Carly and Frank Fiorina

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Hewlett-Packard Company, Lucent Technologies

FUNDING AREAS: Philanthropy, Community

OVERVIEW: Carly Fiorina launched Unlocking Potential Foundation to help community-based organizations develop leadership and problem-solving skills so they can maximize their social impact.

BACKGROUND: Born in Austin, Texas, Carly Fiorina graduated with a B.A. from Stanford University in 1976, an MBA from University of Maryland in 1980, and received her M.S. from MIT in 1989. She worked at AT&T in an entry-level sales position and rose through the ranks becoming the first female officer. Fiorina later led AT&T’s spin-out of Lucent Technologies. In 1999, Fiorina was recruited to Hewlett-Packard Company, becoming CEO and president. More recently, she’s moved towards politics, and made a bid for the presidency on the Republican ticket. Fiorina also advised Republican Senator John McCain’s 2008 bid for the presidency. In 2010, she wont the Republican nomination for California Senator, but lost to incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer. For seven days, she was also the VP running mate of Ted Cruz.

ISSUES:

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL FOUNDATION: Fiorina founded, funds, and chairs Unlocking Potential Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to supporting local leaders solving problems in their own communities – equipping them with the behaviors, characteristics, disciplines and tools to increase their leadership and problem-solving capacity. The foundation works with and partners with a range of organizations including American Express, Wounded Warrior Project, and local groups such as Easterseals DC, MD and VA and the Rodham Institute at GWU.

COMMUNITY: Fiorina and her husband Frank also support select organizations in their Virginia community and beyond. In the past, they supported places like United Way Silicon Valley and Year Up.

OTHER: Fiorina once served as chairman of Good360, which help companies donate excess merchandise to charities, and as chairman of Opportunity International, a Christian-based organization that lifts millions out of poverty around the globe through micro-finance. Fiorina also founded the One Woman Initiative in partnership with Condoleezza Rice, to “engage and empower women in Pakistan, Egypt, India and the Philippines through increased access to economic opportunity.”

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Fiorina to continue to dig into her work with Unlocking Potential Foundation in particular. Given her interest in politics, perhaps policy will emerge as another philanthropic interest.

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