Carly Fiorina is a prominent American business executive and former political candidate known for her leadership at major technology companies. She served as the chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from 1999 to 2005, becoming the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company. During her tenure, she oversaw the controversial merger with rival Compaq, a move that defined her legacy at the firm. After leaving HP, Fiorina entered politics, notably running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2016 election.