Judith Estrin facts for kids

Judith "Judy" L. Estrin (born around 1954 or 1955) is an American businesswoman and leader in technology. She has started eight different technology companies. In the 1970s, Judy worked with Vinton Cerf at Stanford University. They helped create the Transmission Control Protocol, a key part of how the internet works. From 1998 to 2000, she was the main technology officer at Cisco Systems. Since 2007, she has been the CEO of JLABS, LLC. This company helps businesses, governments, and non-profit groups find new and better ways to do things.

Early Life and Learning

Judy Estrin's parents, Thelma and Gerald Estrin, were both computer scientists. They worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Judy is the middle of three sisters. All of them have had very successful careers. Her sister, Deborah Estrin, is also a computer science professor.

Growing up, Judy focused a lot on her studies. She learned a lot and followed the example of her parents. In high school, Judy also loved folk dance.

Judy earned her first degree in math and computer science from UCLA. She then got a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1977. At Stanford, Judy worked with a research group led by Vinton Cerf. He is known as one of the "fathers of the Internet". Cerf's team created the rules for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP. Judy's job was to help test the TCP with University College London. She also looked into Ethernet technology. This technology connects computers together in a small area, like an office.

Career in Technology

After Stanford, Judy worked at a new company called Zilog Corporation. This company made computer chips. She helped design important computer processors called the Z8 and Z8000. She also led the team that made one of the first commercial local area network systems, called Z-net. This system connected computers in a small area.

While at Zilog, Judy decided she wanted to start a company focused on computer networks. Networks were becoming very popular then. She wanted to help people understand what networks did and how they worked.

In 1981, Judy co-founded Bridge Communications with her husband. Bridge Communications made devices like network routers and bridges. These devices help send information across networks. Bridge became a public company in 1985. It later joined with another company called 3Com in 1987. Judy was in charge of the technology and engineering parts of Bridge. She also became the director of marketing and sales. After the merger, Judy and her husband left 3Com.

In 1988, they helped start Network Computing Devices (NCD). Judy became the president and CEO of NCD in 1993.

In 1995, Judy co-founded Precept Software, Inc. This company made software for networks. She was its president and CEO. In 1998, Cisco Systems bought Precept Software. Judy then became the chief technology officer and senior vice president at Cisco Systems until 2000.

In 1998, Fortune magazine named Judy as one of the "50 most powerful businesswomen in the United States."

In 2000, Judy co-founded Packet Design, LLC. This was another networking technology company. She was the CEO of Packet Design, LLC, until it closed in 2007. After that, she started JLABS, LLC. She wanted to use this company to explore her interests in new ideas and leadership. In 2013, she became the CEO of Evntlive, a tech company started by her son, David Carrico.

Author and Books

Judy Estrin wrote a book called Closing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy. It was published in 2008. In her book, she asks leaders in business, schools, and government to work together. She believes this will help the United States be more competitive in creating new things.

Serving on Boards

Judy Estrin has served on the boards of many large companies. A board is a group of people who help guide a company. She was on the board of FedEx Corporation from 1989 to 2010. She also served on the boards of Rockwell Automation (1994-1998) and Sun Microsystems (1995-2003). For fifteen years, from 1998 to 2014, she was on the board of The Walt Disney Company. In 2011, she also served on an advisory board for innovation called America COMPETES.

See also

In Spanish: Judith Estrin para niños