Angela Chao

Angela Chao is an international executive, public speaker, mentor and philanthropist. She is Chair and CEO of Foremost Group, a global shipping and transportation company headquartered in New York. Ms. Chao is also President of the Foremost Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help young people access quality education and to strengthen the relationship between the US and China.

Accomplishments and Recognition

Angela Chao is a well-known and respected leader in the maritime industry. She has served on the China Council for Promotion of International Trade, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Baltic International Maritime Council. She is a popular speaker, particularly on the subjects of international trade and foreign relations, education and women executives. Her expertise in the area of international trade has in particular brought her to the attention of many organizations and journals. For instance, Ms Chao was invited to be a Founding Member of the Wall Street Journal’s Task Force on Women in the Economy in 2011. She has been featured in publications such as the October 2005 Journal of Commerce’s 'Women in International Trade' special edition. In the same year, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council named her an “Eminent Young Overseas Chinese”.

Angela is a member of numerous inter-governmental and non-profit boards and councils, including: The Asian American Foundation; the Council on Foreign Relations; Young Leaders Forum of the National Committee on US-China Relations; Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s College of Economics and Management Advisory Board; Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s International Maritime Business Department Advisory Board; Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors; American Bureau of Shipping Council; and Metropolitan Opera. She also previously served on boards of Lincoln Center’s Global China Advisory Council and Museum of Modern Art PS1.