Early Life and Education
Susan Ocampo was born in the Philippines. Her family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Bay Area, which later became the heart of Silicon Valley. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryknoll College, now Miriam College, in the Philippines, where she studied business administration.
Rise to Success
Ocampo co-founded Sirenza Microdevices in 1984 with her late husband, John Ocampo. The company specialized in radio frequency (RF) semiconductors and components. Under her leadership as Chief Financial Officer, Sirenza went public in 2000 and was later sold for $900 million in 2007. In 2008, she co-founded GaAs Labs, a private investment fund focusing on the communications semiconductor market.
Key Business Strategies
Ocampo's business acumen is evident in her strategic investments and leadership roles. She served as a board member and the largest individual shareholder of MACOM Technology Solutions. Her experience includes transitioning from operational leadership to investment-focused roles within the semiconductor sector. In 2025, Ocampo retired from MACOM's board after a 15-year tenure.
Philanthropy
Susan Ocampo, along with her late husband, John Ocampo, made a $25 million donation to Santa Clara University in 2021 to bolster interdisciplinary STEM education. The gift supported the completion of the John and Susan Ocampo Interdisciplinary Wing within the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation, which houses programs from the Leavey School of Business, School of Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences.