Living Legends 2024: Y. MICHELE KANG

Kang is known primarily as the founder and former CEO of Cognosante, which provides IT support to federal, state and local government agencies in public health; founder of Cognosante Ventures, an early-stage health IT startup investor; and the Cognosante Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes workforce access and opportunity for women and veterans. In May, Arlington County-based Accenture Federal Services completed acquisition of the company, which Kang founded in 2008.

Part of the ownership group that bought the Baltimore Orioles in January, Kang continues to expand her sports ownership reach beyond the Washington Spirit, which competes in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League. In December 2023, she acquired the London City Lionesses, a women’s pro football (soccer) league, and in February, she completed her acquisition of the Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, which competes in the French Division 1 women’s football league. Kang, who became OLF’s president, owns 52.9% of the team, and OL Groupe owns the remaining 47.1%. Kang announced during the Paris Summer Olympics that she intends to raise $100 million to invest in women’s soccer teams worldwide.

Born in South Korea, she moved to the United States as a teen with her family. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and her master’s degree from the Yale School of Management.