Empowering women in semiconductors: Highlights from the WISH Event with Qubika’s Elisabeth Bohlmann

Exploring the role of women in shaping the future of semiconductor innovation and inclusivity

On November 7, Qubika’s Managing Director, Elisabeth Bohlmann, attended the Women in Semiconductor Hardware (WISH) conference in San Jose, California. This event, organized by the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), gathered a remarkable group of industry leaders to celebrate and support the contributions of women in the semiconductor field, spotlighting key discussions on AI, innovation, and fostering an inclusive industry culture.

Here’s a breakdown of the key themes of the event

Inspirational Stories & Career Journeys

Many sessions featured leaders sharing stories of resilience and trailblazing paths in the semiconductor field. These narratives offered invaluable advice and insight into navigating a highly competitive industry.

Technical Talks

The event included a series of highly specialized technical sessions, which covered topics from advanced manufacturing processes to AI applications in the semiconductor world.

A Deep Dive into AI

The AI sessions stood out for their depth and relevance, with discussions focusing on frameworks, responsible AI practices, and the importance of quality data for avoiding algorithmic bias.

 

Inspiring Leadership Insights

Christine King – First Female CEO in Semiconductors

One of the highlights was Christine King’s keynote, where she shared her journey from humble beginnings to becoming the first female CEO of a semiconductor company. Her message focused on identifying and utilizing opportunities to rise in the industry. Key takeaways included:
Seek the “white space”: Find gaps within the organization that need attention and use them as platforms to gain visibility.
Adaptability and Innovation: “You can catch up to the best engineers by excelling at the most recent thing.”

Leadership Advice

Ann B. Kelleher, Technology Development General Manager at Intel and recipient of the Dr. Lisa Su Women of Innovation Award, inspired attendees with an analogy on resilience: “When you get a no, decide if it’s a ‘tennis ball’ day or an ‘egg’ day” — meaning sometimes, the right approach is to bounce back like a tennis ball, while other times, it’s okay to let it rest. Another key theme was the importance of mentors and sponsors: mentors provide guidance and support, while sponsors advocate and open doors.

AI Sessions: Governance, Bias, and Responsible Innovation

The AI sessions provided essential takeaways for navigating this rapidly evolving technology:

Establishing a Responsible AI Governance Framework

Lalitha Suryanarayana, Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Seagate, emphasized the need for leadership guidance to ensure safe and ethical AI adoption. A structured governance framework, she suggested, should cover risk management and accountability practices.

Data Quality and Bias Mitigation

Jeanne Trinko Mechler and Angela Dalton spoke about the critical role of data quality in preventing AI-driven discrimination. Testing and pilot programs can ensure that only clean, relevant data is used, reducing the risks of inherent biases.

A Human in the Loop

Referring to tools like “Copilot,” Jeanne noted that AI is still a “copilot” for a reason — it requires human oversight, or a “pilot,” to guide and validate its actions responsibly.

Engaging Exercise

A memorable moment was when the audience was asked to use ChatGPT on their phones to generate images of people in leadership roles.The generated images predominantly depicted men, highlighting the importance of addressing bias within AI.

Closing Reflections: Liz’s Key Takeaways

The day ended with powerful reflections:

“Mission first, people always” – Remain steadfast to the mission, but never overlook the people driving it.

“No” is Just a Step Toward “Yes” – Persistence is key to achieving your goals.

Stand Out – Give yourself permission to make an impact, even when it feels uncomfortable.

This event was a valuable blend of learning, connection, and community-building, highlighting the incredible achievements and future possibilities for women in the semiconductor and tech industries.