Shaun So is an American entrepreneur, former U.S. military and intelligence professional, and the husband of actress Anna Chlumsky. He served in military and defense-related roles before moving into business. He later co-founded the logistics startup Cubby and founded The So Company.
Shaun and Anna met while studying at the University of Chicago in 2000. They married in 2008 and have two daughters, Penelope Joan So and Clara Elizabeth So.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shaun So |
| Known for | Entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, Anna Chlumsky’s husband |
| Reported birth date | January 1, 1980 |
| Age | 46 years old in 2026, if the reported birth date is correct |
| Birthplace | Maine, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Family background | Chinese-American |
| Parents | Names not publicly confirmed |
| Education | University of Chicago, Tsinghua University, City University of New York |
| Degree | B.A. in Political Science |
| Graduate degree | MBA |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, business executive, former military and intelligence professional |
| Company | The So Company |
| Former startup | Cubby |
| Wife | Anna Chlumsky |
| Married | 2008 |
| Children | Penelope Joan So and Clara Elizabeth So |
| Reported residence | New York |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Shaun So’s Age and Birthday
Shaun So is reported to have been born on January 1, 1980, in Maine, United States.
Based on that date, he is 46 years old in 2026.
The January 1, 1980 birth date appears in multiple secondary profiles, but it is not confirmed by all available sources.
Shaun So’s Early Life
Shaun was born into a family with Chinese roots.
His parents are described as immigrants, although their names are not publicly confirmed in the available information.
Shaun grew up in a large family. Sources disagree about the exact number of siblings. One says he grew up with five siblings, while another describes him as one of five siblings.
Because of this difference, the exact number is unclear.
Shaun So’s Father
Shaun’s father reportedly worked as a chef.
He is also reported to have owned a Chinese restaurant called Chinatown in Topsham, Maine.
Little reliable public information is available about Shaun’s mother or the names of his siblings.
Is Shaun So Chinese?
Shaun is American and comes from a Chinese family background.
His wife, Anna Chlumsky, has publicly discussed his family’s Chinese heritage when talking about their wedding traditions.
Shaun also spent time studying Mandarin in China.
Shaun So’s Education
Shaun studied at several universities.
His education includes the University of Chicago, Tsinghua University in Beijing, and the City University of New York.
His studies covered political science, Mandarin, and business.
University of Chicago
Shaun attended the University of Chicago.
He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
The university was also important to his personal life because it was where he met Anna Chlumsky.
Studying Mandarin at Tsinghua University
Shaun also studied at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
He reportedly spent about a year studying Mandarin.
One source places his time at Tsinghua in 2001.
Shaun So’s Military and Intelligence Career
Before becoming known as an entrepreneur, Shaun worked in U.S. military, intelligence, counterintelligence, and defense-related positions.
His reported work includes roles connected with the:
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- Counterintelligence field
- Counterterrorism field
He also served in Afghanistan.
The exact timeline of some of these positions differs between sources.
Work With the Defense Intelligence Agency
One source reports that Shaun worked as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency from 2003 to 2006.
Other profiles also connect him with defense analysis and intelligence work but do not give exactly the same dates.
Because the available sources differ on his early career timeline, the specific sequence of his government and military jobs is not completely clear.
Shaun So’s U.S. Army Service
Shaun served as a counterintelligence special agent in the U.S. Army.
His military work reportedly included responsibilities as a special agent, team leader, trainer, and soldier.
Some profiles describe his wider military and defense career as lasting about a decade.
One source says he enlisted in October 2003. However, another places him at the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2003 to 2006 before describing his Army counterintelligence service.
The broad details of his military and intelligence career are consistent, but the exact timeline should be treated carefully.
Deployment to Afghanistan
Shaun’s service included a deployment to Afghanistan.
His military responsibilities affected his relationship with Anna Chlumsky because the couple spent time apart while he was serving.
They continued their relationship during this period.
