In the world of high-stakes tech innovation, few leaders stand out like Jayshree Ullal—a self-made billionaire, an engineering powerhouse, and one of the most respected CEOs in Silicon Valley. As the President and CEO of Arista Networks, Ullal has redefined what leadership looks like in a male-dominated industry, all while building one of the most successful networking giants of the 21st century.
Her story is not just about numbers—it’s about resilience, foresight, and redefining power in tech. Here’s a deep dive into the incredible journey of the woman who helped build the modern internet.
Jayshree Ullal – At a Glance
Full Name Jayshree V. Ullal Born March 27, 1961 (London, UK) Nationality American (Indian origin) Role President & CEO, Arista Networks Education B.S. in Electrical Engineering (San Francisco State University), M.S. in Engineering Management (Santa Clara University) Family Married to Vijay Ullal, mother of two daughters Net Worth $4 Billion (as of April 2025)
Early Life & Education
Born in London to Indian parents, Jayshree Ullal spent her early childhood in New Delhi, studying at the Convent of Jesus and Mary. At the age of 16, she moved to the United States to pursue higher education. A natural in the sciences, she graduated in Electrical Engineering and later earned her master’s in Engineering Management.
Today, she lives in Saratoga, California, with her husband Vijay Ullal, a seasoned tech executive and venture capitalist. Her family includes two daughters and a legacy that is inspiring millions of future leaders.
Career Beginnings: From Engineering to Executive Leadership
Jayshree’s career kicked off in the 1980s with roles at Fairchild Semiconductor and AMD, where she made a seamless transition from engineering to strategic business development. Her reputation quickly grew, and in 1993, she joined Crescendo Communications, which was later acquired by Cisco Systems—a pivotal move in her career.
At Cisco, she made history by scaling the Catalyst LAN switching business to $7 billion, eventually rising to the position of Senior Vice President, where she led a $10 billion division. Her leadership laid the groundwork for many of the networking technologies we take for granted today.
The Arista Networks Legacy
In 2008, Ullal was recruited by tech legends Andy Bechtolsheim and David Cheriton to lead their then-fledgling startup, Arista Networks. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Under her visionary leadership:
- Arista went public in 2014
- Revenue jumped from $200 million in 2010 to $5.7 billion by 2024
- The company became a key player in hyperscale data centers, serving tech giants like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, Meta, and Google Cloud
- Arista is now targeting $1.5 billion in AI-driven revenue for 2025
From 10 to 800 Gigabit Ethernet switching, Arista’s innovations have made it a backbone for global internet infrastructure.
Stock Holdings & Personal Wealth
Jayshree Ullal directly owns around 3% of Arista’s shares, making her one of the richest self-made women in the world. With her net worth crossing $4 billion, she has outpaced fellow Indian-origin tech CEOs like Sundar Pichai (Google) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft).
Some of her holdings are designated for her children, niece, and nephew—showcasing her values of legacy and family empowerment.
Beyond Arista: Influence & Recognition
Ullal is more than just a CEO—she’s a global influencer in the world of enterprise tech. She sits on the Board of Snowflake Inc., a rising leader in data warehousing and cloud solutions.
- She has also been consistently ranked among:
- Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business
- Barron’s World’s Best CEOs
- ET Global Indian of the Year (2023)
- Silicon Valley Power 100 (2023 & 2024)
Her awards are a testament to a career that is as impactful as it is inspiring.
Awards & Honors Snapshot
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Ernst & Young (2015)
- World’s Best CEOs – Barron’s (2018)
- Top 20 Business Persons of the Year – Fortune (2019)
- Global Indian of the Year – Economic Times (2023)
- Silicon Valley Power 100 – SVBJ (2023 & 2024)
Why Jayshree Ullal Matters Today
In an era where women in leadership are still underrepresented, Jayshree Ullal stands tall—not just as a leader in tech, but as a symbol of global Indian excellence. She has built billion-dollar empires, broken glass ceilings, and is now shaping the future of AI and cloud networking.
Her journey proves that vision, resilience, and integrity are timeless assets in leadership.
Want more stories of trailblazing leaders like Jayshree Ullal? Explore the world’s top innovators like Ghazal Alagh.
