Rosa Chow serves as vice president of software engineering at Invensense, a TDK Group company. In June, she was named Woman of the Year at Best of Sensors 2024 during Sensors Converge in Santa Clara, Calif.
Picked from a group of six finalists, Chow was described as a “pivotal leader, playing a key role in integrating sensors across IoT, mobility, automotive, gaming and industrial applications globally while collaborating extensively across teams to deliver high-quality, customized solutions.”
FE: Congratulations for being named Woman of the Year. First, can you offer some insights into what a software engineering VP does?
Chow: One aspect of a VP software role today is being mindful of technology trends. I look at the type of innovation that really has product value and that can help sustain a business, versus being a gadget.
As a VP, I must find the balance of looking at the team's strategic vision and managing the needs of current customers. In some ways we must invest toward the future, and in other ways ensure maintenance of current opportunities. It comes down to risk management.
Another aspect of my role is collaborating across many cross-functional groups, including business development, marketing, customer-facing sales, legal, and others who are globally distributed.
Also, I manage team members in various regions who work on research, QA, core development, customer support, and more. So, both as a leader and as a manager, I must consider our various cultures, holidays, and different motivations as we work toward common goals.
FE: Can you talk about the challenges facing software engineering teams in today’s GenAI world?
Chow: As GenAI evolves, it’s important to look at accuracy and reliability. Engineers will need to develop methods to make sure the reliability of LLMs (Large Language Models) doesn’t degrade over time. We also need to look to legal implications and regulations that may arise from AI (Artificial Intelligence) models – for instance, how do we strike the right balance of encouraging innovation, staying competitive, and maintaining ethical responsibilities?
FE: TDK Invensense has many products, but also has a big focus on research. Can you talk about the role of research and planning in your group?
Chow: TDK has traditionally been a hardware company, but today we’re also using software to solve problems that were formerly solved just by a hardware approach. For instance, a hardware team may look at how to add more logic gates to improve hardware performance. But through the lens of software, I look at problem-solving in a more dynamic way. Since software is more agile, you can test and make changes quickly.
FE: Since the award was Woman of the Year, it would be valuable to hear your thoughts about women in engineering. Do you have tips for how to grow the number of women in engineering?
Chow: Inspiring young women in STEM starts with early education. It’s important for families and schools to provide an environment that encourages girls to get into tech. From there, college programs abound, and women have more opportunities than in the past. In the workplace, what matters most is having leadership that’s mindful of creating an inclusive environment.
I like to remind women that their achievements belong to them, and they should not be shy about celebrating their successes.
FE: What are your thoughts on whether DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) initiatives are helpful for women in engineering?
Chow: Diversity can make companies stronger. At the same time, people should be in the positions they’re in because of their work and qualifications. It’s important to never stereotype or assume that someone is in their role because of DEI initiatives. Instead, effective DEI initiatives help ensure workplaces are inclusive.
FE: What’s unique about you as a leader?
Chow: As a leader, the most important thing to me is integrity – how we work with partners, how we manage research and reporting, and how we communicate, for example. My team knows that I’m always making sure we work with integrity. “Do what you say and say what you do.”