International Women's Day: Shining the spotlight on Women in Quantum

International Women's Day is here. It's a time to celebrate and recognise the enormous and often underrated contribution that women have made to social, cultural, economic, and political life worldwide.

While the day is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the hard-won battles and progress that women have made, it's also an opportunity to reflect on the work ahead.

Gender barriers still exist across STEM subjects and within the quantum community. Women are under-represented in the quantum sector. A report by Interference Advisors from 2020 suggests that only 10% of quantum startup staff are female.

This blog will look at the situation for women in the quantum industry and gather the views and advice of some prominent female leaders in the space.

Encouraging more women in quantum

Despite the gender disparity within the quantum community, there is a clear appetite to balance the numbers. However, it's a complex issue without quick fixes.

Encouraging women to take up physics must start at an early age. Schools can do more to make STEM subjects more accessible and exciting to young girls. Science is a lifelong passion that can be ignited at a young age.

Additionally, more mentorship and role models can make a positive impact. Finally, quantum firms can do their part, too. They must provide clear career pathways for leadership positions to encourage participation from female candidates.

Role models and leaders

As mentioned above, women in quantum have an essential role in reducing inequality. If they hold visible leadership positions, they can encourage the next generation of students to break free of societal restrictions. On top of that, competent participants can help dismantle any prejudices that still exist about women in STEM subjects.

Why women in quantum are essential to the future of the sector

Encouraging more women in quantum is vital for several reasons beyond social and equality considerations. In developed nations, there is a shortage of engineers of every kind. As our economies become more tech-focused, women represent an underutilised resource.

While recent years have seen improvements in the STEM representation of women, quantum is lagging. Programs encouraging more STEM representation have positively affected these figures, so they should have a similar impact on the quantum community.

Focus on women in quantum

As part of International Women's Day, we're focusing on women in quantum. These trailblazers are inspirations and role models for the next generation of physicists and leaders within the quantum sector.

Throughout a series of illuminating chats, we cover various subjects about women in quantum, including the barriers and opportunities within the space and advice for aspiring female quantum stars of the future.

Profile #1: Denise Ruffner - President of Women in Quantum

Denise Ruffner is a well-known figure in the quantum community. She is also known as the founder and president of Women in Quantum, a chapter of the worldwide group OneQuantum.

As a Chief Business Officer, Ruffner has worked for quantum businesses like Cambridge Quantum, IonQ, IBM Quantum, and Atom Computing. Currently, she's the Chief Executive Officer at Amara Hill Consulting.

With such a wealth of experience in the quantum sector and a central role in a women-focused quantum group, it’s hard to find a better person to ask about the present situation for women in tech.

Ruffner is set to moderate a talk at the upcoming Quantum.Tech Boston conference entitled, Have we seen the "silver bullet" moment for quantum computing in life sciences and pharmaceuticals?.

The talk is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Day 1 of the main conference. It promises to be a worthwhile discussion, with topics including quantum breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical industry, whether there is too much hype in the space and insights into how quantum is seen at the boardroom level.

We sat down with Ruffner to discuss the critical issues facing women working in the quantum community.

On becoming a female leader in quantum

The existing deficit in women in the overall quantum space also extends to the boardroom. This situation makes it all the more important to seek the thoughts of female leadership in the quantum community.

Ruffner is one such leader. She has held prominent positions at several leading quantum companies. So it's only natural to learn more about her path to becoming a female leader in quantum.

"I started out in quantum in IBM and had a great experience with a new organisation." Ruffner shares. "Because we were new, I had many responsibilities and learned about startups, product, training IBM ambassadors, and working on sales strategies."

Ruffner's experience highlights the importance of being ready to take opportunities. The quantum industry is still young, and new, promising startups emerge regularly. Getting in at the ground level provides chances to learn various skills that put women in contention for top positions. With this in mind, two things are essential.

Firstly, business and government organisations must support women entering the quantum industry. This help can be through programs or directives that encourage participation.

