Carly Fiorina

Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, First Woman to Lead a Fortune 20 Company & Former Presidential Candidate

Carly Fiorina’s Biography:

Carly Fiorina is a prominent American business leader and former Fortune 20 CEO, widely recognised as the first woman to lead a company of that scale. Best known for her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard, Carly built a reputation for bold leadership, strategic transformation and resilience in high-pressure environments. Her career spans technology, telecommunications, media and public service, giving her a rare breadth of experience that makes her a compelling keynote speaker on leadership, change and decision-making at the highest levels.

Carly began her career in 1980 at AT&T as a management trainee and rose rapidly through the organisation during a period of major industry transformation. By 1990, she became AT&T’s first female officer, serving as Senior Vice President and leading large-scale operations and strategic initiatives. She later played a pivotal role in the creation and growth of Lucent Technologies, where she helped steer one of the largest IPOs in history at the time and drove significant global expansion. These early leadership experiences established her reputation as a decisive and forward-thinking executive.

In 1999, Carly was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard, making history as the first woman to lead a Fortune Top 20 company. During her tenure, she led the landmark merger between HP and Compaq, one of the largest technology mergers ever undertaken, and oversaw major organisational transformation. Under her leadership, HP expanded its global footprint, strengthened its position in enterprise technology and navigated a rapidly changing digital marketplace, reinforcing her status as a high-profile leader in the technology sector.

Following her corporate career, Carly became an author, commentator and public policy advocate. Her bestselling memoir ‘Tough Choices’ explored leadership, risk and resilience, while her later work included media commentary and a campaign for President of the United States in 2015. Across business, politics and public life, Carly has remained a strong voice on leadership, opportunity and the importance of challenging the status quo.

Why Hire Carly Fiorina?

Carly is hired as a speaker for her rare experience leading at the very top of global business and navigating complex, high-stakes decisions in the public eye. As the first woman to lead a Fortune Top 20 company, she offers unmatched insight into leadership under scrutiny, organisational transformation and the courage required to make difficult decisions. Her career gives her a powerful perspective on managing change, leading through uncertainty and driving performance at scale.

She speaks with clarity and conviction about accountability, resilience and unlocking potential in people and organisations. Drawing on her experience across corporate leadership, public life and authorship, Carly delivers candid, thought-provoking keynotes that challenge audiences to think bigger, lead braver and approach change with confidence and purpose.

Carly Fiorina’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Carly Fiorinas inspirational career:

• 2025 – Elected Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, leading strategic direction for one of America’s most significant cultural institutions.
• 2015 – Launched a campaign for President of the United States, bringing her business leadership perspective to national political debate.
• 2007 – Joined Fox Business Network as a business commentator, expanding her influence in economic and leadership discussions.
• 2006 – Published her memoir Tough Choices, a New York Times bestseller on leadership and resilience.
• 1999 – Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard, becoming the first woman to lead a Fortune Top 20 company.
• 1996 – Named President of Lucent Technologies’ Global Service Provider business, helping drive rapid global growth.
• 1995 – Helped lead Lucent Technologies’ IPO, one of the largest initial public offerings of its time.
• 1990 – Became AT&T’s first female officer as Senior Vice President, breaking barriers in corporate leadership.
• 1980 – Joined AT&T as a management trainee, beginning her rise in the telecommunications industry.