Jane Chen

{{Short description|American businesswoman}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Jane Chen | image = Jane Marie Chen.jpg | alt = | caption = Chen in 2012 | birth_name = Jane Marie Chen | birth_place = | education = Pomona College (BA)<br />Harvard University (MPA)<br />Stanford University (MBA) | death_date =  | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Co-founder and former CEO, Embrace, and Co-founder and CEO, Embrace Innovations | known_for = Co-founder at Embrace (non-profit) }}

'''Jane Marie Chen''' is an American businesswoman. She is the co-founder of Embrace, a social enterprise that invented and distributes a low-cost infant warmer,<ref name="The Economic Times">{{cite news|last=Abrar|first=Peerzada|title=Lessons from 50 startups: Stanford grads' Embrace Innovations build low-cost warmer to save young Indian lives|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-20/news/32764583_1_low-cost-infant-infant-warmers-babies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726132153/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-07-20/news/32764583_1_low-cost-infant-infant-warmers-babies|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> that gives premature and low-birth-weight infants a better chance at survival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.embraceinnovations.com/|title=Embrace Innovations|website=Embrace Innovations|access-date=2019-11-13|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113142426/https://www.embraceinnovations.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixmedicalsystems.com/infant-care/warming-systems/embrace-warmer/|title=Embrace Nest Baby Warmer, Buy Low Cost Portable Warmer, Infant Warmer Manufacturers|website=Phoenix Medical Systems (P) Ltd|access-date=2019-11-13|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810153520/https://www.phoenixmedicalsystems.com/infant-care/warming-systems/embrace-warmer/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://extreme.stanford.edu/projects/embrace/|title=Embrace – Design for Extreme Affordability|access-date=2019-11-13|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113142429/https://extreme.stanford.edu/projects/embrace/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tellapragada|first1=Chaitanya|last2=Eshwara|first2=Vandana Kalwaje|last3=Bhat|first3=Parvati|last4=Acharya|first4=Shashidhar|last5=Kamath|first5=Asha|last6=Bhat|first6=Shashikala|last7=Rao|first7=Chythra|last8=Nayak|first8=Sathisha|last9=Mukhopadhyay|first9=Chiranjay|date=May 2016|title=Risk Factors for Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight Among Pregnant Indian Women: A Hospital-based Prospective Study|journal=Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health|volume=49|issue=3|pages=165–175|doi=10.3961/jpmph.16.022|issn=1975-8375|pmc=4898897|pmid=27255075}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201605/will-yakowicz/embrace-premature-baby-blanket.html|title=This Space-Age Blanket Startup Has Helped Save 200,000 Babies (and Counting)|last=Yakowicz|first=Will|date=2016-04-27|website=Inc.com|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> Chen served as the first CEO of Embrace, the non-profit arm of the organization, before becoming the chief executive officer (CEO) of Embrace Innovations, the for-profit social enterprise that was spun off in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Embrace.pdf |title=Embrace:Deciding on a Hybrid Structure |access-date=2014-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513091724/http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Embrace.pdf |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

== Early life and education == Chen was born to a Taiwanese American family. She earned a B.A in psychology and economics from Pomona College, a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard University, and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Stanford University.<ref name="Ellen Lee">{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Ellen|title=Embrace may keep babies warm and alive|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Embrace-may-keep-babies-warm-and-alive-3166256.php|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 12, 2010}}</ref>

