A 1975 birth in Schenectady, New York, marked the start of a career that spanned legal practice, test preparation management, and high-profile political advocacy. Andrew Yang rose to national prominence as a presidential candidate while emphasizing the economic implications of automation, eventually transitioning into his role as a public commentator and leader of the Forward Party.
Early Development and Academic Training
The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Andrew Yang spent his formative years in Somers, Westchester County. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was part of the 1992 U.S. national debate team. His higher education began at Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science in 1996. He later attended Columbia Law School, serving as an editor of the Columbia Law Review, and received his Juris Doctor in 1999.
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Following a brief tenure as a corporate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City, Yang shifted toward entrepreneurship. He launched a celebrity-focused fundraising platform called Stargiving in 2000, which closed two years later. He later served as a vice president at a healthcare startup. In 2006, he took over Manhattan Prep, a test preparation firm. Under his leadership as CEO, the company expanded significantly, focusing on GMAT preparation until its acquisition by Kaplan, Inc. in 2009.
Venture for America
In 2011, Yang founded Venture for America, a nonprofit fellowship program aimed at training entrepreneurs to launch businesses in economically challenged regions. The initiative earned him federal recognition, including a 2012 Champion of Change award and a 2015 appointment as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. While the program received national attention, it also faced scrutiny regarding its job creation metrics before he resigned as CEO in 2017.
Political Engagement and Policy Focus
During his 2020 Democratic presidential primary campaign, Yang gained visibility by advocating for a universal basic income of $1,000 per month to address job displacement caused by automation. Following the suspension of his campaign, he founded the nonprofit Humanity Forward. In 2021, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City. He eventually left the Democratic Party in October 2021 to establish the Forward Party, a centrist organization intended to function as an alternative to the existing two-party system.
Fast facts
- Born: 1975, Schenectady
- Education: Brown University, Columbia Law School
- Notable Work: The War on Normal People
- Award: Champion of Change (2012)
- Award: Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (2015)
- Organization founded: Forward Party (2021)
- Citizenship: United States
Questions readers ask
What was Andrew Yang's signature policy during the 2020 presidential race?
His signature policy was a monthly universal basic income of $1,000 intended to offset job displacement due to automation.
What is the primary goal of the Forward Party?
Founded by Yang in 2021, the Forward Party is a centrist political party designed to provide an alternative to the two major United States political parties.
Achievements
- Notable work: The War on Normal People
- Educated at Brown University, Columbia Law School and Phillips Exeter Academy
- Worked as entrepreneur, lawyer and political pundit
