This is a fair warning. If you or somebody you know is thinking about working or interning at the Asia Economic Institute or anything associated with the Asia Economic Institute, please read on. I have known and worked with many people from that same institute and the collective feeling is quite the same.
The Asia Economic Institute was supposedly found in 1999 by Raymond Mobrez and Iliana Llaneras, former bankers as far as I know. It is privately funded by the two who co-currently run another business that leverages their connections in the real estate industry. Asia Economic Institute has never made money and has gone back and forth as a non-profit to a for profit company many times.
The one thing they succeed at doing well is hiring vulnerable recent grads and international students to join this "firm." They have promised many previous workers work visas, reference letters for university, and numerous raises and they have failed to deliver every time. Not only have they failed their employees on their promises, they also reduce pay illegally according to the laws of California, and fight any unemployment benefit claim that would be brought up after termination of employment. They knowingly take advantage of workers who think that these types of things are common practice. Most of my previous co-workers term it as an "internet sweatshop."
The irony of it all is that once you start working, nothing ever gets done. On one hand they want as many workers as possible, but on the other, given the complete disorganization and no plan to make money, nothing ever moves forward.
There are a couple of theories that could explain this paradox. One is that they are laundering money and writing off the Asia Economic institute as a loss to prop up their other real estate business. Logically, it would fit that they would keep hiring people to show they are trying to keep the business alive. Another reason, which I believe as equally as any other, is that they have no idea to run any business and just continue to ruin people's lives in the process.
Furthermore, the credentials of Raymond Mobrez, Director of the Institute, and Iliana Llaneras, are as muddled as they can possibly be. He claims to be a Ph. D.in Human Resources or something of the other to increase his ability to reel you in during an interview. The truth is that there are no credentials to back up the scheme that they are running.
Please stay away from this place.
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