Early Life
Yongmee Michele Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea, on June 1, 1959. She moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She studied at Ewha Womans University before moving to the U.S. and earning a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago and a Master of Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Management.
Rise to Success
Kang's career began in management consulting. In 2000, she became vice president of the e-Business unit of Northrop Grumman. In 2008, she founded Cognosante, a healthcare IT company, which she sold to Accenture in 2024. Cognosante became a trusted provider of technology solutions for key federal health, military, and intelligence agencies.
Key Business Strategies
Kang's business strategy involved identifying opportunities and challenging the status quo. She focused on leveraging technology to improve healthcare and later, on investing in women's sports to drive its professionalization and cultural impact. She established Kynisca Sports International, a multi-team global organization.
Philanthropy
Michele Kang is deeply committed to philanthropy. Through the Cognosante Foundation and personal donations, she supports veterans and the arts. Kang has served on the boards of the American Red Cross and Washington National Opera. In 2024, she pledged to donate $30 million to U.S. Soccer over five years. In 2025, she invested an additional $25 million to support U.S. Soccer.
