During the summer of 2025, Rylee Zhang (MBA '26) interned as an NYU Stern MBA Social Compliance Fellow at the FLA. Read on to learn more about her time there:

Name: Rylee Zhang

Grad Year: 2026

Specialization: Strategy, Management, and Business Analytics

As a Summer 2025 intern with the Fair Labor Association (FLA), I had the unique opportunity to contribute to advancing gender equity within global supply chains. I worked with the Social Compliance team on two flagship projects that directly supported FLA’s efforts to promote workers’ rights and gender equality among its members.
My first major deliverable was drafting a comprehensive Gender Equity Training Manual. This resource covered 3 key topics - the business case for gender equity in supply chains, gender pay gap, and gender lens within grievance. In parallel, I worked on the principle revision and proposed targeted revisions to embed a gender lens across principles related to grievance, monitoring, and supplier accountability.

This experience profoundly shaped how I think about sustainable value creation. It sharpened my ability to translate global frameworks like the UNGPs, and OECD Due Diligence Guidance, into actionable tools for companies and suppliers on the ground. I’m excited to bring this applied perspective into my final year at Stern and beyond. It reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a career at the intersection of ESG strategy and consulting, working with organizations to drive impact through systemic change.
What inspired me most was FLA’s approach to cross-sector collaboration. The team operates as a vital bridge between global brands, suppliers, civil society, and worker representatives, an approach I believe is critical to embedding human rights in business. For any student passionate about sustainability, human rights, or global supply chains, I cannot recommend this Fellowship enough. It’s an incredible opportunity to build technical skills, drive tangible impact, and engage with thought leaders shaping the future of ethical sourcing.