Stella Yao grew up in Zhejiang, China, and moved to the United States about ten years ago. She calls the entire vast world home and has been traveling since 2024. She speaks fluent English and Mandarin and has worked in polar regions since November 2025.
Animals have always been a big part of Stella’s story. She studied Animal Sciences at Cornell University and has spent years working in animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and animal welfare NGOs across the United States, China, and Africa. That path has taken her from rescuing stray cats in Beijing, to rehabilitating vervet monkeys in Malawi, to implementing whale and shark conservation programs in Washington, D.C., and diving with marine scientists to collect data on sharks and rays in Mozambique.
Before working on expedition cruises, Stella also worked as an investment analyst in impact and sustainable investing. But the call to travel, be outside, and get closer to nature eventually grew too loud to ignore. She took the leap, began traveling, and found her way into expedition life, where adventure, conservation, and connecting with people from all walks of life come together.
Stella brings curiosity, care, and enthusiasm wherever she goes. She loves sharing what she has learned, learning from others, and helping people feel more connected to the natural world. Her advice to first-time adventure travelers: stay curious, and never underestimate the power of stopping to listen and take it all in.
