Cole Walker

Cole Walker works as an Associate Analyst at CJPA Global Advisors where he has supported engagements in the infrastructure, renewable energy, and electric vehicle battery sectors. He obtained a Masters of Management Sciences Degree in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University as a 2024 Schwarzman Scholar. He graduated from Duke University in 2023 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public Policy and Chinese.

Having studied Mandarin Chinese for nearly 15 years, he received a 2021 Critical Language Scholarship and spent the summer of 2022 studying abroad in Taiwan as a Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent Scholar. Cole has worked to diversify the scope of US-China relations by empowering the next generation of leaders. As a Schwarzman Scholar, he spearheaded a sports tournament between the Schwarzman Scholars program and Duke Kunshan University to build a bridge between the two communities. He also helped organize a conference that brought together Black Diaspora students living in Beijing to reflect on shared histories and envision a brighter future. At Duke, he developed and taught Mandarin Chinese language curriculum for local students in Durham, NC, worked as a Mandarin tutor, and served on the publicity team for the annual Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit for two years.

As the Director of the Black China Caucus’ China 101 Program, he has worked to establish a sustainable pipeline of Black students and young professionals entering the China career space. Before starting his Schwarzman Scholars experience, Cole worked as a China Focus intern with the Carter Center, researching and analyzing the utility of US-China Sister City partnerships. With a strong appreciation for sustainable urban planning and infrastructure development, Cole aspires to solve critical problems facing the US and Asia through business and policy.