Applied Materials
Santa Clara, CA USA
“A career in science and technology is a learning career. Every day, you get paid to learn. That is the beauty of being able to work in this industry.”
Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President
I work with peers to build products and services and enable new markets in the semiconductor industry.
A typical day involves technology reviews, product reviews, and customer calls. I also attend presentations both internally and externally. A lot of my time is spent meeting with colleagues and peers. We also have a lot of brainstorming sessions. I'd say that about 60% of my time is spent traveling to attend conferences, meet with customers and suppliers, or attend board meetings for any of the boards I serve on.
Here's the first step for college students
Pursue a career where you have the ability to do research in a multidisciplinary way. The most exciting things happen at the interface of different disciplines. I'd recommend pursuing research, an educational path, and career path at that interface. I also foresee that sustainability is going to be a huge aspect of this industry. Look for opportunities to gain education and experience that will set you up to build sustainability as part and parcel of this industry.
