Fierce Electronics proudly announces the eighth group of honorees in the inaugural 40 Under 40 awards program. These awards are timed with the 40th anniversary of Sensors Converge being held June 24-26 in Santa Clara, CA.
The Fierce Electronics 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals under 40 who are driving advancements in technology, pushing boundaries and shaping the future of electronics with their creativity, expertise and impact. Honorees are being named weekly in Fierce Electronics in no particular order.
The entire class will honored at Sensors Converge 2025, celebrating its 40th anniversary June 24-26 in Santa Clara, CA.
Fernanda Mendes de Morais
Age 39
Senior Manager for Electronics Hardware
Whirlpool Corp.
Fernanda Mendes de Morais has worked at Whirlpool Corporation for more than15 years, starting as an intern. She has risen to oversee electronics hardware development and leads a global team of more than 10 managers and principal engineers across Brazil, the USA, Italy, China, and India supported by an extended organization of over 80 professionals. Her focus has advanced Whirlpool’s ability to deliver millions of appliances annually, optimizing cost, quality, and innovation. Fernanda enhances control units and user interfaces, incorporating cutting-edge power supplies, sensors, microcontrollers, and drivers. She has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Universidade de Estado de Santa Catarina and finished a post-graduate in project management at Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana.
Arun Nandi
Age 39
Head of Data & Analytics
Unilever PLC
Arun Nandi has 20 years of leadership experience in AI, data and analytics, with nearly five years as Head of Data & Analytics at Unilever. Recognized with awards like Top 100 Influential AI & Analytics Leaders and Top 40 AI Leaders under 40, plus a LinkedIn Top Voice distinction, Arun has built AI and analytics practices from scratch. He advises boards and investment firms, serves as a jury member for prestigious events like The Drum Awards, and delivers keynotes alongside experts including Andre Ng. Shaping strategies for Unilever and the broader industry, he excels in a dynamic ecosystem, blending innovation and influence. He holds a bachelor’s in computer science from Bangalore University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
Tushar Sonawane
Age 33
Software Development Engineer
Amazon
Tushar Sonawane is a software development engineer with eight years in the tech industry, specializing in building scalable, secure, and high-performing health tech applications. These applications have contributed to the successful development and launch of platforms at Amazon in data security, system scalability, and performance optimization. He holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from San Jose State and a B.S. in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from the Don Bosco Institute of Bio Science in Bangalore.
Quansan Yang
Age 30
Assistant Professor
University of Washington Materials Science & Engineering
Quansan Yang is an assistant professor at the University of Washington Department of Materials Science & Engineering. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research employs biomolecules and biomaterials, advanced manufacturing schemes, and computational algorithms in the fields of bio-electronics and bio-optics to address unmet needs in health and sustainability. He built microchips that are ecoresorbable and bioresorbable and created a biodegradable platform that soothes nerve pain. He was the recipient in 2023 of the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 and Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science. Yang has been published in Nature Materials, Nature Electronics, Science and Nature Communications and has several registered patents for new fabrication methods and devices.