Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science with Christelle Faucon, VP of Sales at Agile Analog

With an impressive career that spans over 25 years within the global semiconductor ecosystem, Faucon brings invaluable experience and insight into the intersection of technology and diversity in the industry.

Hailing from France and now making her home in the Netherlands, Christelle’s journey from an Electronics Engineering Master’s graduate to a leading figure in the semiconductor world showcases a trajectory of her remarkable technical, commercial, and managerial achievements.  Christelle's roles have included significant tenures at TSMC and as President of GUC (Global Unichip) Europe.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is a fervent supporter of increasing female representation in the semiconductor sector, actively contributing to the Global Semiconductor Alliance Women's Leadership Initiative to inspire and empower women in the industry.

As one of the few women in your engineering course in the 1990s, can you share the main challenges you faced?

At college and university there were very few girls in my engineering classes. This added extra pressure and there was certain work in my mechanical engineering lessons that was sometimes physically challenging. However, I learnt to be more confident, to adapt and look at different ways to do the work. I was determined that engineering was the career for me.

How did those experiences shape your professional journey?

My first job after graduation was as a Design Engineer for VLSI Technology, an American company with a division in the South of France. It was quite daunting at times as I was juggling designing SoC blocks, developing behavioural models, writing Verilog, as well as performing synthesis, place and route, and verification tasks. However, my experiences during my engineering course helped me. I learnt that it is crucial to challenge yourself and to not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.

Over the years, how has support and opportunities from your peers influenced your path to leadership roles?

I have been fortunate in my career to have managers who encouraged me to take on more responsibility. With the right backing you can achieve much more than you think. I have had support from both men and women who believed in my abilities and goals. This has played a significant part in my success and path to leadership.

In your opinion, how can we help foster greater gender equality in tech leadership roles and how can women achieving leadership roles help to promote greater gender equality?

I feel it is very important to showcase successful female engineers and leaders in the semiconductor sector. My advice for women in these positions would be – don’t hide – come forward and share your expertise and experiences – within your organisation and the industry. Believe in yourself. If possible, talk at STEM, careers, and industry events. We need role models to inspire the younger generation and emerging female engineers.

It is also vital to support each other and to encourage more women to take on leadership roles in semiconductor companies. That’s why I got involved in the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative and I urge others to do so.

How does your involvement with the GSA Women's Leadership Initiative help to support and inspire women in the semiconductor industry?

I am really committed to empowering women in the semiconductor industry, by championing the creation of impactful programmes through the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative that foster diversity and celebrate achievements. Our objective is to help cultivate a strong community of women that provides support and equal opportunities. Mentorship, networking, and educational activities will be instrumental in driving forward our mission of empowering women in the field.

Joining the GSA EMEA Women’s Leadership Council marks an exciting opportunity for me to use my experience to help support and inspire women in the semiconductor industry – and together we will strive for positive change and inclusivity.

The first GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative EMEA event will take place in London on March 13th – the Women in Semiconductors Conference – on day one of the GSA International Semiconductor Conference. This event aims to highlight the achievements and experiences of women who have succeeded in navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Can you share some strategies you employ to balance the demands of personal and professional life?

It can seem like there is a lot of pressure when you are trying to balance homelife and work (especially if you have children). In my experience, if you are a mother who works full-time and travels some people in society may even make you feel guilty. My advice would be to trust your instincts. Your family will benefit from you being happy. Of course, always ensure that whatever the demands of your job there is clear time for family, and during that time you are 100% focused on them and building strong memories.

What advice would you give to young women and girls considering a career in STEM?

If you love science – go for it. A career in STEM is great! I find that the semiconductor industry is such an interesting place to work. In recent years we have seen innovative electronic devices that are transforming everyday lives. IoT, healthcare sensors, automotive safety systems – applications all made possible by advances in semiconductors. There are semiconductor companies, like Agile Analog, working on ground-breaking technology that will have real impact. It’s also a fun and fast-paced industry. When you work in the semiconductor sector you never get bored!

With the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11th February, what message would you like to share about the importance women in the science and tech sectors?

The UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an important global initiative aimed at promoting equal access to and participation in science and technology for women and girls. Currently, less than 30% of engineering graduates are female.

I love this quote by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent – starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists.” I totally agree with this. It’s undeniable that female scientists and engineers have so much to offer. Gender should not be seen as barrier in life. The focus should be on skills and dedication.

A diverse workplace means that we will be able to deal with a diverse range of issues and challenges. Both men and women must work together to ensure diversity becomes a reality. But it’s clear that the younger generation of female engineers need role models to inspire them. That’s why I am encouraging women in senior and leadership positions within the semiconductor industry to speak out.