International Women’s Day with Christelle Faucon VP Sales Agile Analog

Born in France, now living in the Netherlands, Christelle Faucon has over 25 years’ experience of working across the global semiconductor ecosystem. Currently she is VP of Sales at Agile Analog, the analog IP innovators. Following a Master’s Degree in Electronics Engineering, Christelle began her career as a Design Engineer. She has since held senior product and commercial positions, including 10 years at TSMC and 10 years as President of GUC (Global Unichip) Europe. Dedicated to empowering women in the semiconductor industry, Christelle is also involved in the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative.

 What was your first job in the semiconductor industry?
My first job was working as a Design Engineer for VLSI Technology, an American company with a division in the South of France. I was focused on developing DSP behavioral models and providing related technical support. I also worked on designing SoC blocks, writing Verilog, performing synthesis, place and route, as well as verification tasks. It was a varied job that enabled me to gain great hands-on technical experience, which has helped me throughout my career as I moved into more commercial roles.

Why do you enjoy working in the semiconductor industry?
The semiconductor industry is a really interesting place to work. In recent times we have seen innovative electronic devices that impact positively on everyday lives. IoT, healthcare sensors, automotive safety systems, remote monitoring solutions – all made possible by advances in semiconductors. And there are many new applications in development. When you work in the semiconductor sector you never get bored! I am delighted to now be working at Agile Analog. Our ground-breaking analog IP technology simplifies semiconductor design and speeds up integration, and looks set to transform the world of analog IP.

What is your main professional goal for 2024?
It’s great to be working with the Agile Analog team to help accelerate adoption of our customizable analog IP products across the globe. I find it so exciting that the company has developed a unique way to automatically generate analog IP that meet the customer’s exact specifications, for any foundry and on any process. Demand is growing fast, especially for our data conversion and power management solutions. My own background as a chip designer will help me to understand the challenges that our customers are facing. My industry experience and strong technical knowledge will also be beneficial. It is very rewarding to be part of Agile Analog at such a pivotal time.

Outside of work – what hobbies do you have?
I love to travel and experience new cultures. I also enjoy horse riding in my spare time. Last November, before I started at Agile Analog, I had the chance to do both during an amazing trip to Nepal which included horse riding in some remote areas. My wish list of countries still to visit is very long!

 What advice would you give to your younger self?
The best advice I could offer my younger self would be: don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Believe in yourself. You can achieve much more than you expect. Embrace every opportunity to learn new things.

Tell us about the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative you are involved with.
March 8^th is International Women’s Day. To me it is so disappointing that less than 30% of engineering graduates are female, and quite shocking that less than 5% of leadership positions in the semiconductor sector are held by women.

That’s why I am committed to empowering women in the semiconductor industry, by championing the creation of impactful programs through the Global Semiconductor Alliance GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative that foster diversity. The primary goal is to help cultivate a strong community of women that provides mentoring and calls for equal opportunities. Joining the GSA EMEA Women’s Leadership Council means that I can use my experience to help women in the sector.

The first GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative EMEA event will take place in London on March 13^th – the Women in Semiconductors Conference – on day 1 of the GSA International Semiconductor Conference. This aims to highlight the achievements of some of those women who have succeeded in navigating a traditionally male-dominated environment. It should be a really interesting and informative event.

What advice would you give to experienced female engineers and female leaders in the semiconductor industry?
My advice for senior female engineers and women in leadership positions across the global semiconductor industry would be – don’t hide – please come forward to share your experiences and expertise. If possible, speak at career fairs and industry events. Role models are required to inspire the younger generation. It is also vital to support each other and to encourage more women to take on leadership roles in semiconductor companies. That’s why I feel the work of the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative is so important.

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