Secondly, women must be ready to make the most of their opportunities, as Ruffner's experience shows. Joining emerging businesses can provide a pathway.

Are women breaking through in tech?

There has been more focus on women breaking into tech roles in recent years. Vocal diversity and inclusion (D&I) commitments indicate that the tech world is serious about these efforts. However, the rate of change is slow.

So, does Ruffner feel that progress is being made? "I am very happy to see a greater emphasis on diversity." she says. "There are now more women speaking at events, and more women in different roles in quantum companies."

While that sounds encouraging, Ruffner solemnly notes that the quantum space still has some growing up. "I want to emphasise that women are more "token women" and not always taken seriously by executive management, no matter their experience and education."

The broader tech industry has struggled with suggestions of tokenism for years. Too often, women are viewed as being there for appearance and not aptitude. This attitude shows that tech leaders know that a lack of diversity is a problem. What's more, they're aware that they should be perceived as contributing to the solution.

However, viewing women as a mascot for their commitment to social issues does a great disservice to skilled physicists trying to enter the space. Career growth requires opportunities, and it’s high time that quantum leaders made a more genuine commitment.

Advice for female grads

New female graduates with an interest in quantum computing face a dilemma. It's an emerging industry, so there is plenty of room for career growth. However, statistics on women in quantum suggest breaking down barriers is challenging.

What advice would Ruffner give to female grads entering the world of quantum technologies? "It's a great group of people and a great place to start a career." she shares. "Because quantum computing is new, you all have a great lifetime career in front of you."

Ruffner's philosophy of how to engage with the industry is inspiring. She advises new grads to "Try to gain every new experience that you can and let yourself be challenged by different assignments."

Finally, she advances, "Your role is to learn as much as you can to make yourself as valuable as you can as you gain experience." Her last point is significant. Making yourself valuable and indispensable can only come through learning and experience. Passion, curiosity, and hard work are essential.

The importance of role models

A considerable part of the broader discussion about diversity in tech involves the importance of role models. Seeing women triumphing in technical spaces is inspiring. It gives other women the confidence to know that success is possible.

Additionally, female tech leaders can shape the company culture and reduce some elements that discourage women. To illustrate the point, we asked Rutter which leaders (both men and women) had inspired her to take a leadership role.

"There are several leaders that have had a great impact on me, "Rutter shares. "Dave Turek at IBM always impressed me with his ability to look at a problem from different perspectives; Elizabeth Reutsch of Keysight impressed me with her amazing and kind communication skills; and finally, Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, Co-founder and CEO of Nu Quantum."

Ruffner is particularly complimentary about Palacios-Berraquero, praising "her skills in leading scientific projects and achieving results."

If you want to catch more from Denise Ruffner, she is moderating a talk on the Lifesciences stream at Quantum.Tech at Marriott Copley Place in Boston on April 25. The discussion starts at 3:00 PM with a panel including Kam Chana of Merck, Brian Martin from Abbvie, and Pfizer's Vassilios Pantazopoulos.

Profile #2: Alexandra Beckstein — Cofounder and CEO of QAI Ventures

Alexandra Beckstein is the CEO and co-founder of QAI Ventures. Based in Basel, Switzerland, the investment firm aims to build a quantum ecosystem by accelerating startups in the space.

Beckstein will appear on the closing panel of Day 2 of Quantum.Tech Boston. Scheduled for 5:00 PM, the discussion will centre around What role can VCs play in taking the industry towards quantum advantage? It promises to be an unmissable discussion for investors and financiers interested in the quantum space.

We sat down to pick Beckstein's brain about the situation for women in quantum.

To see what Alexandra will be talking about at Quantum.Tech Boston, download the agenda

A path towards leadership

Beckstein has a fascinating background. She is a trained geoscientist with experience working as a dam safety specialist. Backstein's trade uniquely places her to advise how women can open the floodgates and take leadership positions in tech and quantum firms.

