Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices are catalyzing a significant shift in power electronics, leveraging exceptional physical and electronic characteristics. Despite its long-known existence, SiC's application as a semiconductor is relatively recent, primarily enabled by the accessibility of sizable, high-quality wafers. For over three decades, Wolfspeed has held the position of a worldwide frontrunner in Silicon Carbide technology and manufacturing, utilizing this power to drive positive transformations globally. The disruptive technology offered by Wolfspeed is utilized by customers to develop products that contribute to a more effective and sustainable future. The solutions provided by Wolfspeed facilitate significant advancements across diverse industries and applications such as electric vehicles, rapid charging, 5G, renewable energy and storage, as well as aerospace and defence. Elif Balkas, serving as the Chief Technology Officer at Wolfspeed, has steered the company through its most successful periods, consistently holding the top position in the industry. During an interview exclusively with our team, Elif shared insights into her early life, her entry into the industry, and her future aspirations to excel within the sector.

Guide us through the foundational years of your life. What were significant early influencers that moulded you into the person you are today?

Coming from an engineering educational background, my fascination with STEM fields, especially math­ematics and science, was nurtured early on by my engineer father and economist mother. During high school and college, basketball not only kept me active but taught me discipline and the essence of teamwork. As I pursued higher education, I decided to special­ize in material science, particularly wide bandgap materials like gallium nitride and silicon carbide. This academic pursuit led me to North Carolina State University for my Ph.D. Initially contemplating a research-focused academic career, I eventually found my calling in seeing technology manifest in real-world products, steering me towards the industry. Starting at Intrinsic Semiconductor, developer of materials and device technologies based on silicon carbide and gallium nitride, later acquired, and eventually land­ing at Wolfspeed, I've had the privilege of dedicating almost two decades to a field I'm truly passionate about. Over the years, key experiences and influential figures, including my former boss and mentor, John Palmour, and the Bell Leadership Institute’s seminars and executive coaching, have profoundly shaped my professional journey. Seeking continuous growth, I enrolled in the Chief Technology Officer Program of the Wharton Executive Education, with specific focus on product management and strategy, scaling a business and leadership development. This ongoing journey, encompassing educational and professional chapters, has significantly defined who I am today.

Introduce us to Wolfspeed. What are the key areas of concentration in propelling the company's growth in your role as the CTO?

Wolfspeed is a prominent semiconductor company with a sharp focus on wide bandgap electronics, par­ticularly silicon carbide and gallium nitride tech­nologies, catering to power electronics. With a rich history spanning 36 years, we've been at the forefront of silicon carbide advancements, currently account­ing for 60 percent of the world’s supply of silicon carbide, establishing us as a leading technologist in this domain. Our achievements include introducing the world’s first commercially available, fully qualified silicon carbide MOSFET and accumulating over 10 trillion silicon carbide device field hours, showcasing our deep expertise.

"Our culture thrives on unity & collaboration, where everyone's support is integral to great teamwork. I am delighted to extend my support wherever it is needed"

Today, we are a significant player in the power electronics market, leveraging our silicon carbide and gallium nitride innovations to drive a transition from traditional silicon technologies. This transition not only encompasses existing applica­tions but also propels silicon carbide into newer, more sustainable power electronic systems, consuming significantly less energy compared to silicon. Notably, the shift to electric vehicles from internal combustion engines is greatly enabled by silicon carbide technolo­gies, marking a pivotal moment in the industry.

Discuss the key business challenges faced as a tech leader today and the strategies used to overcome them.

Presently, our primary challenges revolve around managing growth. Our standout characteristic is being a leading, dedicated silicon carbide company, with all our efforts and investments centered on this tech­nology. The challenges lie in the timing of production and careful planning of investments to ensure optimal outcomes. Despite the expected challenges in this journey, we're progressing thoughtfully, focusing on scaling our products, processes, and infrastructure. Our technology implementation and hardware inte­gration are advancing well, with foreseen challenges around aligning the supply constraints with strong market demand while showcasing the benefits of silicon carbide based technologies. Navigating these timing dynamics is anticipated, and we're actively addressing them.

Discuss the Women's Initiative you co-established at Wolfspeed and outline its objectives.

About five years ago, our CEO, Gregg Lowe, set forth a transformative cultural shift at Wolfspeed, prompting the inception of our Women's Initiative. As one of the initial three female leaders in the company, I saw this as a fantastic opportunity to advocate for diversity in our predominantly male industry. Starting with just three members, the initiative has now grown to nearly 1,000 participants and has expanded to a number of Employee Resource Groups such as the PRIDE group, Veterans Pact, and Black, Hispanic, Latinx group and more. This expansion underscores our commitment to diversity and inclusion, where diverse perspectives are cherished, fostering an environment of innova­tion. Supporting women in STEM is a central focus, spanning internal support for our employees and community outreach at various educational levels. These initiatives and employee groups not only offer vital leadership prospects but also cultivate a sense of unity, making us akin to a close-knit family within our organization.

Elif Balkas, CTO, Wolfspeed

Elif Balkas, an adept research and development manager in the semiconductor industry, possesses significant expertise in technology leadership. She is the Co-founder of the Women's Initiative at Wolfspeed and takes pride in being an alumnus of NCSU. With a rich background of over 20 years in the wide bandgap (WBG) materials domain, Elif has held various leadership roles in R&D and Operations, and she has a number of patents and scientific publications in the silicon carbide technology field.