(CNN)Here's a look at the life of Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO and 2016 Republican presidential candidate.
Personal
Birth date: September 6, 1954
Birth place: Austin, Texas
Birth name: Cara Carleton Sneed
Father: Joseph T. Sneed III, federal judge and law professor
Mother: Madelon Montross Juergens, artist
Marriages: Frank Fiorina (1985-present); Todd Bartlem (June 1977-1984, divorced)
Children: Two stepdaughters with Frank Fiorina: Traci and Lori Ann
Education: Stanford University, B.A., 1976; University of Maryland, M.B.A., 1980; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.S., 1989; attended UCLA School of Law
Other Facts
The first woman to head a Fortune 50 company and a company among the Dow Jones Industrial Average when she became CEO and president of Hewlett-Packard Company in 1999.
The first person to head HP who came from outside the company.
The first female officer at AT&T. By the age of 40, she was leading AT&T's North American operations.
Began her career as a secretary in a real estate office.
Timeline
1980 - Begins working for AT&T as a sales representative.
April 1996 - Oversees the $3 billion initial public offering of Lucent Technologies, Inc. when it is spun off from AT&T.
1998 - Becomes president of Lucent Technologies' global service-provider division.
1999-2005 - CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
2000 - HP names Fiorina chairman of the board.
September 3, 2001 - Hewlett-Packard buys Compaq Computer Corp., a move orchestrated by Fiorina amid opposition from both the Hewlett and the Packard families.
February 8, 2005 - Resigns as HP CEO.
October 9, 2006 - Her memoir, "Tough Choices," is published.
October 2007 - Becomes a business commentator on the Fox Business Network.
2008 - Serves as an economic adviser to Sen. John McCain during his presidential campaign.
February 20, 2009 - Is diagnosed with breast cancer at age 54.
November 2, 2010 - Loses her bid to unseat California Senator Barbara Boxer. She campaigns against US President Barack Obama's Affordable Healthcare Act and abortion rights.
2014 - Launches the Unlocking Potential Project, a political action committee that aims to inform women voters about conservative positions and issues.
February 24, 2015 - Supporters launch Carly for America, a super PAC to support Fiorina's presidential bid.
May 4, 2015 - Announces her candidacy for US president, seeking the Republican Party's nomination.
May 5, 2015 - Her book, "Rising to the Challenge: My Leadership Journey," is published.
February 10, 2016 - Suspends her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.
March 9, 2016 - Fiorina endorses Texas Senator Ted Cruz for US president.
April 27, 2016 - Cruz formally names Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate. Cruz suspends his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on May 3, 2016.
September 8, 2017 - Announces she will not seek the Republican nomination for US Senate in Virginia's 2018 election.
March 2019 - Is appointed Distinguished Clinical Professor in Leadership at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America.
June 25, 2020 - Fiorina tells The Atlantic's podcast The Ticket that she'll vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Former business executive Carly Fiorina speaks to guests gathered at the Point of Grace Church for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition 2015 Spring Kickoff on April 25, 2015, in Waukee, Iowa.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina prepares to speak to guests gathered at the Point of Grace Church for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition 2015 Spring Kickoff on April 25, 2015, in Waukee, Iowa.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina speaks to guests gathered at the Point of Grace Church for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition 2015 Spring Kickoff on April 25, 2015, in Waukee, Iowa.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina greets guests at the Johnson County Republicans Spaghetti Dinner at Clear Creek Amana High School on April 24, 2015, in Tiffin, Iowa.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina, right, poses for a selfie with Joe Koberna at the Johnson County Republicans Spaghetti Dinner at Clear Creek Amana High School on April 24, 2015, in Tiffin, Iowa.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit April 18, 2015, in Nashua, New Hampshire.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina speaks during a forum on Capitol Hill March 16, 2015, in Washington. Fiorina spoke about what she calls the War on Women in politics.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina delivers remarks at a discussion called "Welcoming Every Life: Choosing Life after an Unexpected Prenatal Diagnosis, focusing on caring for children with Down Syndrome," organized by the Heritage Foundation and the National Review Institute in Washington on January 20, 2015.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina concedes defeat to her rival Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, during a news conference at her Irvine campaign headquarters on November 3, 2010, in Irvine, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina, left, watches election results with granddaughter Kara Tribby, 7, in her hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, November 2, 2010, in Irvine, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina, left, puts on headphones before participating in a radio debate with incumbent U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, in Washington, as co-moderator Gabriel Lerner, metro editor of La Opinion, does the same at local public-radio affiliate KPCC studios September 29, 2010, in Pasadena, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina arrives for a news conference after participating in a debate with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, in a radio debate hosted by La Opinion and public radio station KPCC on September 29, 2010, at the KPCC studios in Pasadena, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Boxer, left, and Fiorina, center, greet moderator Randy Shandobil, right, after a debate on the campus of Saint Mary's College September 1, 2010, in Moraga, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina, left, smiles with her husband Frank Fiorina, right, after casting their ballots at a polling place June 8, 2010, in Los Altos Hills, California.
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Photos: Carly Fiorina's political career
Fiorina greets supporters after announcing her candidacy for U.S. Senate at Earth Friendly Products packaging plant on November 4, 2009, in Garden Grove, California.
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