S hirley Kao is a Taiwanese entrepreneur and the chairwoman of Uni-President Enterprises, one of Asia's largest food and beverage conglomerates. She is the widow of Kao Chin-yen, the company's founder. However, her role is far from being just an inheritor; she has been an integral part of the company's leadership and a significant shareholder for many years. Her father was also a key figure in the founding of the Uni-President Group.

Uni-President Enterprises has a vast and diversified portfolio. It is a dominant player in Taiwan's food industry, producing everything from instant noodles and dairy products to animal feed. The company also holds the licenses for major international brands in Taiwan and other parts of Asia, including 7-Eleven convenience stores and Starbucks coffee shops. Shirley Kao, along with her son, Alex Lo, who serves as the chairman of the parent company Uni-President Group, has overseen the company's continued expansion and its strategic investments across Asia, particularly in mainland China and Southeast Asia. Her leadership represents the continuity of the founding family's vision and control over the food giant.