Sandra Rivera

Sandra Rivera is a prominent Puerto Rican-American business executive known for her transformative leadership in the technology industry. She has held several senior roles at Intel Corporation, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies, and currently serves as the chief executive officer of its standalone Programmable Solutions Group. Rivera is recognized for her strategic vision in areas such as data center technology, artificial intelligence, and the expansion of Intel's foundry services.

Early life and education

Sandra Rivera was born in Puerto Rico and spent her formative years there. She pursued her higher education at the University of Puerto Rico, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Demonstrating strong academic prowess, she later attended the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution, where she completed a Master of Business Administration. Her educational background provided a strong foundation in both technical and business disciplines, which would prove critical for her future career in the complex semiconductor sector.

Career

Rivera began her professional career at Lucent Technologies, where she gained early experience in the telecommunications and networking industries. She joined Intel Corporation in 2000, initially working in various human resources and talent management positions. She transitioned into general management, taking on roles of increasing responsibility within the company's sales and marketing organizations. Her career trajectory at Intel included leadership positions in the Data Center Group, where she was instrumental in driving the strategy for Xeon processors and adjacent technologies. Prior to her current role, she served as Intel's chief people officer, overseeing global human resources during a period of significant transformation for the company.

Leadership at Intel

In 2021, Sandra Rivera was appointed to lead the newly formed Datacenter and AI Group at Intel, a move that underscored the company's strategic focus on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. In this capacity, she was responsible for the Xeon processor family, Habana Labs AI accelerators, and software optimization for data center workloads. A major milestone in her tenure came in 2023 when Intel announced it would operate its Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) business as a standalone company, with Rivera named as the CEO of the new Intel Programmable Solutions Group. In this role, she is tasked with competing directly with rivals like AMD (following its acquisition of Xilinx) and pursuing an initial public offering for the unit. Her leadership is central to Intel's IDM 2.0 strategy and its ambitions in the competitive foundry services market.

Awards and recognition

Throughout her career, Sandra Rivera has received significant recognition for her leadership and impact. She has been named to several prestigious lists, including Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" and "Most Powerful Women in Business." She has also been featured in Barron's "World's Best CEOs" list. Her influence within the technology industry was further acknowledged when she received a "Woman of Influence" award from the Puerto Rico Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. These accolades highlight her role as a leading figure in corporate America and an influential voice on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech sector.

Personal life

Sandra Rivera maintains a relatively private personal life. She is known to be an advocate for STEM education, particularly for encouraging young women and Hispanic students to pursue careers in technology. She has participated in mentorship programs and industry panels, sharing her experiences as a Latina executive in a predominantly male-dominated field. Rivera is also involved with several non-profit organizations focused on educational equity and professional development.

Category:American business executives Category:Intel people Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni Category:University of Puerto Rico alumni Category:Living people