Connor Diemand-Yauman

Connor Diemand-Yauman is a social entrepreneur and education innovator focused on expanding economic opportunity through learning. Diemand-Yauman is co-founder and co-CEO of Merit America, a national nonprofit organization that provides pathways from low-wage work to skilled careers through fast, flexible programs aligned with employer needs. Merit America has served more than 20,000 learners, contributing to cumulative wage gains estimated at $1.4 billion. Alumni report an average annual wage increase of nearly $21,000 three or more months after program completion, with pre-program salaries rising on average from $27,800 to $48,500.

Prior to Merit America, Diemand-Yauman co-founded and led Philanthropy U, a major trainer of working adults in the social sector, and led Coursera's strategy and business line focused on employer partnerships, content production, and B2B customers. His work launching Coursera's B2B line contributed to its growth into a $100 million annual recurring revenue business. Diemand-Yauman also founded Speak Smart News, an educational program distributed to 10 million East Asian learners, and has taught primary school in South Africa, South Korea, and Kenya.

Diemand-Yauman is a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he teaches a course on using humor in leadership. His academic research on improving learning outcomes has been cited in more than 250 academic articles and covered by The Economist, BBC International, and The New York Times. He has spoken at the World Economic Forum, where he discussed vulnerability and authenticity as important leadership characteristics. Diemand-Yauman has been recognized as an education and sustainable development expert by the World Economic Forum and serves on its Expert Network coalition.

Diemand-Yauman is the recipient of the Pyne Prize, Princeton University's highest distinction, and has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30. He is a founding member of McKinsey's Consortium for Advancing Adult Learning & Development, a member of the Human Rights Watch San Francisco committee, and a contributor to Huffington Post. He is also the founder of Own What You Think, a national campaign focused on promoting accountability in online interactions. Diemand-Yauman's career spans grassroots teaching, education technology entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership, with a focus on workforce development and equity in the United States.