Alissa M. Fitzgerald, PhD, founder and CEO of AMFitzgerald, was recently named Executive of the Year at the 2024 Best of Sensors Awards. The award recognizes her pioneering work in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and exceptional leadership in transforming cutting-edge technologies into impactful products.
She revealed in a short interview, below, her feelings about the glass ceiling (she went around it) and DEI (the industry is going to need many new hires as the current generation of experts retires).
Dr. Fitzgerald’s journey in the MEMS industry began over two decades ago when she founded AMFitzgerald in 2003. With a vision to develop a multitude of emerging MEMS-based technologies, she has overseen the commercialization of MEMS solutions valued at approximately $10 billion, enhancing the lives of millions worldwide. AMFitzgerald has grown from a startup to an internationally recognized MEMS and microtechnology product development firm, helping hundreds of companies realize their vision in silicon.
Charlene Soucy, senior director of Sensors & Electronics at Questex, praised her contributions during the award ceremony. “The Executive of the Year stands as a pioneering figure in the field of MEMS and the founder and CEO of her own company. Driven by her vision to transform cutting-edge technologies into impactful products, she has overseen the commercialization of MEMS solutions valued at approximately $10 billion, enhancing the lives of millions worldwide,” Soucy said. She also highlighted Dr. Fitzgerald’s dedication to scientific advancement and STEM education, emphasizing her impact and influence within the industry.
Dr. Fitzgerald’s expertise extends beyond MEMs to emerging areas such as quantum sensors and computing technology. Her forward-thinking approach and adaptability have been instrumental to her success. “Dr. Fitzgerald represents the pinnacle of innovation and leadership in the MEMS and sensors industry. Having grown AMFitzgerald from a startup to an internationally recognized MEMS and microtechnology product development firm in just over two decades, Dr. Fitzgerald has helped hundreds of companies realize their vision in silicon,” Soucy added.
Dr. Fitzgerald’s career spans more than 25 years with engineering experience in MEMS design, fabrication, and product development. She has developed more than a dozen distinct MEMS devices, including piezoresistive pressure sensors, ultrasound transducers, and infrared imagers. Her experience spans the entire cycle of microelectronic product development, from business and IP strategy to supply chain and manufacturing operations.
Dr. Alissa M. Fitzgerald’s recognition as the Executive of the Year at the 2024 Best of Sensors Awards underscores her exceptional leadership, innovative spirit, and enduring commitment to advancing technology and inspiring future generations in science and engineering.
Fierce Electronics caught up with her after she was named Executive of the Year:
FE: You founded a company devoted to building MEMS solutions. How is the MEMS field doing, and what has been the greatest need — tech insight or better marketing or something else?
Fitzgerald: The MEMS industry continues to innovate and provide exciting new sensors and components to products in many different end markets. Commodity MEMS, such as pressure sensors, microphones, and inertial sensors, are now ubiquitous in consumer electronics, smartphones, and automobiles. You probably have a dozen MEMS devices within arm’s reach of
you right now. There’s a new wave coming: MEMS technology leveraging piezoelectric (piezo) films will soon emerge commercially. These piezo-based products include microspeakers, micromirrors for lidar, data-center optical switching, medical imaging, and many more.
RELATED: What are piezoelectricity and piezoresistance?
FE: What does it take to be a good executive and founder — in any field? Is there something special required in the tech field? Did you discover any tricks you can share?
Fitzgerald: As a founder, especially in B2B businesses, you must talk to potential customers and listen carefully to what they say as part of your design process. Customers who buy advanced technology have very specific needs, and you need to understand those requirements very well in order to successfully create products that someone will actually buy. As for what it takes to be a good executive, well, there are thousands of books already published on that topic. To be a good “hard tech” executive in the B2B semiconductor space, I believe that it’s important to have a solid technical foundation so you can deeply understand and appreciate what your team and customers are telling you. Semi and MEMS technology, and its manufacture, is getting more and more complicated.
FE: Can you discuss how real the glass ceiling today is for women in tech or other leadership roles? Is it a little cracked now or just as bad as ever with a debate whether DEI is still important in industry?
Fitzgerald: For me, the best way to get through the glass ceiling --which is still real--has been to go around it — by founding and building the company that I wanted to work for and lead. I know many other female CEOs in the semiconductor space who have taken the same approach, seeing entrepreneurship as the best way to fulfill their career goals. Overall, there has been progress. There are many more women in senior leadership roles at large semiconductor corporations these days.
As for DEI, I will make a practical argument that all should consider seriously, regardless of one’s personal politics. The semiconductor industry grew rapidly in the 1970s-1990s, staffed by the baby boomer generation, the biggest generation alive today. This generation of experts is now retiring, and in another few years, their departure will leave a big hole in every company’s staff. For our industry to keep growing and thriving, it needs to encourage every single young person who is interested in MEMS and semiconductor engineering to come work in our industry and stay for their career.
FE: How have you overcome concerns about being a woman in tech? Do you have any illustrative stories?
Fitzgerald: Sadly, to overcome these concerns, the old cliché for women and minorities still applies — you have to be twice as good and work twice as hard. And you need to be pretty thick-skinned, as well. I do believe things are much better today than they were 30 years ago when I began my career, but we still have much room for improvement.
Other winners of the 2024 Best of Sensors Awards can be found in this post.