Michele Kang

Michele Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea. She entered business school in 1980, where she was the only woman admitted and finished first in her class. In 1981 she left South Korea to enroll in the economics program at the University of Chicago, earning a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree from the Yale School of Management.

Kang began her career as a management consultant before joining Ernst & Young as a partner. At Northrop Grumman as a senior executive, she quadrupled their Information Technology Health Solutions division. In 2008 Kang founded her own company, Cognosante, in the empty room above her garage. It grew into an industry leader in technology solutions for government health systems. She is now one of America’s richest self-made women.

In 2022 Kang became the first Korean American woman to own a women’s soccer team, the Washington Spirit, 2021 champions of the National Women’s Soccer League. She later became majority owner of two more women’s soccer teams: OL Lyonnes and London City Lionesses. In 2024 she launched Kynisca Sports International, the first multi-team global organization in women’s soccer, as well as the Kynisca Innovation Hub to advance female athlete health and training.

“When you are successful,” she told the Horatio Alger Association, “I think it is important to bring others along with you. I believe in making the playing field equal regardless of your gender, race, or economic status. As an immigrant, this country has been incredibly gracious to give me opportunities. Now it is time for me to provide opportunities to those who need them the most.”