== Career ==

Prior to Embrace, Chen worked with nonprofit organizations on healthcare issues in developing countries. She spent several years as the program director of a startup HIV/AIDS nonprofit in China, and worked for the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative in Tanzania.<ref name=AOL>{{cite news|title=Jane Chen: Women in Healthcare|url=http://on.aol.com/video/jane-chen--non-profit-healthcare-advocate-517261914|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=AOL|date=February 2, 2012|archive-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113043944/http://on.aol.com/video/jane-chen--non-profit-healthcare-advocate-517261914|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also worked at Monitor Group as a management consultant.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 2013, Chen and the other co-founders of Embrace, Linus Liang, Nag Murty, and Rahul Panicker were awarded the Economist Innovation Award, under the category of Social and Economic Innovation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21590752-innovation-awards-our-annual-prizes-recognise-successful-innovators-eight |title=Innovation awards: And the winners are… |newspaper=The Economist |date=November 30, 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> In the same year, Chen and her co-founder Rahul Panicker were also recognized as Schwab Social Entrepreneurs of the Year by the World Economic Forum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/news/schwab-foundation-social-entrepreneurship-announces-social-entrepreneurs-year-2013 |title=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Announces Social Entrepreneurs of the Year 2013 | World Economic Forum - Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Announces Social Entrepreneurs of the Year 2013 |publisher=Weforum.org |date=February 15, 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415162849/http://www.weforum.org/news/schwab-foundation-social-entrepreneurship-announces-social-entrepreneurs-year-2013 |archive-date=April 15, 2014 }}</ref> In 2014, Chen was invited to the White House's first ever Maker Faire, where she presented Embrace's work to President Obama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/elise-lelon/the-baby-saving-revolution-nonprofit_b_5570683.html|title=The Baby Saving Revolution: Obama and Beyonce Embrace Founder, Jane Chen (You Will Too)|last=Lelon|first=Elise|date=2014-07-10|website=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-10-30}}</ref> In the same year, Beyoncé made a $125,000 contribution through Chime for Change which allowed Embrace to distribute its infant warmers to nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/22/fashion/embrace-jane-chen.html|title=Caring for Premature Babies, With a Little Help From Beyoncé|last=Weil|first=Elizabeth|date=2015-11-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-10-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Embrace === {{Main|Embrace (incubator)}} While doing her MBA at Stanford, Chen and a few other fellow graduate students were assigned a class project to create a low-cost infant incubator that could be used in rural areas.<ref name="The Economic Times" /><ref name="Ellen Lee" /><ref name="Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal">{{cite news|last=Sibley|first=Lisa|title=Stanford startup's $25 'sleeping bag' could save newborns|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/04/21/story10|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal|date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, they co-founded Embrace, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to bring their project to life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/embrace-infant-warmer-save-thousands/story?id=12366774 | title=Embrace Infant Warmer Could Save Thousands | access-date= July 1, 2012|date=December 17, 2010|first=Sean|last=Dooley|work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/11/02/sidner-india-saving-babies.cnn | title=Saving Babies|work=CNN|format=Flash | access-date= July 1, 2012}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In January 2012, Embrace moved into a hybrid structure.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Chen|first=Jane|title=Should Your Business Be Nonprofit or For-Profit?|url=http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/02/should_your_business_be_nonpro.html|journal=Harvard Business Review|access-date=February 1, 2013|date=February 2013}}</ref> The non-profit entity, Embrace, donates infant warmers to the neediest areas through NGO partners, and provides educational programs on newborn health alongside the distribution of warmers. The for-profit social enterprise, Embrace Innovations, sells the warmers to paying entities, including governments and private clinics, all focusing on emerging markets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abudheen|first=Sainul K|title=Infant warmers maker Embrace raises funding from Khosla Impact, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, others|url=http://www.vccircle.com/news/medical-devices/2013/08/26/infant-warmers-maker-embrace-raises-funding-khosla-impact-kiran|publisher=VCCircle|access-date=August 26, 2013|date=2013-08-26|archive-date=April 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415004906/http://www.vccircle.com/news/medical-devices/2013/08/26/infant-warmers-maker-embrace-raises-funding-khosla-impact-kiran|url-status=dead}}</ref> Embrace Innovations, the for-profit social enterprise, raised its Series A round of financing in 2012 from Vinod Khosla's Impact Fund and Capricorn Investment Group. The company raised a second round of investment capital from Marc Benioff in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janechen/2016/07/07/how-i-surfed-the-wave-that-nearly-drowned-my-startup/|title=How I Surfed The Wave That Nearly Drowned My Startup|last=Chen|first=Jane|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>