Shaun So’s Military Awards
Shaun is reported to have received several awards and honors during his military service.
These include:
- Army Commendation Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Combat Action Badge
These honors are reported in a profile based partly on information from his professional background.
McNeil Technologies
Shaun reportedly worked as a defense contractor for McNeil Technologies.
His work included providing logistics support to the U.S. Department of Defense.
He also reportedly worked as a defense analyst and advised senior officials about contingency operations and strategy.
Shaun So’s Business Career
After his military and defense work, Shaun moved into entrepreneurship.
His business career includes work in logistics, consulting, software development, usability, content, and government digital services.
He is best known professionally for Cubby and The So Company.
Cubby
Shaun co-founded Cubby in 2011.
Cubby was an urban logistics startup focused on short-term storage.
It was designed to provide temporary storage and related services to people moving through urban areas.
The startup was short-lived, but it was one of Shaun’s early entrepreneurial projects.
Some sources call Shaun the founder of Cubby, while others call him a co-founder. Co-founder is the safer description based on the available information.
The So Company
Shaun founded The So Company in 2012.
One source gives the founding date as April 2012.
He has been identified as the company’s founder and CEO.
The company provides technology and consulting services to government agencies and private organizations.
What Does The So Company Do?
The So Company’s reported services include:
- Software development
- Usability services
- Content
- Consulting
- Digital services
- Public-service improvements
Its work has a strong focus on improving how organizations provide digital services.
Reported government clients include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Shaun So’s Work With Forbes
Shaun has also written about business and military-related subjects.
He was a contributor to Forbes.
One source places his Forbes work between May 2012 and December 2014.
His writing covered topics such as entrepreneurship, business, veterans, and issues connected with military service.
Ulysses Advisors
Shaun reportedly joined the Advisory Board of Ulysses Advisors in July 2014.
The available sources provide little additional information about his responsibilities in this position.
Digital Services Coalition
Shaun also co-founded the Digital Services Coalition.
One source places its founding in 2019.
The organization focuses on government digital transformation and improving digital public services.
Its work has been described as helping improve government services for veterans and other members of the public.
What Does Shaun So Do Now?
Shaun is best known professionally as an entrepreneur and business executive.
The supplied profiles identify him as the founder and CEO of The So Company.
However, his exact business activities and position in 2026 have not been independently confirmed in the information available.
Who Is Anna Chlumsky?
Anna Chlumsky is Shaun So’s wife.
She is an American actress who became widely known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 film My Girl.
The film also starred Macaulay Culkin and Jamie Lee Curtis.
As an adult, Anna became known for playing Amy Brookheimer in HBO’s political comedy series Veep.
She also appeared in the Netflix series Inventing Anna.
Shaun is frequently discussed in the media because of his long marriage to Anna.
How Did Shaun So Meet Anna Chlumsky?
Shaun and Anna met while they were students at the University of Chicago.
They first met in 2000 during a university event called Spring Fling.
The two danced together at a Spring Fling party.
Anna later said they quickly became interested in each other.
Their College Relationship
Anna was reportedly one year ahead of Shaun at the University of Chicago.
After graduating, Anna moved to New York for a fact-checking job.
Shaun remained in school.
Anna later said that they had fallen for each other quickly and that she believed they would stay together after her graduation.
Their Relationship During Shaun’s Military Service
Their relationship became long-distance at different times because of Shaun’s military career.
His service included a deployment to Afghanistan.
Despite the time apart, Shaun and Anna remained together.
They dated for several years before getting engaged.
Shaun So and Anna Chlumsky’s Engagement
Shaun and Anna became engaged in 2007.
By then, they had known each other for about seven years.
They planned their wedding for the following March.
Shaun So and Anna Chlumsky’s Wedding
Shaun and Anna married in 2008.
Their wedding took place in March. A later anniversary report points to March 8 as their wedding date, although the exact date should be treated cautiously without stronger primary confirmation.
