Her Story
About Yildiz
Yildiz Malik is a full-time student at the University of Maryland majoring in International Relations with a minor in Global Terrorism Studies and is set to graduate in December 2026. She currently serves as Founder and President of the Asian American Pre-Law Society and as a Peer Advisor with the University of Maryland Department of Government and Politics, a role she has held for the past three years. Malik has completed internships with federal agencies and law firms and is working on an honors thesis examining the extraterritorial effects of the French corporate duty of vigilance law on the DRC and Rwanda, with a focus on corporate accountability, mineral laundering, and protecting human rights in conflict zones. She is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Empowering Women in Law, and Phi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. Her volunteer work includes serving as a classroom assistant with the Global Language Network in Washington, D.C., supporting food banks, cultural and religious organizations, family homes and temporary housing, as well as the Columbia Association’s International and Multicultural Advisory Committee and sister city program.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Yildiz
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say the biggest thing is I have a very large support system. My family is extremely supportive, which is huge. I've had amazing mentors in my life. All of my supervisors thus far, my thesis advisor, my professors. I really feel like that I would not be where I am today without all of them, and they've helped me learn so much about myself, learn so much about the world, and they've really shaped me into the person I've become.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that I think it can be hard, especially when you see that there aren’t a lot of people that look like you ... but I think you need to remind yourself why you're doing this, and if it's something that you feel passionate about, if it's something that you love, if you truly want to help people and make a difference, then you have to find a place for yourself ... you need to be that trailblazer, and don't get discouraged by the lack of representation ... believe in yourself and your skills and your abilities, and let your passion drive you to make the positive impact and change that you want to see.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest thing is the lack of accountability ... with the rise of globalization, all these new technologies, and just the way that our society is built in this very power-hungry, money-hungry mindset, there's a lot of individuals that are being hurt by these big bosses and institutions ... one of the biggest challenges is making sure that all these voices that are being overlooked have the tools to advocate for themselves, and preventing these larger corporations and larger institutions from taking advantage of vulnerabilities.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I feel like that's a tough one. I think the biggest thing is just being open and honest and being yourself. When you do that, your passion shines through, and it allows you to be successful, both in your personal life and your work life. It allows you to really foster and nurture relationships ... I want to be open about what I believe in, what I'm passionate about — the things that I stand for. Justice, that's a really big one for me — accountability. And I can't stand for justice and accountability if I'm not taking accountability for my own actions, or being honest and truthful about the way that I'm conducting myself.
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