As a mother of three girls, I’ve given a lot of thought to why there are so few women in technological fields, especially those related to i4.0. I think the messaging in popular culture has a big influence. In books and TV shows, the default is to show women in less demanding jobs, more “typically female” fields, not in advanced technology. That has to change, and it has to start at the earliest stages.
My current role as a technology leader in CoreTigo is part of a journey. I’ve always been the type of person that challenges herself—I initiated my career in the Israeli military (IDF), where I served for eight years in various technology roles, including Company Commander at a computerized systems unit. By the time I was discharged, I was certain that my future is in the world of technology, although I didn’t exactly know where I would find myself within that world. I went on to complete a degree in electronics engineering and computer sciences and held various positions at leading companies such as RAD and Mellanox, where I focused on firmware and firmware verification, as well as communication protocols.
How I spend my days
When a colleague from Mellanox transferred to CoreTigo and recommended that I join too, I was intrigued. I was five months pregnant at the time, but I didn’t see my pregnancy as something that should stand in my way, and happily, neither did CoreTigo. When I joined the team, the company was still in its early stages, with only ten employees—very different than anything I’d experienced in the IDF, Mellanox, and RAD, which are huge organizations. It’s a different type of work, a different challenge to join a company in the early stages and have the opportunity to impact how the company develops its technology and products. I saw a lot of potential for me personally, which is what attracted me to the role.
With such a small team, roles weren’t clearly defined, and everyone did a bit of everything as the company focused on learning the market. At first, I handled the work all by myself, and as the company grew I went on to lead the Validation and Verification Team. Then, as CoreTigo expanded further, with my blessing, one of my team members was promoted to be the team leader of the newly created Solutions Team and I was promoted to lead the Verification and Solutions Group as a Director. I’m now in charge of a broad area—in a bigger company, such responsibilities I have would have been probably spread out across several different departments. My group works from very low-level firmware and production such as a PCB or SOM, to very high-level projects, building custom solutions for customers and creating the foundations that will allow us to develop the products they want. We’ve truly become a system company—hardware, software, full-stack, from beginning to end. And that entire complex system is something that we developed.
Why is “women in tech” even a thing?
As a mother of three girls, I’ve given a lot of thought to why there are so few women in technological fields, especially those related to i4.0.
I think the messaging in popular culture has a big influence. In books and TV shows, the default is to show women in less demanding jobs, more “typically female” fields, not in advanced technology. That has to change, and it has to start at the earliest stages. We have to break down the invisible barriers and create an enabling environment instead of giving boys building games and girls dolls. I believe that many girls are also deterred by seeing so few females in technological frameworks and positions. In my case, I was the only girl in my high school physics class and one of a handful in my military service and studies. When there are fewer people like you, it can discourage you from trying.
At the personal level…
My daughters are still young, so they don’t really understand what I do yet. But I know that I’m shaping their perceptions. For example, I read them books about leading female scientists and explain to them how it’s similar to what both Mom and Dad do. I hope that as they grow older, they will be interested in learning more.
I am very enthusiastic about working on CoreTigo’s groundbreaking technology—I believe it has the potential to revolutionize the industry. Wireless is so dominant in other areas and people are surprised to learn that there hasn’t been a wireless solution for industrial applications until now. As it becomes more widespread, it will be a game-changer, allowing factories to be more modular and flexible.
I was recently promoted to a directorial role and have two other women on my team of ten. It’s not enough, but it’s better than the market average. And we’re growing, so I hope to hire more female talent. I want to see more talented women in the field. I believe it’s a decision. It requires a lot, but it’s possible. I hope to be one that helps make a difference!
Reut possesses extensive expertise as an engineering leader, with more than 12 years of experience across diverse domains, including industrial applications, wireless technologies, and electrical engineering. Before joining CoreTigo, she held a position at Mellanox Technologies, a company later acquired by Nvidia. Reut currently spearheads multifaceted R&D teams, overseeing activities spanning firmware and hardware development, verification, and system engineering. In 2022, Reut’s accomplishments were acknowledged by Women in Industry 4.0, which recognized her as one of Israel’s top female leaders in the industrial sector. She holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Tel-Aviv University.
