An Interview with Nikole Wong
Program Manager, EGA APAC
Edelman Global Advisory recently caught up with Nikole Wong on her professional experience, helpful career advice, and proudest moments from her career. See our interview below and keep up with her on LinkedIn.
EGA: What excites you most about your role at EGA?
NW: It would have to be the opportunity to work and engage with an incredible diversity of issues and sectors. The vibrancy and uniqueness of each country within the Asia Pacific region make this more exciting. Traversing such complexities offers a rich tapestry of intellectually stimulating and fulfilling projects.
EGA: What would you say is your personal area of expertise?
NW: My personal area of expertise lies in navigating the intersection of policy, strategy, and communications, particularly in government relations and multi-stakeholder engagement. Through mentorship and opportunities, I have been trained to develop strategies that align private and public sector priorities, manage trade associations, and provide actionable insights through issue tracking and intelligence monitoring. I’ve had the opportunity to apply this expertise across various industries, including trade, supply chain and logistics, food and beverage, and tourism.
EGA: If you could give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your career, what would it be?
NW: An off-the-cuff answer would be to reduce the caffeine intake, as being able to see sound is not normal. In all seriousness, to have the courage to dive into uncertain or unchartered territories. There were many instances where I felt out of my depth, and sometimes imposter syndrome seeps in. Yet, it is those situations and tasks which became great learning opportunities.
EGA: What past work project or accomplishment are you the proudest of and why?
NW: In support of a European dairy manufacturer’s, and the overall dairy sector’s interests, we advocated for the Royal Thai Government to reduce WTO MFN tariff rates across seven critical ingredients. With Oliver Fall, we provided dynamic end-to-end solutions that included multilateral coalition building, authoring a thorough report assessing the sector’s import and export performance, detailing the sector’s commercial sustainability risks, and securing meetings with the Minister of Finance and various government officials. One of the key challenges I had to overcome was making sense of the trade numbers to identify proof points that would support the report. Although I lack the natural giftedness for numeracy, it did feel like a ‘level up’ moment when it all started to click. I’m proud to have milked every available learning opportunity this workstream unveiled.
EGA: What would you do if you weren’t doing this?
NW: Probably become an art curator or art historian. One of my best days so far was visiting eight art museums within a day while in London. It brings me immense joy to be able to experience the works of different artists across a variety of mediums.
EGA: If you could invite 3 people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would you choose and why?
NW: Andy Warhol would turn the entire evening into a work of art—literally! From soup cans to celebrity gossip, he would elevate even the most ordinary moments into something extraordinary. Plus, he would probably bring his own Polaroid camera to capture all the quirky conversations. I imagine we will end up with a pop art masterpiece, or at least some wildly entertaining stories, by the end of the night.
John Oliver because he brings the perfect mix of wit, intellect, and biting satire. Not only would he keep the conversation lively, but he'd also make sure we laugh while learning about obscure yet fascinating global issues. And let’s be honest, having someone who can turn even the driest topic into a comedic masterpiece is exactly what every dinner party needs!
Shonda Rhimes because who would not want the mastermind behind some of television’s most iconic shows, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Bridgerton, at the table? She would bring the ideal blend of brilliant conversation and unexpected plot twists. With her storytelling magic, even the small talk would feel like a season finale cliffhanger.
EGA: How do you like to spend your time outside of work? Do you have any special hobbies or interests?
NW: Outside of work, I am usually out with a camera on hand, chasing the golden hour to capture cityscapes. When I am not capturing something for the ‘gram, I love wandering through museums and art exhibitions, secretly wondering if I could pull off abstract art with finger paints.
