Women in Quantum: Meet Valentina Tammaro, Head of People & Culture at planqc

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

My name is Valentina, and I recently joined planqc as Head of People & Culture. As we grow, my focus is to build a scalable and future-ready People function – one that supports our rapid development while staying true to our values.

For me, it’s about creating an environment where people feel psychologically safe, where development opportunities are accessible to everyone, and where we build a culture that can grow alongside cutting-edge quantum technology.

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

Unlike many of my colleagues, I don’t come from a scientific background. I studied cross-cultural communication and HR and have always worked in international environments – across different industries such as media and SaaS, and in organizations ranging from corporates to scale-ups.

At some point, I felt I was missing something bold and truly different in my professional journey. A quantum computing startup definitely checked that box. Joining planqc felt like stepping into the future – and that was exactly what I was looking for.

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

The beauty of HR is that you can apply it in any industry. I’ve worked in tech before, and what fascinates me about innovative industries is the constant challenge of the status quo. Things are evolving fast, and that creates both complexity and opportunity – especially for People & Culture. It pushes me to rethink traditional approaches and design new, smarter ways of working.

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, not at all – HR is actually female-dominated. But as I progressed in my career, I often found myself being the only woman or one of very few in the room.

There were moments where I felt I had to fight a bit harder to be heard. And yes, imposter syndrome is real – especially for women. I’ve experienced it, and overcoming it took time and self-work.

What helped me most was building confidence step by step and surrounding myself with strong women who support each other. I truly believe we need to stick together and actively lift one another up.

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

I’m always most proud when I can build something from scratch that truly makes a difference. That’s why I love working in scale-ups and startups – even if they can be intense and sometimes chaotic.

HR often sits in a delicate position between business needs and employee needs. You can’t always make everyone 100% happy. To me, being a good HR professional is like being a scale: you need to understand when to lean more towards the business and when to advocate more strongly for the employee. Finding that balance is challenging – but incredibly meaningful.

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

As Head of People & Culture in a quantum computing startup, my role is to build the foundation that allows brilliant minds to do their best work.

That means attracting and developing talent, shaping leadership, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring our structures can scale with the company’s ambition. Quantum computing is complex and pioneering – but behind every breakthrough are people. My job is to make sure we create the right conditions for them to thrive.

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

Not only in quantum, but in every successful company, diversity of roles is essential. Researchers, engineers, operations, business development, HR – we all bring different perspectives and strengths.

Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when different skill sets and viewpoints come together. Quantum technology might be highly technical, but without the right operational, strategic and cultural support, it simply wouldn’t move forward.

What do you enjoy most about working at planqc? 

We are building something that doesn’t yet exist – and that might become a breakthrough for many industries. Being part of that journey is incredibly motivating.

As a startup, we operate with focus and sometimes limited resources, which makes teamwork and collaboration absolutely critical. I’m genuinely happy to see how well this works at planqc. There’s a strong sense of ownership and collective drive.

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

Quantum computing is still a male-dominated field. At planqc, around 21% of our workforce is female, which reflects the broader talent pipeline in this industry today. I take a pragmatic approach to diversity. We cannot create talent that does not yet exist in the pipeline — but we can absolutely influence how inclusive, visible, and attractive this industry becomes.

For me, it starts with equal access: fair and transparent hiring processes, clear development paths, and leadership accountability. Inclusion does not happen automatically — it requires intention. As leaders, we need to continuously challenge our own biases and make sure opportunities are truly accessible. At the same time, we have to look beyond hiring. Real change starts much earlier — in schools, universities, and in how we talk about science and technology.

My hope is that in the future, women entering quantum will not feel like exceptions, but like a natural and expected part of the field. And as a company, we can contribute by building communities, partnering with educational institutions, and creating an environment where diverse talent not only joins — but stays and grows.

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

Be curious. Ask questions. Don’t let yourself be intimidated by complexity. And most importantly: be persistent. You don’t have to know everything from day one. Confidence often comes after you start – not before.

Do you have a favorite quote, motto, or piece of advice that inspires you in your work?

I don’t have a fixed motto, but I’ve learned that progress starts when we dare to feel uncomfortable. I experienced it when I shifted industries or job, when I overcame imposter syndrome, and even when I started cycling up mountains I once avoided. The climb is never easy — but the view from the top makes it worth it.

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

I’m very sporty, especially when it comes to endurance sports. Road cycling is my absolute favorite. Interestingly, I used to hate climbs and was trying to avoid them when organising my bike tours which was limiting at times. At some point, I decided to face that fear and started cycling up some of Europe’s epic alpine passes. And something shifted – I fell in love with it.

For me, it’s a form of active meditation. When I’m climbing, surrounded by dramatic alpine landscapes, I focus only on the next meter, the next turn, the summit ahead. Reaching the top brings a feeling that’s hard to describe – exhaustion, pride, clarity.

In many ways, building a career or a company feels similar. The climb can be tough, but the view from the top makes it worth it.