Partner, iD Ventures America, LLC Santa Clara, Calif Retired, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer Hewlett-Packard | Palo Alto, Calif. Ed Yang earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering in 1971 from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. It was expected within his culture and his family that he would go abroad to further his studies, so when he received a unique, full-scholarship offer from the Philips International Institute in the Netherlands, he decided to attend.The institute was co-sponsored by Philips Electronics and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to bring together international students to study and carry learning and cultural understanding back to their native countries.
“That was a wonderful experience for me at a time when globalization was not yet a common word,” says Yang.Yang met Robert A. Short, then chair of Oregon State’s computer science department, at a conference held at the institute, and Short convinced him of his educational potential at the university.
“My first stop in the United States was in Corvallis,” says Yang. “I only spent a year there, but my wife and I loved the college town atmosphere and learning about American culture — supermarkets, drug stores, Beavers, and Ducks.”After earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering, Yang was encouraged to remain at Oregon State to complete his doctoral studies, but he was eager to enter the work force.
He joined Hewlett-Packard in 1977, beginning an illustrious career. At HP, he established research and development centers in Taiwan and China, developed the company’s China strategy, oversaw network operations in Singapore, served as chief technology officer of HP’s computing systems organization, and led the enterprise system group integration during the HP–Compaq merger in 2002.“I was lucky to be with a single company for over a quarter of a century in many different job responsibilities,” says Yang. “I had a chance to work with wonderful mentors, colleagues, and customers around the world.”
The HP–Compaq merger was one of the largest in the tech world and it propelled the company high into the Fortune 500 list. “The enterprise integration with Compaq was not an easy job, but I was tremendously proud to be a part of that time in HP’s history,” Yang says.Today, Yang sits on the other side of the desk as a partner in iD Ventures America, a venture capital investment firm. “I was looking for a different platform to make a contribution,” says Yang. “Joining this venture fund was an interesting opportunity bringing my technical and business management experience together for United States companies.”
Whether he is addressing startup companies or young Oregon State students considering a career, Yang has the same message: “Find something you are passionate about,” he says. “Then work does not become a burden and you will be inspired to do well.”
Degrees
- MS Electrical Engineering, ’77