Mei Xu

Born in Hangzhou, China, Mei Xu was selected at age 12 among 80 children to train as a future diplomat. She attended Beijing Foreign Studies University, earning a BA in American studies, and later moved to the United States to study journalism at the University of Maryland. A World Bank hiring freeze after graduation derailed her original career plans and set her on an entrepreneurial path.

In 1994, Xu co-founded Pacific Trade International with her then-husband David Wang. The two experimented with candle-making in their home kitchen before building Chesapeake Bay Candle into the company's flagship brand. By 2005, Xu had launched a second brand, Blissliving Home, an interior lifestyle company. Newell Brands acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million in 2017; Xu stepped down as CEO in 2018 but retained leadership of Pacific Trade International.

In late 2022, Xu launched Blueme, a sustainable fragrance brand rooted in fragrance science. Blueme now sells in Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. She also serves as CEO of YesSheMay.com, a community and marketplace for women entrepreneurs, and sits on the board of trustees for the University of Maryland in Baltimore.