Women in Microwaves Keynote Session
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Time: 13:30-15:00
Room: Affinity Zone, Room 212-214, Moscone Center
Engineering Your Success: The Power of Reputation, Resilience, and Reinvention
Wendy Shu, CEO, Eravant
Abstract: Success in technical fields is often attributed to deep expertise, but career advancement requires more than knowledge alone. Professionals who distinguish themselves do so through a combination of strategic awareness, emotional intelligence, and disciplined execution. Yet, these skills are not always emphasized in traditional mentorship or professional development.
This keynote will explore four critical, often-overlooked factors that help professionals gain trust, demonstrate commitment, and position themselves for leadership. Attendees will learn how to strengthen their emotional intelligence to navigate workplace dynamics, use resilience and accountability to build credibility, signal dedication in ways that resonate with leadership, and cultivate a personal brand that authentically reflects their expertise. By applying these principles, professionals can take greater ownership of their careers and create more opportunities for meaningful growth and impact within their organizations.
Bio: Wendy Shu is the CEO of Eravant (formerly SAGE Millimeter), an engineering firm that designs and manufactures millimeter-wave and sub-THz hardware solutions for commercial, industrial, and defense applications. She leads the company’s business development and operations, ensuring its continued growth and innovation in the industry.
Wendy is passionate about building high-impact teams with the opportunity to pursue their full potential. She believes technology companies succeed when engineering has the freedom to lead, all functions are valued, and industry outsiders can contribute meaningfully, bringing fresh perspectives to drive progress.
She earned her B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California and her J.D. from the USC Gould School of Law. A member of the State Bar of California, Wendy also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation.
Amplifying Impact: Engineering Influence in an Era of Disruption
Sathya Padmanabhan, CEO, Maury Microwave Corporation
Abstract: In an era of unprecedented technological disruption, RF and microwave engineers stand at the forefront of transformative change. This keynote, "Amplifying Impact: Engineering Influence in an Era of Disruption," explores how evolving technologies—6G’s terahertz frontiers, space-based communication networks, IoT’s compact connectivity, and quantum’s emerging promise are reshaping our field and the world beyond. Drawing on cutting-edge examples like AI-optimized 6G phased arrays, satellite swarm communications, and energy-efficient IoT designs, we’ll navigate the barriers that challenge us with technical, systemic, and personal and uncover strategies to overcome them. For women in microwave engineering, this is more than just adaptation and about driving innovation and making a statement as disruptors. This talk inspires actionable steps to amplify our influence, redefine leadership, and shape a connected, sustainable tomorrow.
Bio: Sathya Padmanabhan is the Chief Executive Officer of Maury Microwave Corporation. She joined the company in December 2006, as a Microwave engineer responsible for product development and has since held various technical, management and leadership positions within the company driving innovation and creating operational efficiencies across the organization while working towards creating confidence in measurements for customers. Prior to Maury, she worked at Trompeter Semflex as their RF Project engineer managing design and custom interconnect solutions for aerospace and defense customers.
Sathya received the B.E degree in 2001 in India and the M.S degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida, Tampa in 2004 with an emphasis in RF & Microwave engineering. Her thesis was focused on calibration and measurement accuracy which has been foundational for her work at Maury over the last two decades.
Women in Microwaves (WIM) Reception:
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
19:00-20:30
Room: Social Terrace, W Hotel
This event welcomes all members of IMS to promote collaboration, with a spotlight on the work of female RF engineers and researchers. We will continue our traditional social cocktail party, which grows yearly. The reception will also feature social networking opportunities, games, and more!
What is WIM?
WIM stands for “Women in Microwaves” and is the subset of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE; IEEE Women In Engineering | IEEE WIE), serving those working within the field of microwave engineering. WIM is also a subcommittee under IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) within the MTT-S AdCom. WIM (Committee - MTT-S) has active members throughout the world, and frequently hosts meetings at major industry events, such as IEEE IMS, IEEE Radio & Wireless Week, and EuMW. There are 36,000+ members of IEEE WIE and 13,000+ female members of MTT-S.
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