The American financial magazine "Forbes" announced the 2026 "Asia's Power Businesswomen" list, selecting 20 outstanding female business leaders from 12 countries and regions in Asia, covering industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centers, retail, beauty and renewable energy. Taiwan has two people on the list, namely Jessica Zhang, founder and chairman of JPC Connectivity. Chang), and Audrey Tsai, CEO of ITEQ.
This list focuses on female decision-makers who are driving the transformation of Asian industries amid the turbulent global economic situation. Among them, AI infrastructure and high-tech supply chains have become important highlights this year.
"Forbes" pointed out that this year's nominees include self-employed entrepreneurs, senior corporate executives, and second-generation leaders who take over the family business. Among the 20 women, 4 are leading companies to tap into AI infrastructure business opportunities, with products covering semiconductor precision tools, data center fiber optic cables, etc.; the other 4 are reshaping the consumer market by expanding the global presence of beauty and retail brands.
Among them, there are two female business leaders from Taiwan on the list, namely Zhang Shumei, founder and chairman of JPC Connectivity, and Cai Xinxi, CEO of ITEQ. The two entered into AI business opportunities from optical fiber communications and high-speed transmission materials respectively, riding on the wave of global data center expansion, and also brought Taiwan's technology supply chain to attention on the international stage.
Among them, 65-year-old Zhang Shumei has been deeply involved in the electronic connection product industry for more than 30 years. His subsidiary Jiabiqi, formerly known as Jess-Link Products, mainly designs and produces optical fiber cables, optical transceivers and other connection products to ensure high-speed and stable data transmission. As the demand for AI data centers heats up rapidly, the company's products have become important supply items in the market, and its customers include major technology companies such as Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft.
Jiabiqi’s share price has almost doubled in the past year, with a market value of 38.7 billion yuan. In the first half of 2026, the company's net profit almost doubled to 856 million yuan, and revenue increased by 26% year-on-year to 4.5 billion yuan. About two-thirds of the revenue came from AI data centers and telecommunications-related products, and the rest came from the fields of autonomous driving and industrial automation.
Zhang Shumei was born in a rural family in Taiwan. She studied economics at Tunghai University and relied on part-time jobs to make ends meet during her studies. After graduation, she tried jewelry sales and electronic component procurement. In 1992, she founded the company in her apartment with only one employee. After years of operation, the company will have approximately 2,000 employees by 2025.
Cai Xinxun, CEO of Lianmao. (File photo)
Another Taiwanese woman on the list is Lianmao CEO Cai Hsin-chi. Lianmao's stock price performance has been even more astonishing in recent years. Benefiting from the demand for high-speed transmission infrastructure driven by the AI wave, the company has actively transformed from relying on consumer electronics to gradually shifting its focus to high-speed printed circuit boards (PCBs) and materials required for AI data centers.
Lianmao's main products include copper foil substrate (CCL) and adhesive material (Prepreg). The former constitutes the substrate and transmission line of PCB, while the latter is responsible for bonding various layers of materials and is an important material for high-speed signal transmission.
"Forbes" pointed out that Lianmao's stock price has surged more than 7 times in the past year, with a market value of 283 billion yuan. In the first half of 2026, the company's net profit exceeded 1.6 billion yuan, more than doubling year-on-year, while revenue increased 26% year-on-year to 20.7 billion yuan, of which more than 70% of sales came from AI data centers and 5G infrastructure-related products.
Facing the continued increase in market demand, Lianmao also plans to expand its copper foil substrate production capacity. It is expected that by 2029, monthly output will increase by approximately 61% to more than 9 million pieces.
After Cai Xinzhen took over the company in 2015, he gradually adjusted the product layout and reduced dependence on the consumer electronics market. Before joining Lianmao in 2008, she worked at Antai Commercial Bank in Taiwan and was responsible for accounting related work. She graduated from the Department of Public Finance at National Chengchi University and obtained an advanced management degree from the Department of Finance at National Taiwan University.
Forbes' annual list has been tracking Asian female business leaders since 2012. This year, it focuses on 20 women from 12 countries and regions. In addition to Taiwan's two technology industry leaders, the nominees also include corporate executives and entrepreneurs from India, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
From semiconductor precision tools, fiber optic cables to AI data center materials, this year's list reflects the industrial changes driven by artificial intelligence and highlights the important role of Taiwanese female business leaders in the global technology supply chain.
