Carly Fiorina is a renowned American business executive and political figure best known for her tenure as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from 1999 to 2005. Born on September 6, 1954, in Austin, Texas, Fiorina has a distinguished academic background, holding a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and medieval history from Stanford University, an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She began her career as a management trainee at AT&T, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become the first female officer at the telecommunications giant.

At HP, Fiorina made history as the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company. Her leadership was marked by the controversial but strategic merger with Compaq, which at the time was one of the largest technology mergers in history. While the merger faced significant opposition and resulted in mixed outcomes, it ultimately helped HP become the world’s largest personal computer manufacturer. Fiorina’s tenure at HP was a period of significant transformation and set the stage for future growth in the tech industry, although it also led to her departure from the company in 2005 amid boardroom disputes.

Following her corporate career, Fiorina transitioned into politics and public service. She ran for the U.S. Senate in California in 2010 and later sought the Republican nomination for President in the 2016 election. Throughout her political career, Fiorina has been an advocate for small businesses, innovation, and leadership development. She has also authored several books, including her memoir, “Tough Choices,” and continues to be an influential voice in business and politics, frequently speaking on issues related to leadership, technology, and women’s empowerment.