Eric Yuan: A Visionary Leader’s Journey and Family Life

Eric Yuan, the founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications, has become a prominent figure in the tech industry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw Zoom’s usage skyrocket. Born on February 20, 1970, in Tai’an, Shandong Province, China, Yuan’s journey from a young student in China to a billionaire entrepreneur in the United States is both inspiring and remarkable.

Yuan was raised in a family of geological engineers. From a young age, he exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit, even collecting construction scraps to recycle copper for cash during his school years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics with a minor in computer application from Shandong University of Science and Technology and a master’s degree in geology engineering from China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing. In 2006, he completed an executive program at Stanford University.

In 1997, inspired by a speech from Bill Gates, Yuan moved to Silicon Valley to pursue opportunities in the tech industry. Despite speaking little English at the time, he joined WebEx, a web conferencing startup, as one of its first 20 hires. WebEx was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2007, where Yuan became Vice President of Engineering. In 2011, after his proposal for a new video conferencing system was rejected by Cisco, Yuan left to establish Zoom Communications.

Under Yuan’s leadership, Zoom has transformed into a leading platform for video communications, especially during the pandemic. The company’s user base expanded exponentially, and its stock value soared, making Yuan a billionaire. In 2020, he was named Time’s Businessperson of the Year and was included in the Time 100 Most Influential People.

Yuan married his girlfriend, Sherry, at the age of 22, while he was a master’s student at China University of Mining and Technology in Beijing. They have three children. One of his children, Roy Yuan, plays on the Stanford basketball team and has a YouTube channel with over 40,000 subscribers. Yuan and his family reside in Santa Clara, California. In 2007, Yuan became a naturalized United States citizen.

In September 2024, Yuan sold over $329,000 worth of Zoom stock under a prearranged trading plan. This move was part of his personal financial planning and did not indicate a lack of confidence in the company’s future. Additionally, Zoom reported a 1% year-over-year increase in revenue for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, with the enterprise segment growing by 4%. The company also appointed Mike Fenger, Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Apple, to its Board of Directors, aiming to bolster its growth and innovation initiatives.

Eric Yuan’s journey from a young student in China to the CEO of a global tech company is a testament to his vision, determination, and leadership. His commitment to innovation and excellence continues to drive Zoom’s success, while his dedication to his family remains a cornerstone of his personal life.