In 2016, Embrace Innovations launched a line of consumer baby products called Little Lotus Baby (temperature regulating swaddles and sleeping bags), which have a buy-one give-one model.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-design/a/jane-chen/|title=A Simple, Effective Way to Reduce Infant Mortality|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-10-30}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition == Chen has been a TED speaker,<ref name="Ted fellow">{{cite web|first=|title=Jane Chen: A warm embrace that saves lives|url=https://www.ted.com/embed/jane_chen_a_warm_embrace_that_saves_lives?language=en|work=TED Conference|publisher=TED}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|title=What losing everything taught me about resilience|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_marie_chen_what_losing_everything_taught_me_about_resilience|date=|language=en|access-date=|via=www.ted.com|first=Jane Marie|last=Chen}}</ref> and was selected as one of Forbes' Impact 30 in 2011.<ref name="Forbes Impact 30">{{cite news|title=Forbes impact 30, 2012|url=https://www.forbes.com/impact-30/jane-chen.html|access-date=August 13, 2011|newspaper=Forbes}}</ref> In 2019, Chen was featured in AOL/Verizon/Yahoo's "FUTURIST" Series, profiling industry leaders across all different disciplines who are advancing their fields with technology, innovation, and fearlessness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/video/show/futurists/SHW283/5db091dcd21f1a39b8b2bf2c/|title=Futurists {{!}} AOL.com|website=www.aol.com|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> Chen has been recognized as the Inspirational Young Alumni of the Year by Pomona College,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hua |first=Vanessa |title=Jane Chen '00 Wins Inspirational Young Alumna Award for Innovative Incubator Invention |url=http://www.pomona.edu/news/2011/04/26-jane-chen-inspirational-alumna.aspx |access-date=April 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516163102/http://www.pomona.edu/news/2011/04/26-jane-chen-inspirational-alumna.aspx |archive-date=May 16, 2011 }}</ref> and selected as a "Woman of Distinction" by the American Association of University Women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nccwsl.org/2019/01/16/women-of-distinction-2019-spotlight-jane-marie-chen/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205202522/https://www.nccwsl.org/2019/01/16/women-of-distinction-2019-spotlight-jane-marie-chen/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2020|title=Women of Distinction 2019 Spotlight: Jane Marie Chen|website=NCCWSL|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> Chen has spoken at numerous international conferences, including the Skoll World Forum, Bloomberg Design Conference, Forbes Women's Summit, and the World Economic Forum.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chen|first=Jane|title=Speaker at Skoll World Forum|url=http://skollworldforum.org/speaker/jane-chen/|access-date=September 8, 2012|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420114634/http://skollworldforum.org/speaker/jane-chen/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2012, Chen was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum,<ref name="World Economic Forum">{{cite web|title=World Economic Forum, Young Global Leaders|url=http://www.weforum.org/young-global-leaders/jane-marie-chen/index.html?link=no|work=WEF, Young Global Leaders, 2012|publisher=World Economic Forum|access-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> and was featured in Dove's "Real Role Models" campaign for women and girls.<ref name="Dove Real Role Models">{{cite web|last=Series|first=Dove|title=Dove Real Role Models|url=http://www.dove.us/Tips-Topics-And-Tools/Videos/Jane-Real-Role-Model.aspx|publisher=Dove|access-date=September 8, 2012|archive-date=December 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206203103/http://www.dove.us/Tips-Topics-And-Tools/Videos/Jane-Real-Role-Model.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was also profiled in AOL's Makers campaign.<ref name="AOL"/> Chen is a TED Fellow, Echoing Green Fellow, and Rainer Arnhold Fellow.

Chen's memoir, [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/736801/like-a-wave-we-break-by-jane-marie-chen/ Like A Wave We Break], was published by Penguin Random House in October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deahl {{!}} |first=Rachel |title=Book Deals: Week of December 19, 2022 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/91156-book-deals-week-of-december-19-2022.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Like a Wave We Break by Jane Marie Chen: 9780593582343 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/736801/like-a-wave-we-break-by-jane-marie-chen/ |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Like A Wave We Break has garnered praise from influential voices including Tony Robbins, Adam Grant, Bessel van der Kolk, Marc Benioff, Vicky Tsai, Vinod Khosla and many others.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://bookshop.org/p/books/like-a-wave-we-break-a-memoir-of-falling-apart-and-finding-myself-jane-chen/6c92a873ce1cd4fa?ean=9780593582343&next=t |title=Like a Wave We Break: A Memoir of Falling Apart and Finding Myself |date=2025-10-14 |isbn=978-0-593-58234-3 |language=en-US}}</ref> The book debuted as a USA Today National Bestseller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best-selling Booklist |url=https://www.usatoday.com/booklist/booklist |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == * [http://www.makers.com/jane-chen Jane Chen] Video produced by ''Makers: Women Who Make America'' * {{TED speaker}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Jane}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Chinese descent Category:American women chief executives Category:American nonprofit chief executives Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni Category:American HIV/AIDS activists Category:People from Upland, California Category:Pomona College alumni Category:Stanford University alumni Category:American women company founders Category:American company founders Category:American people of Taiwanese descent Category:Winners of The Economist innovation awards Category:Social entrepreneurs Category:21st-century American businesswomen Category:21st-century American businesspeople