A Conversation with Business Leader Charles Wang ‘67: Co-Founder of Computer Associates International, Inc. & Co-Owner and Alternate Governor of the NY Islanders
Charles B. Wang, '67, is an entrepreneur, visionary, author, and philanthropist. Since founding Computer Associates International, Inc. in 1976 (now CA, Inc.), Mr. Wang has become known as one of the most successful leaders in the technology field. He has been instrumental in the development and growth of many technology companies in the United States and China. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for NeuLion (TSX: NLN), which is the leading provider for the delivery of live and on-demand content to Internet-enabled devices, and boasts a client list that includes the NFL, NBA, Rogers Media, UFC and Univision amongst many others.
In 2000, Mr. Wang expanded his interests into the field of professional sports by purchasing the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He recently sold majority ownership of the team and now serves as Co-owner and Alternate Governor.
Mr. Wang is also actively involved in supporting many charitable foundations. His efforts include, but are not limited to the expansion of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in New York City and building of the headquarters for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Alexandria, Virginia. Furthermore, his deep regard for education led him to make a gift to Stony Brook University of the State of New York by way of constructing the Charles B. Wang Center which celebrates Asian and American cultures. In the same fashion he established a new building for the law school in Suzhou University. In 2000, the law school was renamed The Kenneth Wang School of Law in honor of Mr. Wang’s late father, who was a graduate of the University.
Of all his philanthropic ventures, the one that is nearest and dearest to Mr. Wang is Smile Train. Mr. Wang is the founder, and serves as Chairman on Smile Train’s Board of Directors. He is the leading force behind Smile Train and its mission to provide free surgery to impoverished children in developing countries around the world, who suffer from cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Through his efforts, Smile Train’s model of empowering local medical teams to provide free and safe surgery for affected children has proven extremely successful. Since its inception 15 years ago, Smile Train has provided over 1 million free surgeries in over 85 countries, to date.
Charles B. Wang was born in Shanghai, China and moved to the United States with his family in 1952 at the age of eight. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Queens College. In May of 2015 the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred upon him by Stony Brook University. He now resides on Long Island with his family.