Born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas, Will Tiao worked in international politics for a decade before entering the entertainment industry. Originally a cello performance major, Will chose to pursue his passion in politics by studying international relations at Tufts University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and at the Political Science Institute in Paris, France.

He received a Fulbright Scholarship for his research on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, Philippines. Afterwards, he continued onto receive his masters degree in international affairs from Columbia University, meanwhile studying Mandarin Chinese at Capital Normal University in Beijing, China.

Will began working in politics as an intern at the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), lobbying for Taiwan's entrance into the United Nations. He then went on to work for Senator Nancy Kassebaum on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Will later earned a position as a Presidential Management Intern in the Clinton Administration, working at the U.S. Department of Labor as an international economist. He went onto serve as a legislative fellow for the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives, before returning to the executive branch and working with the U.S. Trade Representative's office at the White House, serving as a negotiator on international trade agreements under President George W. Bush.

In the summer of 2002, Will left his position with the U.S. government to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He moved to New York to study with Susan Batson, famed acting coach best known for working with actors such as Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Sally Field, and Juliette Binoche. That same year, Will moved to Los Angeles and worked for several well known casting directors, including Paul Weber, head of casting for MGM Studios.

Since that time, Will has worked consistently as an actor, writer, and producer for TV, film, and theater. He has performed in numerous stage productions in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC, including plays such as PROOF, EXTREMITIES, IN THE BOOM BOOM ROOM, and WAITING FOR LEFTY. Recently, he was a guest star on the hit FOX show MADTV, a new internet series called QUARTERLIFE on the social networking site MySpace (produced and directed by the Academy Award winning team behind TRAFFIC and BLOOD DIAMOND), the new FOX series THE WINNER starring Rob Corddry from THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, MIND OF MENCIA on Comedy Central, the TLC series UNTOLD STORIES FROM THE ER, and he was a co-star on the CBS sitcom, YES, DEAR.

He is the executive producer, co-writer, and lead actor of the award-winning film, A STARBUCKS STORY. The film won several awards at the 2005 FAIF Film Festival, including the Audience Award for Best Short Film, and the Audience Award for Best Film of the Festival, winning that award over eighty-three feature and short films. A STARBUCKS STORY made its premiere at the world-renowned Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Will recently wrapped production on the independent film STAN¸ where he served as producer and actor.

Will is the founder and president of Formosa Films LLC, a film production company based in Los Angeles. The initial project from Formosa Films is the political thriller FORMOSA BETRAYED, which Will is executive producing. Based on actual events, this feature film is the story of one detective's investigation of the harassment, torture, and murder of Taiwanese-American activists in the 1970s and 80s. Will recently was offered and accepted a directorship position on the board of the Formosa Foundation, a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to the advancement of human rights, democracy, and the right to self-determination for Taiwan.