When asked how she has cracked the code, Beckstein provides an intriguing answer. "I guess I got to where I am today through curiosity, focus, and a free and supportive environment," she states. "I never planned to be a female leader in quantum."

Beckstein credits others for helping her on her path "We saw needs and opportunities in the industry, and I had the support to go." Her response underlines the importance of support, encouragement, and recognising talent.

Despite her training as a natural scientist, Beckstein has embraced quantum by "asking questions, reading a lot, listening and doing." Her approach serves as an inspiration to us all that the right attitude can take you far.

Are women breaking through in tech?

Beckstein is notable for her enthusiastic and sanguine disposition. When asked whether women are breaking through in the tech space, she says characteristically, "I don't know the statistics, but I notice that women are coming out louder and more determined with more confidence."

However, whether our time represents a landmark moment is another question. Beckstein suggests that we are seeing a "slow, healthy and self-reinforcing evolution. "

Beckstein acknowledges the importance of trailblazing women in quantum. "If you ask me what can be done to see more women in the tech industry, it's clearly creating role models and giving them a stage."

Beckstein's story and can-do attitude is, without doubt, an example of the kind of figures that we need more of in the industry.

Advice for women entering quantum

When asked what advice she would give women entering the tech space, Beckstein states, "I would advise female and male grads exactly the same."

Becksteins counsels grads that quantum is a "technology that could change our society and our lives." She adds that if new entrants "want to be part of the change: Be there, join the journey!"

Again, Beckstein's belief in positivity and resolve shines through. While society and the quantum community need to change to accommodate more women, sitting around and waiting for it to happen is not an option. Opportunities are there, and progress happens when we grasp it with both hands.

Inspirational leaders

When speaking to successful people, there is a natural inclination to ask who motivated them to get where they are. Beckstein was inspired by a patchwork of role models.

"I don't have just one role model; I have many." she shares. "I even keep a list of role models for different things. There are female colleagues, artists, friends, and politicians. I admire many women for different things."

On what common characteristics her role models exhibit, Beckstein suggests that "they are themselves, they know themselves, and they go exactly their own way - very often outside the norm."

You can catch Beckstein at 5:00 PM on Day 2 at Quantum.Tech for more pragmatic pearls of wisdom. She appears on a panel with some of the biggest names in investment to discuss the role that VCs can play in pushing forward the QC space.

Profile #3: Elica Kyoseva - Program Director at Wellcome Leap

Elica Kyoseva is a Program Director at Wellcome Leap. The organisation is a vast network of health-related non-profits, institutions, and businesses connecting over 1M researchers. Their goal is to facilitate collaboration and reduce development times involved with breakthroughs in human health.

Kyoseva is speaking at Quantum.Tech Boston at 3:00 PM April 25 on Day 1 of the event. She will appear alongside other quantum heavyweights to discuss the topic: Have we seen the 'silver bullet' moment for quantum computing in life sciences and pharmaceuticals?

We sat down with Kyoseva to discuss the role of women in quantum from her leadership perspective.

The path to becoming a female leader in quantum

One of the most intriguing aspects of speaking with women leaders in tech is the rich and diverse paths each individual has taken to get where they are.

While Kyoseva describes her path as "traditional", it still makes for a fascinating story. She took an advanced degree in physics before "conducting research in the field of quantum optics." During her five years in academia, the quantum industry matured, leading her to "leave academia and look at entrepreneurial opportunities".

Ultimately, Kyoseva entered the pharmaceutical industry, which she describes as "a tremendous opportunity for me to work for the end user of quantum computing". She indicates that working in pharma prepared her for her role at Wellcome Leap.

Finally, she attributes her time as a Scientific Expert for the European Commission as the role that helped "develop my decision-making abilities."

Kyoseva adds that regardless of the path taken, "becoming a leader in quantum technologies requires hard work, dedication, and a passion for science."

Women's role in the modern tech industry

Kyoseva is a testament to the fact that hard work, grit, and ability are paying off for many women in tech. However, how does she see women's broader impact in quantum and other tech spaces?

"I do notice a rise in the proportion of women working in our field, which is encouraging and exciting." she says. "However, there is still a long way to go before we achieve full diversity and gender equality in quantum computing."

Kyoseva cites the low numbers of women in technical and leadership roles as a challenge that needs to be addressed if quantum is to be considered diverse. However, she is optimistic about change and believes "that this will happen with work and dedication from the community to attract young girls and women to study quantum computing-related fields."

Advice for female grads

As the next generation of graduates leaves school, they are hungry for advice. Thankfully, Kyoseva has plenty of exciting pointers for women trying to break into quantum.

Kyoseva lists four core areas of advice that will help women have better careers in quantum.

Firstly, she suggests that practising confidence is essential. "As a woman in a male-dominated field, it can be easy to feel like you don't belong. But remember that you are just as capable and talented as anyone else in the field."

Secondly, Kyoseva underlines the importance of education. "Quantum technologies are built on the principles of quantum mechanics, so it's essential to have a strong understanding of the fundamentals."

She recommends that grads "learn the basics of, for example, linear algebra, quantum mechanics, and quantum computing." With this grounding, graduates can understand complex subjects and stay current on new happenings in the sector.

Thirdly, she encourages networking and proactively finding collaboration opportunities with "researchers, companies, and institutions", attending conferences, and joining quantum community groups.

Finally, Kyoseva recommends staying curious and open-minded. She advocates embracing unfamiliar topics and being "willing to learn from others".

Leadership role models

All inspirational figures find motivation in their role models. Kyoseva is no different. Indeed, she takes her lead from a much-loved and familiar figure outside quantum computing. "I find Jacinda Ardern, the ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand, to be inspirational, and her leadership positively impacted me," she says.

When asked what she admires most about Ardern, she cites the "kindness and empathy" she showed during her stint in office and her ability to "bring out the best in others, and work towards making a positive difference."

Lastly, Kyoseva praises Ardern for being a "strong advocate for women's rights and gender equality" before adding, "I hope that not long from now, we will have a similar female role model in quantum computing." Kyoseva might not have to look too far for that inspirational figure.

For more refreshing insights on the quantum industry, you can hear Elica Kyoseva speak at 3:00 PM on Day 1 of Quantum.Tech. She will be appearing on the panel discussion tackling the subject: Have we seen the 'silver bullet' moment for quantum computing in life sciences and pharmaceuticals?

Profile #4: Marta Mauri, Research Manager, Quantum AI at Zapata Computing

Marta Mauri is the research manager of Zapata Computing's Quantum AI department. Zapata builds enterprise quantum software with a particular focus on near-term quantum algorithms.

Register here today to join Marta and Zapata Computing in Boston!

The path to quantum leadership

Mauri joined Zapata in late 2019 as a quantum software engineer before working her way up to the role of Research Manager. Her studies connected her to the world of neural networks and machine learning, as well as computational quantum physics.

As Mauri explains, "I did my physics masters in Milan, focusing on quantum many-body computational physics." She states. "I had the opportunity to visit Toronto for a few months as a visiting student: while I was there, I realised I didn't want to pursue an academic career."

As luck would have it, a supervisor put Mauri in contact with her current boss at Zapata and said, "they do interesting stuff, check them out". She did, and it was the start of a strong relationship.

As for career paths, Mauri recommends "a reality-driven pattern rather than being carefully planned years in advance". The world and the economy are ever-changing and evolving; agility is essential.

Mauri has a philosophical outlook on planning a career path and submits, "keep your eyes wide open, discover what resonates with your desires, and do not fear to follow it as best as you can, and you will be surprised. Reality answers when you question it."

Women in tech

Tech is still male-dominated. However, things are changing. How does Mauri see this gradual evolution? "The quantum industry has been growing a lot overall, and, of course, that has brought more women into the field." she suggests.

However, though supportive of the trends, Mauri is deliberately detached from the bigger picture, as she explains, "I don't have a good sense of the numbers though – I like to operate at a "local" level rather than a "systemic" one!"

Mauri offers a straightforward yet powerful solution on what more we can do to achieve a fairer representation with the quantum and tech communities. "I think something very simple we can do is to share our passion and encourage the young women we happen to meet to trust their interests and take the risk to apply for jobs in the field." Sage advice.

Advice for graduates

As someone who was in academia not too long ago, Mauri's advice for new grads is precious. As her advice shows, for her, attitude is more important than specifics.

Mauri advises new grads to "Keep your eyes open and look for mentors - there are plenty of them!". She adds, "The quantum world is full of amazing people willing to share their knowledge, build community and give a ton of support."

Finally, she highlights a phenomenon that will be familiar to anyone taking a big step into a new career. "Don't listen to imposter's syndrome," which she calls "your inner hater". Mauri suggests that new entrants to quantum computing must remember that "your contribution is irreplaceable; there's only one of you in the entire history of the world."

Inspirational leaders

For someone who extols the virtues of finding mentors, it's no surprise that Mauri has had a few that significantly impacted her career. Indeed, she suggests, "I wouldn't be the person I am now without all the mentors I've had the gift to meet."

Speaking with passion and gratitude, Mauri lists some of the important figures who helped her over the years, citing, "My family, my physics teacher in high school, my thesis supervisor in university, a dear friend of mine who helped me tremendously in moving into the world of work, my current bosses."

Most significantly, she suggests that each of the guides "looked at me as a person, not just as a woman." Furthermore, she indicates that the most important thing she learned from these mentors was that "interacting with another person is the most enriching experience you can have."

Finally, regarding inspirational figures, Mauri says, "Great leaders take you to a place where your vision is enlarged so that you can enjoy the view of a larger horizon."

Seeing the bigger picture has served Mauri well in her career. Her thoughtful, curious attitude perfectly fits an emerging field like quantum computing.

Profile #5: Dr Nadia Carlsten - VP of Product, SandboxAQ

Dr Nadia Carlsten is the VP of Product at SandboxAQ. Based in Silicon Valley, SandboxAQ is an enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) developer. What makes SandboxAQ unique is its use of both artificial intelligence and quantum computing to build applications for healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, and other sectors.

Dr Carlsten is a formidable technology executive. Her comprehensive blend of experience and expertise perfectly suits SandboxAQ's approach. On top of her work at SandboxAQ, Dr Carlsten runs the strategic consulting firm Carlsten Innovation; she also founded BoldQubit in 2016. Her experience in deep tech includes AI, quantum, and Biotech.

We sat down with Dr Carlsten to get her take on women in quantum in light of International Women's Day.

Becoming a quantum leader

One of the most encouraging aspects of this series of interviews is each leader's diverse path. While many established industries have demarcated pathways, journeys to quantum leadership positions are more flexible.

Dr Carlsten is another case in point. She studied physics as an undergrad before completing a PhD in Engineering from Berkeley. However, as she states, "my path to quantum really accelerated through my work commercialising emerging technologies."

After studying at Haas Business school, Dr Carlsten focused on "helping organisations manage intellectual property and technology innovation."

Next, she ran a commercialisation program for the Department of Homeland Security, where she was "responsible for bringing to market different types of security-related technologies, including quantum-related technologies."

Dr Carlsten's time with the Department of Homeland security opened her eyes to the security implications of quantum and further deepened her interest in the overall space.

Soon, she moved to Amazon, where she helped launch Amazon Braket, AWS's first quantum computing service, before becoming Head of Product for AWS Center for Quantum Computing. Then, SandboxAQ came calling.

Dr Carlsten is a shining example of what is possible when you learn and grow with each position. She has fused her technical and management skills to become the kind of rare all-rounder businesses dream about.

Are women breaking through in tech?

While tech still lags behind other sectors in terms of diversity, clear progress is being made. So, how does Dr Carlsten see the situation for women in tech? "

I am seeing more women entering the tech industry and being interested in joining very technical fields, which makes me hopeful." she suggests. However, she soon adds, "there is a lot more work to be done to support women working in technical roles and ensure that they have opportunities for successful careers in these fields."

Dr Carlsten mentions that she'd "like to see more commitment to improving the retention of technical women working in the tech industry, including providing equal opportunities for career progression." Indeed, statistics indicate that half of all women in technical roles quit before they're 35.

"Just focusing on early career is not enough," Dr Carlsten states, "we need to do more at the mid-career stage to ensure talented women are not leaving the tech industry."

The persistent skills shortage and talent acquisition problems facing tech teams mean retaining skilled women should be a significant priority.

Advice for female grads entering quantum

Dr Carlsten's path to quantum leadership puts her in an excellent position to advise new grads with ambitions for entering the sector.

Her first piece of advice to new grads is to "make sure you're entering the field of quantum for the right reasons! Don't do it just because it's buzzy right now." Many people enter particular spaces because it's a good career move. However, if you don't have a true passion for the discipline, work can become a real slog.

Dr Carlsten's next piece of advice to fresh grads is to "get as much hands-on experience with quantum hardware as you can." She counsels that the widespread accessibility of cloud-based quantum processors offers an excellent learning opportunity. Additionally, Dr Carlsten suggests that job seekers should "learn to program different types of quantum computers on Amazon Braket or IBM."

Her third and final piece of advice is subtle yet significant. Dr Carlsten recommends that grads branch out and "expand your view and your network across all quantum technologies." before adding, "Quantum computing gets the most attention, but it's not the only place you can make an impact in quantum."

To see what the women of quantum will be discussing at this years event, view the agenda here.

On learning from leaders

Dr Carlsten has added to her technical skills by gaining vast experience in various roles. However, she feels that becoming a leader is about absorbing wisdom and best practices from those around you. "I make it my mission to learn something from every leader I work with." Her philosophy is something we could all learn from.

Dr Carlsten has worked with some great leaders and taken something from each one. "At Amazon, I learned a lot from Jeff Bezos' philosophy for customer obsession," Dr Carlsten says, adding that she picked up a lot "about operational excellence at scale from AWS leaders like Bill Vass, the VP of Engineering."

Additionally, her work at SandboxAQ has put Dr Carlsten in close contact with respected leaders like Jack Hidary and Eric Schmidt, among others.

However, she notes, "some of the leaders that have had the most impact on me are ones that I have not had a chance to work with directly yet."

Dr Carlsten cites former IBM CEO Ginny Rometty as a particular inspiration. Her admiration stems partly from Rometty's "impressive career in tech." However, Rometty's belief that "how we lead is as important as what we achieve" has been particularly compelling for Dr Carlsten.

As she suggests, "I'm a firm believer that leading means learning from others and striving for excellence regardless of position." This humility and thirst for knowledge sets great leaders apart and inspires loyalty and productivity in others. The future is bright for SandboxAQ with Dr Carlsten at the helm.

Happy International Women’s Day from

With International Women’s Day upon us, there’s no better time to celebrate women making a significant impact in the quantum industry. Gender barriers still exist in the sector, and female representation is low in technical and leadership positions. However, as the interviews with these inspirational women show, there is plenty of reason for hope.

The quantum industry stands to change the world through technological advancement. However, the community can also positively contribute to gender equality by supporting women to achieve their dreams within the sector.

Learning and networking are a huge part of moving toward equality. Quantum.Tech provides excellent opportunities for women looking to build long-lasting, meaningful alliances that will help enrich and progress their careers.

Make sure to join us at Marriott Copley Place in Boston between April 24-26th. Our diverse program will bring together over 400 global leaders in the quantum industry to discuss the subjects that matter in this exciting, emerging space.

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