Mei Xu, MA, is the founder and CEO of Pacific Trade International and its subsidiary, Chesapeake Bay Candle, a wellness-driven, multimillion-dollar home fragrance brand and home decor company, available through America’s biggest retailers. Born in Hangzhou, China, Xu was selected at age 12 to attend one of the first foreign language immersion schools to be trained as a future diplomat. After graduation, she attended Beijing Foreign Studies University, graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies. After moving to the United States, she earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1994, Xu and then-husband David Wang founded Chesapeake Bay Candle in the basement of their home in Annapolis, Md. The business continued to grow, and in 2015, Xu created a wellness lifestyle brand under the Chesapeake Bay Candle umbrella. The Chesapeake Bay Mind and Body collection was designed to help people achieve a more balanced lifestyle with home fragrances infused with all-natural essential oils. Chesapeake Bay Mind and Body was an overnight success that continues to grow in the United States and globally. In 2017, the New Jersey company Newell Brands acquired Chesapeake Bay Candle for $75 million.

As an active member of her community, Xu serves on the boards of many organizations and is a contributing affiliate of the Committee of 200, World Affairs Council, Aspen Institute, US China Business Council, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, and the Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. She also is a founding international ambassador of WEConnect International, a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers.