Weili Dai is a Chinese-born American businesswoman. She is the co-founder, former director, and former president of Marvell Technology Group. Dai is a successful women entrepreneur, and is the only female co-founder of a major semiconductor company. As of 2015, she is listed as the 95th richest woman in the world by Forbes.
Early life
Dai was born in Shanghai, China, and played semi-professional basketball in Shanghai, before aged 17, she moved to the US. She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career
Dai is one a female co-founder of an American semiconductor company, and since it began in 1995, she directed Marvell's rise to become one of the top semiconductor companies in the world. While at Marvell, Dai worked on strategic partnerships, and marketed Marvell's technology for use in products across several markets. Dai also works to increase access to technology in the developing world and has served as an ambassador of opportunity between the US and China. Dai advocates for getting more women involved in science and technology. Dai served as chief operating officer, executive vice president, and general manager of the Communications Business Group at Marvell. She was corporate secretary of the board, and currently serves as a director of the board at Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Prior to co-founding Marvell, Dai was involved in software development and project management at Canon Research Center America, Inc. Dai promoted partnership with the One Laptop Per Child program. Ms. Dai also is active in STEM stating, "Women are the future of technology and today's technology is fun and cool. It's not just about developing 'nerdy' stuff it's about turning technology into fashionable and user-friendly smart solutions. A woman's natural talent is design, and the look and feel, and making these things fit into our lifestyles. I believe by embracing STEM and leveraging inherent strength of women—the sense of responsibility, passion, compassion, and pride we dedicate to family and community—and applying it to business can make women the X factor in the new era of global growth and prosperity for the 'Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle.'" She sits on the board of the disaster relief organization, Give2Asia, and was named to the Committee of 100, an organization representing the Chinese Americans. The Sutardja Dai Hall at her alma mater, UC Berkeley, was named for Dai along with her husband Sehat Sutardja, CEO of Marvell and Pantas Sutardja, CTO of Marvell. Sutardja Dai Hall is home to the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society. In 2015, Ms. Dai was named to the Global Semiconductor Alliance's Board of Directors, helping to foster and accelerate the growth of the silicon industry across the globe. Ms. Dai also is a member of the executive committee for TechNet.
Awards
named Dai one of the "150 Women Who Shake the World." She has been profiled by CNN International for the Leading Women Innovator Series. In 2004, Dai was a recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. On May 12, 2012, Dai became the first female commencement speaker at the UC Berkeley College of Engineering. On August 22, 2012, Dai was on the Forbes list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women." In October 2012, she was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by the non-profit organization Upwardly Global. In March 2013, Dai was honored with the Silicon Valley Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Established Corporation category by the Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA-San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. On May 23, 2013, Dai was No. 88 on the Forbes list of "The World's Most Powerful Women." On June 12, 2013, Dai was named a 2013 Most Influential Women in Embedded. On Oct. 25, 2013, Dai was honored with the New Silk Road Award by the California-Asia Business Council. On Nov. 13, 2013, Dai was awarded the Gold Stevie Award for Woman of the Year – Technology. On Dec. 16, 2013, Marvell Co-founders Dr. Sehat Sutardja and Weili Dai were honored with the 2013 Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award by the Global Semiconductor Alliance. On May 28, 2014, Ms. Dai was named to Forbes Most Powerful Women list. On Sept. 8, 2014, Dai, was honored with a Gold award as the "Best Woman Professional of the Year" at the 2014 Golden Bridge Awards. On Nov. 17, 2014, Ms. Dai was honored with the Gold Stevie® Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Products. On Dec. 9, 2014, Ms. Dai was honored as a Gold Winner for 2014 Women World Awards. On May 26, 2015, Dai was named as the 95th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, her fourth consecutive year on Forbes list of "The World's Most Powerful Women." On Aug. 5, 2015, Ms. Dai received a Gold recognition for "Technology Executive of the Year" from the 2015 International Best in Biz Awards. On Oct. 14, 2015, Ms. Dai was named a recipient of the "Keepers of the American Dream" by The National Immigration Forum and National Immigration Forum Action Fund.
Stock backdating scandal
In 2008, the company and its then chief operating officer–and the only member of its stock option "committee" during the period in question – Weili Dai paid fines, to the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges of false financial information to investors by improperly backdating stock option grants to employees, totaling $10 million and $500,000 respectively. Dai was forced to step down as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and a director but allowed to continue with the company in a non-management position.
Personal life
She is married to Sehat Sutardja. The couple have two children. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, US, after being dismissed from Marvell.
