Susan Samueli

Susan Samueli is an American electrical engineer, business executive, and prominent philanthropist. She co-founded the global semiconductor technology company Broadcom Inc. with her husband, Henry Samueli. Her career spans engineering, corporate leadership, and extensive charitable work, primarily through the Samueli Foundation, focusing on integrative health, education, and the arts.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, she demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics and science. She pursued her higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. She continued at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science and later a Doctor of Philosophy in electrical engineering, with her doctoral research focusing on digital signal processing. Her academic work at UCLA laid the technical foundation for her future career in the semiconductor industry.

Career

After completing her doctorate, she began her professional career as an engineer at TRW Inc., working on advanced defense technology projects. In 1991, she co-founded Broadcom Inc. with her husband, serving in several key engineering and management roles as the company grew from a startup to a global leader in semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. Her technical contributions were integral to the company's early development in areas like broadband communications. Following Broadcom's initial public offering and subsequent growth, she transitioned to focus more on strategic oversight and philanthropic endeavors, while remaining a significant shareholder and influential figure within the corporate and technology communities.

Philanthropy

Through the Samueli Foundation, which she chairs, she has directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward initiatives in integrative health, STEM education, and cultural institutions. A major focus has been the advancement of integrative health, leading to the establishment of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute at the University of California, Irvine. Her philanthropy has also transformed UCI's engineering school, renamed the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, and supported the UCI Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences. Significant gifts have benefited Chapman University's Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Her support extends to numerous other organizations, including the Orange County School of the Arts and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Personal life

She is married to Henry Samueli, co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Broadcom. The couple has two children and resides in Orange County, California. An advocate for integrative medicine, her personal interests in health and wellness directly inform her philanthropic vision. She serves on the board of directors for Broadcom Inc. and is actively involved in the governance of several charitable and educational institutions she supports.

Awards and recognition

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the UCLA Medal, the university's highest award. She and her husband received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Orange County Business Council honored her with its Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet award. She holds an honorary doctorate from Chapman University and was inducted into the UCLA Engineering Hall of Fame. Her philanthropic leadership was further acknowledged with the National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Philanthropist award in Orange County.