The ceremony was described as a private event attended by close friends and family.
Their Wedding Combined Two Cultures
Shaun and Anna incorporated their family backgrounds into their wedding.
Before getting married, Anna explained that Shaun’s family was Chinese while her family was Catholic.
They planned to combine traditions from both sides.
Anna described the wedding plans as involving her church followed by a Chinese restaurant.
Is Shaun So Still Married to Anna Chlumsky?
The latest supplied information says yes.
A 2025 profile reported that Shaun and Anna celebrated 17 years of marriage in March 2025.
None of the supplied sources reports a separation or divorce.
Shaun So and Anna Chlumsky’s Children
Shaun and Anna have two daughters:
- Penelope Joan So
- Clara Elizabeth So
The couple generally keeps their children away from extensive media attention.
Their family is reported to live in New York.
Penelope Joan So
Shaun and Anna welcomed their first daughter, Penelope Joan So, in 2013.
Her birth month is reported as July 2013.
Penelope was born about five years after her parents married.
Clara Elizabeth So
Their second daughter is Clara Elizabeth So.
She was born in 2016, with July 2016 reported as her birth month.
Shaun and Anna have kept many details about both daughters private.
Shaun So’s Family Life
Shaun, Anna, Penelope, and Clara are reported to live in New York City.
Despite Anna’s acting career and Shaun’s public appearances with her, they generally keep their home and family life private.
Shaun Writes Anna a Letter Every Valentine’s Day
Shaun and Anna have a personal Valentine’s Day tradition.
Shaun reportedly writes his wife a letter every Valentine’s Day.
Anna has said that she has collected a box of his love letters over the years.
Shaun So’s Public Appearances
Shaun is not an entertainment celebrity, but he sometimes attends public events with Anna.
His documented appearances include arts, charity, fashion, and sporting events in New York.
2015 USTA Opening Night Gala
On August 31, 2015, Shaun and Anna attended the 15th Annual USTA Opening Night Gala.
The event was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, New York City.
GOOD+ Foundation Hamptons Summer Dinner
Shaun and Anna attended the GOOD+ Foundation’s Hamptons Summer Dinner on July 29, 2017.
The event was held in East Hampton, New York, and was co-hosted by Net-a-Porter.
Refinery29’s 29Rooms
On September 7, 2017, the couple attended Refinery29’s 29Rooms: Turn It Into Art event in New York.
They were photographed at the event with a friend.
Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala
Shaun accompanied Anna to the Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala at Lincoln Center on September 25, 2017.
The event took place in New York City.
Shaun So’s Social Media
Shaun does not appear to have widely known public personal social media accounts.
He has maintained a professional online presence, including a reported LinkedIn profile covering his education and career.
His limited personal social media presence is consistent with the private way he and Anna handle much of their family life.
Interesting Facts
- Shaun So is an American entrepreneur and former military and intelligence professional.
- He comes from a Chinese-American family.
- He was reportedly born in Maine on January 1, 1980.
- His father reportedly owned a Chinese restaurant called Chinatown in Topsham, Maine.
- He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 2003.
- He studied Mandarin at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
- He later earned an MBA from the City University of New York.
- His career included military, counterintelligence, defense, and intelligence work.
- He served in Afghanistan.
- His reported military honors include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Badge.
- He worked as a defense contractor for McNeil Technologies.
- He co-founded the urban logistics startup Cubby in 2011.
- He founded The So Company in 2012.
- He previously contributed articles to Forbes.
- He co-founded the Digital Services Coalition.
- Shaun met Anna Chlumsky at the University of Chicago in 2000.
- They became engaged in 2007 and married in 2008.
- Their wedding combined Chinese and Catholic family traditions.
- Shaun and Anna have two daughters, Penelope Joan and Clara Elizabeth.
- He reportedly writes Anna a letter every Valentine’s Day.
- He has attended several public events with Anna in New York.
- Shaun does not have a well-known public personal social media presence.
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