Clara Wu Tsai

Clara Wu Tsai is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and social justice activist whose career spans international finance, sports ownership, and large-scale philanthropy. Wu Tsai previously served as general manager of the Hong Kong operations of Taobao, China's largest online shopping website, and as a vice president at American Express in New York and Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and a Master of Arts in international policy studies from Stanford University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. This foundation in global business and policy has informed her leadership in professional sports and philanthropy.

Wu Tsai is a co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA, the New York Liberty of the WNBA, the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League, and Barclays Center. As vice chair of BSE Global, the teams' parent company, she oversees fan development, civic and community engagement, and the role of Barclays Center within Brooklyn. Her leadership with the New York Liberty includes moving the team back to New York City to play at Barclays Center and assembling the roster through draft picks, trades, and free agency. Wu Tsai played a key role in signing league MVP Breanna Stewart, contributing to the team's first WNBA championship. Under her ownership, the Liberty received amenities and facilities equal to their male counterparts.

Wu Tsai received the Botwinick Prize from Columbia Business School for her leadership, investment in women's sports, and advocacy of science and social justice. The award recognized her approach to player welfare and community engagement. Her influence in women's sports has positioned her as a leading owner in women's professional sports.

Wu Tsai is the founder of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation, a philanthropic organization; the Social Justice Fund, which focuses on economic mobility and racial justice; the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, which funds health and scientific research; and is a founding partner of REFORM Alliance, a nonprofit focused on prison and parole reform in the United States. The Social Justice Fund was established with a $50 million commitment to drive economic empowerment and address systemic imbalances producing racial gaps in education, health, and wealth, with a focus on Brooklyn. John Jay College of Criminal Justice recognized Wu Tsai as a Champion of Justice for her work in social and racial justice.

Wu Tsai's philanthropic reach extends into academia and the arts. Through her foundation, she supports the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford University and the Wu Tsai Institute at Yale University, both advancing research in human cognition. She serves on the boards of trustees for Stanford University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Wu Tsai has also served as an executive producer of "Into the Okavango," a conservation documentary, "Blue Bayou," a drama, and "Unfinished Business," a documentary about the WNBA. Her work spans sports, science, philanthropy, and social justice, reflecting a broad impact across multiple industries.