Q. Which trends or innovations do you think will shape the electronics industry in the upcoming year, and what do you see as the next “big thing” for women leaders in this space?

Chiplets and security of AI applications are two key trends shaping the electronics industry. With Moore’s law scaling slows down chiplet architecture fundamentally changes how chips are designed, built and scaled. IPs can be reused across multiple products. Only the performance critical blocks will require advanced nodes. This modular approach will lead to cost reductions of about 45% along with lower time to market. High speed interconnects such as UCIes also allow chiplets to have enhanced performance. As AI is increasingly used to accelerate chip design and deployed at the edge, the attack surface expands significantly. This makes robust, end-to-end security which is rooted in hardware and spanning the full lifecycle of AI applications, not just important but a critical priority for the industry.

Q. What practical advice or criteria would you share to help entrants stand out in the awards?

To stand out in the awards, entrants should focus on clearly articulating their impact. It’s not just about what you’ve done, but why it matters. How your work has driven innovation, solved meaningful problems, or delivered measurable outcomes for customers, teams, or the wider industry. Strong entries also highlight leadership: the ability to influence, collaborate, and bring others along, whether through mentoring, advocacy, or inclusive ways of working. Finally, authenticity is key. The most compelling submissions tell a clear, confident story that connects technical excellence with real-world impact and a genuine commitment to advancing the electronics community.

Q. How do awards like these help drive positive change, raise visibility, and support long‑term growth, innovation, and inclusion across the industry?

First, they raise visibility. By spotlighting women at different stages of their careers, the awards make talent visible that might otherwise go unnoticed. Seeing real role models in technical and leadership roles helps challenge outdated perceptions of who belongs in electronics and makes the industry feel more accessible to the next generation. Second, they drive positive change by signalling what the industry values. When innovation, leadership, collaboration, and inclusion are publicly recognised, they become benchmarks others aspire to. This encourages companies to invest not only in technology, but also in people, culture, and inclusive leadership practices. Third, they support long-term growth and innovation. Diverse teams are proven to be more creative and effective problem-solvers. By celebrating diverse leadership and inclusive organisations, the awards help strengthen talent pipelines, improve retention, and ultimately fuel better innovation and business outcomes. Finally, they build community and momentum. Bringing together individuals, companies, and allies creates networks that extend well beyond the event itself, supporting mentorship, sponsorship, and collaboration that continue to drive progress across the industry.