Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a time to honor the generations of AAPI individuals who have shaped our world through courage, creativity, and ingenuity. At Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship, we’re proud to spotlight a few of the brilliant AAPI women whose innovations — across science, technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship — continue to move industries forward and open doors for others. From early pioneers like Chien-Shiung Wu to modern trailblazers like Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski, these women didn’t just break barriers — they redefined what’s possible.
Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-American physicist whose brilliance reshaped the field of particle physics. During World War II, Wu worked on the Manhattan Project, helping refine the process for uranium enrichment. But her most groundbreaking work came in 1956, when she led the experiment that disproved the law of conservation of parity—a fundamental assumption in physics. Though the Nobel Prize went to her male collaborators, Wu's work was the foundation that made it possible.
Her precision, innovation, and refusal to accept limits — scientific or societal — paved the way for generations of physicists and engineers. At a time when both women and immigrants were sidelined, Wu broke through with clarity, conviction, and a deep dedication to scientific truth.
Chien-Shiung Wu’s legacy reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge is also a pursuit of justice. Her story is a powerful tribute to the impact of AAPI women in science — and to the courage it takes to change the rules.
Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal was a Chinese-American molecular biologist and virologist whose groundbreaking research changed the trajectory of global health. In 1985, she became the first person to clone HIV and determine the function of its genes — an essential step in proving that HIV causes AIDS and in laying the groundwork for diagnostic testing and treatment.
As the Chief of the Section of Molecular Genetics at the National Cancer Institute, Wong-Staal’s pioneering work helped transform an epidemic marked by fear and stigma into one that could be understood and confronted scientifically. Her research shaped the global response to one of the most devastating public health crises of our time.
Dr. Wong-Staal’s legacy reminds us that science is not only about discovery — it’s about saving lives. Her brilliance and determination carved out new possibilities for virology and immunology, and she remains a powerful role model for women of color in medicine and research.
Dr. Nergis Mavalvala is a Pakistani-American astrophysicist whose work helped confirm one of Einstein’s boldest predictions: the existence of gravitational waves. As part of the team at LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), Mavalvala played a critical role in the first direct detection of these ripples in space-time — a scientific breakthrough that opened an entirely new way of observing the universe.
Now the Dean of the School of Science at MIT, Mavalvala is also known for her advocacy of inclusivity and equity in science. She is openly queer, an immigrant, and a fierce advocate for embracing diverse identities in academia. Her work continues to shape the future of quantum physics, gravitational wave astronomy, and the possibilities of space exploration.
Dr. Mavalvala’s story is a powerful reminder that the search for truth — in science and in life — demands both boldness and imagination. Her work has literally changed how we listen to the cosmos, and her presence in the field continues to break barriers and expand what’s possible.
Tan Yunxian, known as Lady Tan, was a physician during China’s Ming Dynasty — a time when women were rarely allowed formal education, let alone medical practice. Born into a family of physicians in the 15th century, she was trained by her grandmother and mother in traditional Chinese medicine, and went on to treat women at a time when male doctors were often barred from examining female patients.
Lady Tan specialized in gynecology, pediatrics, and women’s internal medicine. She treated patients holistically using herbal medicine, acupuncture, and deep cultural knowledge of women’s health. Her greatest legacy? A rare medical text titled Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor, which preserved her clinical experiences and established her as one of the few women in imperial China to be both a practicing physician and a published author.
Lady Tan’s story is not just about healing — it’s about defying systemic limits on women’s knowledge, power, and public voice. Centuries later, her work still echoes in modern discussions of culturally competent and gender-aware healthcare.
Andrea Jung made history as the first Asian American woman to serve as CEO of a fortune 500 company, and as the first woman CEO of Avon, leading the global beauty giant from 1999 to 2012. Under her leadership, Avon expanded to new markets, empowered millions of women through direct sales, and championed corporate social responsibility on a global scale.
After Avon, Jung brought her passion for economic equity to the nonprofit world. As President and CEO of Grameen America, she has helped scale microlending and financial support for over 150,000 low-income women entrepreneurs across the U.S. — many of them women of color starting their first businesses.
