Who is Jayshree Ullal?
Jayshree Ullal is a British-American business executive, technology visionary, and the President & CEO of Arista Networks, a leading cloud networking company. Renowned for her technical depth, executive leadership, and strategic foresight, she has shaped the landscape of high-speed data infrastructure across the world.
With over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Ullal has become one of the few self-made female billionaires in tech and a trailblazer for women in engineering and corporate leadership. Her rise from a young engineer to running a multibillion-dollar company showcases intelligence, determination, and quiet power.
Attribute | Details |
Full Name | Jayshree V. Ullal |
Date of Birth | March 27, 1961 |
Age (as of 2025) | 64 years |
Place of Birth | London, England |
Hometown | New Delhi, India |
Nationality | British-American |
Ethnicity | Indian |
Religion | Hindu (culturally) |
Zodiac Sign | Aries |
Profession | Business Executive, Engineer |
Current Position | CEO & President of Arista Networks |
Years Active | 1980s–present |
Known For | Leading Arista Networks to global success |
Net Worth (2025) | Approx. $2.4 billion USD |
Marital Status | Married to Vijay Ullal |
Children | 2 daughters |
Residence | California, United States |
Education | B.S. – San Francisco State University M.S. – Santa Clara University |
Languages | English, Hindi |
Awards | Forbes, Fortune, Barron’s Power Women lists |
Jayshree Ullal Early Life
Jayshree Ullal was born on March 27, 1961, in London, England, into an Indian family originally from New Delhi. She spent her formative years in India, where she received a disciplined education and early exposure to STEM subjects. Her father was a mechanical engineer and her upbringing in a science-oriented household had a profound influence on her career path.
At the age of 16, Ullal moved to the United States to pursue higher education—an experience that marked the beginning of her journey into the world of technology.
Jayshree Ullal Education
Jayshree earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering from San Francisco State University in 1981. She later pursued a Master of Science (M.S.) in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University in 1986.
Her academic background in engineering provided a strong technical foundation, while her graduate degree helped her transition seamlessly into leadership and business strategy roles.
Jayshree Ullal Career
Early Engineering Roles
Ullal began her career as a design engineer at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and later worked at Fairchild Semiconductor, gaining hands-on experience in semiconductor technology and circuit design.
Rise at Cisco Systems
Her big break came when she joined Cisco Systems in 1993, where she led the launch of Cisco Catalyst switching products, which transformed the company’s switching business from $0 to $5 billion in revenue during her tenure.
As Senior Vice President, she oversaw over 20 acquisitions and led Cisco’s Data Center, Switching & Services units, contributing significantly to its global dominance in networking.
Arista Networks
In 2008, Ullal was appointed CEO and President of Arista Networks, a startup founded by Andy Bechtolsheim and David Cheriton. Under her leadership, Arista revolutionized cloud networking with high-performance switches tailored for data centers.
Key achievements under her leadership:
- Took Arista public in 2014 (IPO)
- Achieved multi-billion-dollar market valuation
- Consistently ranked among the top networking companies worldwide
- Expanded into AI, security, and next-gen cloud architectures
As of 2025, Arista Networks is a global leader with a market cap exceeding $80 billion, and Ullal owns roughly 2.4% of the company.
Jayshree Ullal Awards & Recognition
Jayshree Ullal has received numerous accolades:
- Forbes’ America’s Self-Made Women list (multiple years)
- Barron’s World’s Best CEOs
- CRN Top 100 Executives
- Featured in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business
- Recognized by Silicon Valley Business Journal and Bloomberg
Her unique blend of technical know-how and business strategy has earned her admiration in a field dominated by men.
Jayshree Ullal Family
Jayshree is married to Vijay Ullal, a fellow executive and engineer. The couple has two daughters and resides in California, USA.
Despite her high-profile position, Ullal is known for maintaining a low personal profile, valuing family, privacy, and balance between work and home life.
Jayshree Ullal Net Worth
As of 2025, Jayshree Ullal’s estimated net worth is around $2.4 billion, largely from her equity in Arista Networks, where she holds more than 2% of the company’s shares.
Income Source | Estimated Value |
Arista Networks Shares | ~$2.3–2.5 Billion |
Board Compensation | Moderate |
Investments & Assets | Undisclosed (Private) |
Total Net Worth | ~$2.4 Billion |
Jayshree Ullal Social Media
Jayshree maintains a very limited public presence on social media. She believes in impact over visibility, focusing more on business outcomes than personal branding.
Platform | Activity |
Active professionally | |
No verified presence | |
Not active publicly | |
Private, if any |
Jayshree Ullal Physical Appearance
Attribute | Detail |
Height | Approx. 5’5″ (165 cm) |
Build | Average |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Style | Professional, Elegant |
Public Persona | Reserved, Poised |
Interesting Facts About Jayshree Ullal
- She was mentored by Andy Bechtolsheim, a Sun Microsystems co-founder.
- Her leadership transformed Arista from a startup into a global powerhouse.
- She was among the few female engineers in Silicon Valley in the ’90s.
- Despite her billionaire status, she avoids media hype and fame.
- She sits on the boards of Snowflake and Zscaler, two major tech firms.
- She’s an advocate for STEM education and diversity in tech.
- Ullal made Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women multiple times.
- She continues to push Arista into AI-powered and secure cloud networking.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Jayshree Ullal?
Jayshree Ullal is the CEO & President of Arista Networks and a billionaire technology executive originally from India.
Q2. How did Jayshree Ullal become a billionaire?
Through her leadership at Arista Networks and ownership of company shares after its IPO.
Q3. What is Arista Networks known for?
High-speed cloud networking, data center switches, and AI networking solutions.
Q4. Did Jayshree Ullal work at Cisco?
Yes, she led the Catalyst switching business and played a key role in Cisco’s early growth.
Q5. Is Jayshree Ullal active on social media?
Not actively, she maintains a private profile and prefers to focus on work.
Q6. Where did she study?
She holds degrees from San Francisco State University and Santa Clara University in engineering and management.
Q7. Is she involved in philanthropy?
While not widely publicized, she supports educational causes and STEM initiatives.
Q8. Is Jayshree Ullal married?
Yes, to Vijay Ullal, and they have two daughters.
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