Our Team
Michelle Zhang
Michelle Zhang was born and raised in Sichuan, China, and spent part of her childhood in the Northwest region of Xinjiang. She obtained an advanced degree in law at Sichuan University and practiced law for 10 years. In 2013 she cofounded Juheng Law Firm (now SGLA Law Firm), which is one of the fastest-growing law firms in China according to 2023 ALB (Asian Legal Business). In 2015, she was one of only six legal professionals selected from China to participate in the premier exchange program of the United States Department of State, the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP).
Michelle is active in the LGBTQ community in China, advising and contributing to multiple grassroots organizations across China and she works to increase LGBTQ visibility and acceptance among the Chinese immigrant community in the US. She collected and curated content from LGBTQ groups across China for Global Pride 2020.
After noticing a disconnect between Chinese immigrants and other diverse members and groups within our society here in the US, Michelle became interested in placemaking and bridge-building across a range of communities. She established Society of Heart’s Delight in 2020 with a mission to bridge this divide and create a stronger sense of belonging among Chinese immigrants.
Michelle is also passionate about civic engagement and working to uphold the values of a free, open, and democratic society. In 2022 she was selected by the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI) to participate in their leadership training program.
Michelle lives in San Jose and enjoys traveling, attending various local arts and political functions, and experiencing all that the beautiful Bay Area region has to offer.
Founder & CEO
Fan Wu
Fan Wu is an internationally acclaimed bilingual writer whose works have been published in more than 10 languages and 20 countries. Born and raised in China, she came to the U.S. for graduate studies at Stanford University and later worked in Silicon Valley's high-tech industry. She is the author of four novels, and her characters are often immigrants and "travelers" navigating cultural transitions, identity challenges, and the quest for belonging.
Among her novels, Souls Left Behind pays homage to the forgotten sacrifices of the Chinese Labour Corps in World War I, telling a universal tale of family, identity, love, and loss. It has been hailed by critics as “a remarkable achievement” that offers “an entirely new perspective” on the Great War.
Her short fiction has appeared in numerous leading publications, such as Granta and Ploughshares, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Passionate about cultural and literary exchange between China and the West, she has helped organize several international cultural and literary events and has spoken at many literary conferences in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Fan is a co-founder of the Society of Heart’s Delight (SHD), which promotes interracial and intercultural dialogue and the creator of its bilingual photoblog Chinese Immigrants in Silicon Valley and Beyond: My Story, My Community, My Home. This grant-winning project showcases the diversity of the Chinese community as a cultural and ethnic group while advocating for cultural sensitivity, understanding, and inclusion. She also initiated SHD’s Bridge to Wellness program, which promotes mental health awareness and support for Chinese immigrants and beyond through a stigma-free community with accessible, culturally sensitive resources.
Fan lives in San Jose, California. As a mental health professional and advocate, Fan Wu currently works with teens, adults, and couples from diverse backgrounds. She views this new career as an extension of her writing, and is excited to continue exploring the complexities of human experiences through her writing.
Co-Founder
Pat Tietgens
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Pat Tietgens is a local San Josean and small business owner who oversees a mixed-use historic landmark property in Central San Jose. Previously she worked for the University of Washington Office of Global Affairs and lived in Chengdu, China for close to 7 years. Pat speaks Mandarin and is passionate about serving as a bridge between Chinese communities and other diverse communities locally. She is a member of Rotary Club San Jose and is a board member of both the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee and The Alameda Business Association. In her free time she enjoys attending local arts, community, and political events.
Co-Founder
Eva Woo
Eva is VP of Impact at Ontopology. She is an impact-oriented entrepreneur and startup advisor focusing on building strategy, tools, partnerships, ecosystems, knowledge synthesis, and narratives toward solutions in emerging fields.
Eva has 20 years of experience in business journalism, research consulting, corporate CSR, social impact research, and startups in Shanghai, New York, Beijing, Washington DC, and Silicon Valley with institutions including Stanford PACS, Cisco, Bloomberg, Caixin Media, South China Morning Post, and The Washington Post. She co-founded social startup Sinovator and Make-a-Point.
Eva holds an M.A. in economic journalism from New York University and a B.A. in international and intercultural communication from Peking University. In 2006, Eva was the first-ever Wall Street Journal Asia Fellow from mainland China at NYU.
Eva works at the intersection of business, civil society, and public policy, seeking inter-sector solutions by applying technology and social innovation designs. She is passionate about understanding how novel solutions in complex systems work.
Team Member
XiaoRui Li
Xiao joined Society of Heart’s Delight because she believes that equitable access to information and technology has the power to create a more just and inclusive world. Before moving to the Bay Area, she lived in China, Canada, and Southeast Asia working for Cisco, Alibaba, Microsoft, and several startups.
Outside of work, she has a big love for scuba diving, music, and travel, and cares deeply about equality and LGBTQ rights.
UX/Web Designer
Rebecca Yan
Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Washington with Master of Accounting and MBA. She is also the founder of Sparks Event, specializing in luxury personal and corporate event planning. Originally a Certified Public Accountant, she discovered her passion for event planning over time. Rebecca has a background in managing women's nonprofit organizations, gaining valuable experience in community building and interpersonal communication.
Rebecca serves as a board member of the Society of Heart’s Delight, collaborating with like-minded individuals. Her commitment arises from a genuine passion for amplifying Asian voices and ensuring their presence in mainstream society
Project Manager
Lesley Zhao
Lesley Zhao is an enthusiastic Product Designer dedicated to creating innovative solutions to meet diverse human needs. Having earned degrees in Art and Architecture from Wuhan University and Georgia Tech, she has consistently pursued her career in the tech industry while exploring her passion for philanthropy.
In 2019, she began to work with a group of friends to promote gender equality at workplace in China. Later, they took the lead in establishing the first national domestic violence platform, aimed at providing legal support and educational resources to women in China.
With an extended understanding of both community and authority, she co-founded her own non-profit organization in California with the mission of addressing educational disparities among underprivileged women. As a recent member of Society of Heart’s Delight, she is dedicated to increasing visibility of Chinese American immigrants and advocating for diversity, equality and inclusion across various communities.
Branding & Marketing
Marcus Wang
Marcus was born and raised in Guangdong, China. After graduated from Johns Hopkins University, Marcus started to work for AAA insurance as an Actuary.
Before joining Society of Heart’s Delight, Marcus served on the board as secretary in GAPA (GLBTQ+ Asian Pacific Alliance) one of the oldest Queer API organizations in SF. Marcus wants to build a more just and inclusive community among Chinese Immigrants in the Bay Area and beyond through Society of Heart’s Delight.
Team Member
Yudy Deng
Yudy Deng serves as CDO and treasurer for the Society of Heart’s Delight, where she brings her financial expertise and leadership skills to advance the organization’s mission of fostering cultural enrichment and community engagement.
Yudy is also a Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commissioner, where she collaborates with city officials and community stakeholders to enhance local parks and recreational programs. Her commitment to public service extends to her involvement with APALI (Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute), where she continues to develop her leadership capacity and advocate for diverse communities.
With a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, Yudy has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including fundraising campaigns, event planning, and community outreach. As the PTA President of Ohlone Elementary School, she has fostered strong connections between families, staff, and the broader community.
Professionally, Yudy serves as the Investor Relations Director at Ark7, a fractional real estate investment platform, where she excels in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.
Yudy’s dedication to creating vibrant, inclusive communities drives her contributions to the Society of Heart’s Delight and beyond.