Cher Wang

You’ve heard of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Now meet Cher Wang.

In 1981, Cher Wang began her career in tech by designing PC motherboards for First International Computer.

By 1997, she co-founded HTC, a company that would revolutionize smartphones and virtual reality.

Cher’s early vision led HTC to become the first to launch an Android phone and, for a time, the leading smartphone brand in the U.S., surpassing Apple and Samsung.

Later, HTC expanded into IoT and virtual reality with the VIVE headset.

Unfortunately, HTC faced production delays, declining market share, and controversies over workplace culture.

So, in 2015, Cher stepped back into the CEO role to navigate these struggles, steering HTC toward partnerships like the $1.1B Google deal to license HTC’s innovations.

But Cher is also a dedicated philanthropist.

She founded the Faith-Hope-Love Foundation, providing free education to underserved students in China.

And has made significant contributions to UC Berkeley, including funding for CRISPR research.