Women in Quantum: Meet Julia Koller, People & Culture Specialist at planqc

Julia, what is your name, current role, and your connection to planqc? 

My name is Julia Koller, and I work at planqc in People & Culture as the People & Culture Specialist since January 1st, 2025. My role focuses on building and improving the people functions that enable our teams to grow, collaborate effectively, and do their best work in a highly innovative quantum environment. Since 2026 my focus lays in recruiting and various process improvements as well as culture initiatives.

Can you tell us briefly about your professional background and how you joined the company? 

I studies Psychology & Management in Munich and Manchester and started working in the tech startup industry building HR functions from scratch. With experience in fast-growing, technology-driven environments, I’ve always been interested in working at the intersection of people, structure, and innovation.

I joined planqc because I was excited by the combination of cutting-edge quantum technology and a strong, values-driven culture, as well as the opportunity to help shape a company at a very dynamic stage of its growth and scaling the company by 100% within a year. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in science, technology, or innovation? 

What attracted me most was the pace of innovation and the impact that technology-driven companies can have. While I’m not a quantum scientist myself, I’ve always been fascinated by complex topics and by the people who push the boundaries of what is possible. Being able to support those teams and help turn deep scientific ideas into real-world impact is incredibly motivating for me.

Being in a field that is still predominantly male, did you experience feeling like a minority during your studies or early career? If so, were there any particular moments, feelings, or challenges, and how did you deal with them?

During my studies in psychology and management, gender balance was very natural, and I never experienced being a minority in that context. In my professional career, I have worked in environments that were somewhat more male-dominated, but this was never something that made me feel treated differently or less included.

What mattered most to me was working in teams where collaboration, mutual respect, and competence were the defining factors. I was fortunate to experience environments where ideas were valued based on their substance, not on who voiced them. These experiences reinforced my belief that inclusive cultures don’t happen by chance, but through conscious effort and everyday behavior.

What has been a highlight or proudest moment in your career so far? 

One of my proudest moments in my career was supporting the rapid growth of the company in 2025, when we scaled from around 50 to over 100 employees in less than a year. Building and adapting hiring processes at that speed, while maintaining quality and a strong cultural fit, was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Seeing how this growth directly enabled teams to accelerate their work on cutting-edge quantum technology made the impact of my role very tangible.

What is your role within the company, and how does your work contribute to planqc’s mission? 

At planqc, my role is to build the people and organizational foundations behind the technology. This includes designing scalable HR and people processes, actively shaping and strengthening our company culture, and driving hiring to support rapid and sustainable growth.

By creating clear structures, enabling strong collaboration across teams and locations, and ensuring that we attract and retain the right talent, my work directly supports planqc’s mission. A strong organizational setup allows our teams to focus on what they do best — advancing neutral-atom quantum computing.

Why do you think diversity of roles – from research to administration, business development, HR, and beyond – is important in quantum technology? 

Quantum technology is highly complex and interdisciplinary. Progress only happens when scientists, engineers, software developers, business experts, and operational teams work closely together. Diversity of roles — and of perspectives — helps bridge gaps, improve communication, and turn research into real-world applications.

What do you enjoy most about working at planqc? 

People at planqc are incredibly skilled, yet approachable and collaborative. You can feel this especially on a daily basis when being in the office — everyone is highly motivated and aligned toward the same goal. There’s a strong sense of shared purpose, and it genuinely feels like everyone is building something meaningful together.

What is your vision for the future of women in science, technology, or quantum?

I hope to see a future where women in science and technology are no longer perceived as exceptions, but simply as part of the norm. This includes more women in leadership roles, more visible role models, and more inclusive career paths that allow different life choices without penalty.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in science, technology, or innovation? 

Don’t wait until you feel “perfectly qualified” — very few people ever do. Be curious, ask questions, and trust that skills can be learned. And just as importantly: choose environments that support you, value your perspective, and allow you to grow.

What is your favorite quote or motto?

“Growth happens outside of your comfort zone.”

Is there a fun fact about you that you’d like to share? 

I love preparing matcha and am a huge nerd on this topic.