Super(computing)heroes at ISC25: A Conversation on Diversity, Innovation, and Career Paths in HPC
By Karina Pešatová
At ISC25 in Hamburg, the third Birds-of-a-Feather (BoF) session Super(computing)heroes took place, bringing together inspiring voices from across the high-performance computing (HPC) community. Organised by the Central European, MAR and JuWinHPC Chapters of Women in HPC, the panel featured an impressive lineup of accomplished women who shared their journeys, reflections on inclusion, and insights into the evolving landscape of HPC.
Meet the Super(computing)heroes
Katerine Saleme Ruiz (University of Luxembourg) is an explorer and computational mathematician whose superpower is consistency—she shows up, even when it hurts.
Megan Gawlik (Google) is an Outbound Product Manager; her superpower is connection—she distils complex community challenges into actionable pieces and brings people together to solve them.
Marta Estarellas (Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech) is the CEO and a leading expert in quantum computing. Her superpower is authentic leadership – realising that she doesn’t have to mimic others to lead her company with confidence.
Alexandra Kourfali (EuroHPC JU) is the Programme Manager for chips projects. Her superpower is foresight – the ability to identify emerging technological trends years ahead and tirelessly advocate for them.
Sarah Neuwirth (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, NHR@SW) is a Professor and research centre leader. Her superpower is bridging communities – connecting researchers, system administrators, and strategists across levels and disciplines.
Carina Kemp (Amazon Web Services) is a Global Academic Research Lead. Her superpower is systems thinking – seeing connections across disciplines to identify cross-cutting solutions to grand challenges.
The Journey from Academia to Industry
The panellists reflected on how their academic backgrounds shaped their careers. Academic research fosters creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to break complex problems into manageable parts. These skills translate powerfully into industry roles, whether in product development, management, or research leadership. Yet, as Marta emphasised, “In academia, you have the freedom to direct your research. In a company, you are working towards a product, but it is important to keep the capacity to think out of the box.”
Where Do Innovations in HPC Emerge?
When asked whether academia, startups, or industry lead HPC innovation, the consensus was clear: all of them. Megan summed it up: “Academia generates fundamental knowledge; startups serve as agile innovators; and industry scales and delivers innovations to the masses.” The panellists have agreed that actual progress in HPC requires this dynamic interplay between sectors.
The Role of Inclusion and Diversity in Innovation
The panellists passionately discussed the importance of diversity and inclusion as key drivers of innovation. Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives and creative approaches. However, achieving true inclusion requires proactive effort, ensuring that diverse voices are not only present but also heard and empowered. As underrepresented groups are often asked repeatedly to represent diversity, individuals may struggle to maintain a work-life balance. Sarah and Alexandra highlighted a delicate challenge: striking a balance between visibility and personal well-being. Sarah shared: “It is difficult to say no if I am invited, but one needs to think about their personal life, and days have only 24 hours.”
Allies: Building Supportive Networks and Sharing Visibility
The panellists emphasised the value of allies—both within women’s networks and among supportive male colleagues. Peer groups help counteract loneliness and impostor syndrome, offering strength through shared experience. Marta shared how informal gatherings with women in leadership helped her feel less isolated, while Megan noted that some of her strongest support came from male allies. Alexandra highlighted the power of gender-balanced teams in enabling people to focus on their work without the weight of bias.
The conversation also underscored that allyship means taking action—such as recommending others for opportunities when unable to participate yourself—to ensure visibility is shared and sustained across the community.
Advice to the Next Generation: How to Start an HPC Career
When asked what advice they would give students entering the HPC field, panellists agreed that there is no one-size-fits-all path. Research facilities, startups, and industry suppliers each offer unique experiences within the HPC landscape. Starting in academia offers excellent training in critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, but industry offers stability, focus, and immediate application. Carina advocated for starting in academia: “You can acquire the skills there and then see how they can be applied in industry.” Marta pointed out that many companies, including deep tech firms like Qilimanjaro, conduct cutting-edge research that parallels academic inquiry. Katerine encouraged students to try both sectors before making a choice. Megan emphasised the importance of giving new experiences sufficient time before making decisions.
Overcoming Challenges and Owning Your Path
A heartfelt part of the panel focused on the challenges the speakers have faced as women in the HPC field. Marta acknowledged the emotional toll of being underestimated or disregarded, comparing it to “jumping into a wall”—yet affirming that women have the right to be there. Sarah emphasised the importance of developing resilience and seeking mentoring opportunities early on to counteract bias, particularly in leadership roles.
Alexandra highlighted the importance of emotional self-expression and safe spaces for processing frustrations, noting that women are often judged differently for their reactions. Megan underscored the seeming no-win: “Crying is weakness, but being tough is also criticised.” Katerine reminded attendees that “It’s okay to not be fine,” and Alexandra added: “Visible emotion isn’t weakness—it’s self-expression.”
Superpowers in Action: What Keeps Them Inspired
In closing, the panellists shared what they love most about their work. From advancing science and contributing to quantum computing to enabling global collaborations, mentoring students, and building international strategies, their enthusiasm for HPC was contagious. The Super(computing)heroes BoF at ISC25 was more than a panel – it was a powerful reminder of the importance of community, diversity, and personal resilience in driving the future of high-performance computing.
About the blog post author:
Karina Pešatová, MBA, is the head of the Training and Education Department at IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Centre, Czech Republic. Her MBA is in PR and Communication. Her 8 years of experience working at and leading the Public Relations Department at IT4Innovations has led her to develop an enthusiasm for creating and executing high-quality outreach and science popularisation content and events, which she is now utilising in her new role in the Training and Education domain. Her numerous international activities include the dissemination of several FP7 and H2020 projects and their outcomes, amongst others, contributing to developing outreach and training programmes for PRACE 2IP – 6IP and being the training champion for the Czech National Competence Center in HPC in the EuroCC 1 and 2 projects. She is the coordinator of an international project, Superheroes 4 Science, which aims to demonstrate HPC and its related fields to the next generation of HPC specialists and the general public. Karina is one of the founding members of the Central European Chapter of Women in HPC and the current leader.