Andrea Jung’s legacy is still being written. She’s not only broken barriers in corporate America but continues to build bridges for others, proving that leadership rooted in equity, access, and purpose can change lives — and whole communities.
Dr. Lisa Su, a Taiwanese-American electrical engineer and business leader, is the President and CEO of AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), where she has led one of the most impressive turnarounds in tech history. Since becoming CEO in 2014, Dr. Su has driven AMD’s resurgence through innovation in high-performance computing, AI, and graphics technologies.
Under her leadership, AMD has gone from an underdog to a global powerhouse, powering everything from next-gen gaming consoles to supercomputers. With a Ph.D. from MIT and a background in semiconductor design, Dr. Su brings deep technical expertise to every strategic decision — earning her a spot on countless “most powerful women in tech” lists.
Lisa Su’s leadership proves that technical brilliance and visionary strategy are a powerful combination. She continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and executives.
Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian heritage to travel to space, breaking boundaries as both an astronaut and an aeronautical engineer. Born in Karnal, India, and later a naturalized U.S. citizen, Chawla earned degrees in aerospace engineering that propelled her from classroom to cosmos. As a mission specialist and robotic arm operator on the Space Shuttle Columbia, she helped carry out critical research experiments in microgravity.
Although her life was tragically cut short in 2003 when Columbia disintegrated during reentry, her legacy continues to inspire generations of engineers, explorers, and dreamers around the globe. Chawla’s journey reminds us that the sky is not the limit — it’s just the beginning.
Anna Mani was a trailblazing Indian physicist and meteorologist whose innovations transformed how we measure the world around us. Known as the “Weather Woman of India,” she developed tools to measure solar radiation, ozone, and wind patterns — contributions that laid the groundwork for renewable energy development and atmospheric science in India.
As Deputy Director-General of the India Meteorological Department, Mani led with precision, integrity, and vision at a time when few women were given a voice in science. She believed firmly that “the purpose of science is to improve the lot of the common man,” and her legacy lives on in every forecast and wind turbine that relies on her pioneering methods.
Josephine Santiago-Bond is a Filipina-American engineer who leads NASA’s Advanced Engineering Development Branch at the Kennedy Space Center — overseeing cutting-edge projects that power the next generation of space exploration. With a background in electrical engineering and a deep commitment to innovation, Santiago-Bond is helping shape how we explore and survive beyond Earth.
She’s also an advocate for inclusion in STEM, using her platform to inspire young people — especially Filipina girls and women of color — to pursue careers in science and engineering. Her leadership at NASA proves that the most powerful innovations come from teams that reflect the world they serve.
Reshma Saujani is a changemaker who’s reshaping the future of work and tech by centering girls and mothers in the conversation around innovation. As the founder of Girls Who Code, she launched a movement that’s helped close the gender gap in tech—reaching over 500 million people and inspiring tens of thousands of girls to pursue careers in computer science.
But she didn’t stop there. In 2022, Saujani founded Moms First (formerly the Marshall Plan for Moms) to demand structural change for working mothers. From paid leave to childcare support, she’s mobilizing national campaigns and corporate pledges to build a future where caregiving is valued — and women aren’t forced to choose between ambition and family.
A first-generation Indian-American, Saujani has consistently defied expectations and refused to accept systems that leave women behind. Her work is a rallying cry: to code, to lead, to build — and to demand that the future of innovation be fair.
As we celebrate these brilliant AAPI women, we also acknowledge the disparities that persist. While Asian American women earn more degrees in science and engineering than any other female racial group in the U.S., they remain vastly underrepresented in leadership: just 1.6% of executives in Silicon Valley are Asian American women, despite their high levels of technical expertise. Pacific Islander women are even more invisible in data and decision-making roles. In entrepreneurship, AAPI women receive only a tiny fraction of VC funding — often facing the dual bias of gender and racial stereotyping.
These realities make the achievements of the women we’ve spotlighted all the more extraordinary. Their stories remind us that representation alone isn’t enough — equity, visibility, and power matter. This AAPI Heritage Month, we celebrate their legacy and recommit to building a future where every bold idea has a fair shot, and every founder, builder, and innovator is seen, supported, and valued.