art.
Yijie Liu
Consultant
Yijie Liu is an analyst and video producer with a Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Economics from UCSD. He has experience in data integrity risk management and client consultation in China, working with companies such as Huatai Security and China Merchants Bank. Currently, he is pursuing a Master's degree in Analytics at Northeastern University. With his diverse skills and experience, Yijie is a valuable asset to any organization.
Our Advisors
Joseph Ho
Joseph Ho has 20 years of experience in senior management across private banking and wealth management, global fund management, and multi-national insurance companies, and exposure in M&A and licensing activities. Mr. Ho was the General Manager of the Overseas Private Banking Division; one of the largest State-owned banks in China.
Sundaa Bridgett-Jones
Sundaa Bridgett-Jones is the Chief Partnership and Advocacy Officer for The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, a new enterprise to accelerate and scale equitable energy transitions in low- and middle-income countries. She leads a new partnership construct for the Alliance, spearheaded by The Rockefeller Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, and the Bezos Earth Fund, and has leveraged billions to date in support of a just energy transition in developing and emerging economies.
Cal Hunter
Cal Hunter has expertise in Marketing /Corporate Partnerships, an adroit networker fostering win-win relationships; commands a broad-based background in author/publisher relations, innovative author/title promotions, specialty in-store book feature placement; value emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. He is on the Board of The City College of the City University of New York.
Yuval Stav
Yuval is an entrepreneur, manager, consultant, and lecturer in the fields of sustainable economics and strategic planning. He is a founding partner at Value Squared, Israel's first responsible investment house. Yuval serves as head of the department for economic development and strategic planning in the Western Negev Municipality Cluster.
Shirley Martey Hargis
Hargis is a consultant on China and international security at CRDF Global, previously spearheading China programming for the DOS. She has over a decade of experience in Asia policy spanning defense, economics, and technology in consulting, intelligence, and research. She serves as the Executive Director of Black Professionals in International Affairs.
Matt Harris
Matt Harris is on the investment team at Draper Associates. Prior to joining Draper Associates Matt was a Vice President at The Blackstone Group where he focused on providing growth financing to energy companies all over the world. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University and is a term member of the Council of Foreign Relations. He is based in Austin, Texas where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
Our fall-Spring Analysts
Michael Liang
Analyst
Michael is an analyst with experience in consulting and global affairs. A freshman at Cornell University, Michael has a strong background in applied economics and public policy and is involved in several finance clubs on campus. At CJPA, he leverages his analytical insight to consult complex scenarios and employs his critical thinking skills to inform strategic decision-making. Additionally, Michael contributes to the development of various articles and client proposals, utilizing his strong writing abilities to effectively communicate insights and recommendations. This spring, Michael aims to refine his expertise in data-driven analysis and client-focused communication.
Hamzah Azzam
Analyst
Hamzah is a Quantitative Economics & Computer Science major with a Statistics and Data Science minor at St. Olaf College with a strong passion for management consulting, and technology. With experience in business analytics, strategy, and nonprofit leadership, he brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to problem-solving. At CJPA, Hamzah leverages his analytical skills to conduct industry research, develop data-driven insights, and support strategic decision-making for clients. This spring, Hamzah aims to refine his expertise in financial modeling, market analysis, and strategic consulting to drive impactful solutions for CJPA’s clients.
Jonah Kim
Analyst
Jonah is a Computer Science and Economics sophomore at Tufts University interested in investment research and asset management. He is involved with Tufts Financial Group and the Tufts Investment Club VC/PE Research Group. At CJPA, he utilizes his experience in financial/Excel modeling as well as quantitative and qualitative research on industries and companies to deliver strategic recommendations. This spring, Jonah aims to build his analytical and presentation abilities to support CJPA's clients in executing their next stages of growth.
Helen Hui
Analyst
Helen is an electrical and computer engineering student at Princeton University with interests in asset management and quantitative research. She is involved in quantitative trading clubs on campus and in computational cognitive science research. In her free time she likes to paint and play flute. Helen hopes to leverage and deepen her skills in quantitative analysis and interdisciplinary thinking in consulting to deliver insightful strategies to clients at CJPA.
Roxana Amiot
Analyst
Roxana Amiot is a graduate student at Florida International University, pursuing a Master’s in Globalization and Security, with a focus on East Asian Studies. She recently gained professional experience at U.S. Southern Command as an intern and as an Associate Analyst at Digitive, where she supported leadership and contributed to research and analysis. Roxana is currently fluent in English and Spanish, and has been continuously learning Korean Roxana is passionate about cross-cultural exchange and understanding, and she enjoys learning from diverse perspectives while addressing critical global challenges.