Kathy Herring Hayashi has been involved in the semiconductor industry her entire career — developing, deploying and analyzing advanced software tools instrumental in the creation of computer and mobile phone chips. At Unisys Corporation, she was involved in research and development for advanced in-house CAD software tools. After transitioning to Cadence Design Systems, these tools were incorporated into leading edge EDA solutions. As Director at Syntricity, she led pioneering efforts in web hosted semiconductor yield solutions. Later, at Qualcomm Inc., she optimized semiconductor workflows in global engineering environments.

She served on the 2023–2024 IEEE Board of Directors, IEEE-USA Board, and IEEE Member Geographic Activities Board, and now serves on the Board of Governors for IEEE-HKN, championing the next generation of technology leaders. Kathy delivered presentations at the OECD’s Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network, participated in a U.S. congressional briefing panel, and was invited to the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) summit.

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities (M’12-SM’13):

Key Leadership Roles

• IEEE Past Director, Region 6 (Western USA) (2025-Present)
• IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN), Board of Governors, Governor-at-Large (2025–Present)
• IEEE Future Directions Global Semiconductors – Chair (2024-Present)
• IEEE Board of Directors, Region 6 (Western USA) (2023-2024)
• IEEE-USA Board of Directors, Region 6 (Western USA) (2023-2024)
• IEEE Member Geographic Activities (MGA) Board, Region 6 (Western USA) (2023-2024)
• IEEE Director-Elect, Region 6 (Western USA) (2021-2022)
• IEEE Region 6 ExCom, WIE Coordinator (2017-2019)
• IEEE Chair, San Diego Section (2019-2020)

Key IEEE Awards

• 2019 IEEE MGA Innovation Award for outstanding innovation and leadership
• 2019 IEEE Region 6 Director’s Award for inspiring innovative leadership

Key Accomplishments

• IEEE-USA Packaging Chips with CHIPS – Co-host semiconductor packaging event, Scottsdale, Arizona (2024)
• TryEngineering – Hosting over 140+ students yearly at local industry with TryEngineering Summer Institute at University of San Diego (2022-2024)
• IEEE-USA Designing Chips with CHIPS – Co-host semiconductor design event, San Diego, California (2023)
• IEEE Awards Evening of Innovation – Vision and execution of the “Evening of Innovation” in San Diego (2019, 2022)
• IEEE Milestone and Dedication Ceremony – Led San Diego’s first milestone commemorating CDMA and dedication ceremony (2017)
• IEEE Technology Summit on Emerging Technologies – Chair and Organizer, San Diego (2016)