Le, Tan (1977-…), is a Vietnamese-born Australian business executive. In 2011, Le cofounded the technology company EMOTIV. She also became the company’s chief executive officer (CEO). EMOTIV was founded to develop brain-computer interfaces, devices that enable the mind to interact with and even control a computer . The company makes headsets that monitor electrical impulses in the brain, a process called electroencephalography (EEG).
Le was born on May 20, 1977, in Vietnam . Her family fled the country in 1981, along with many other Vietnamese people in the aftermath of the Vietnam War (1957-1975). They settled in the Footscray neighborhood of Melbourne , Australia . In 1996, while studying at Monash University , Le became president of the Vietnamese Community of Footscray Association (later the Australian Vietnamese Services Resource Centre). This organization offered counseling and job training for Vietnamese refugees. She graduated from Monash University with bachelor’s degrees in law and commerce in 1998. The same year, Le was named Young Australian of the Year .
In 2000, Le cofounded and became the president of the text-messaging company SASme International. In 2003, she cofounded Emotiv Systems, which developed one of the first commercially marketed EEG headsets. Le later split with the company to form EMOTIV.
