Zulfi Alam

About Zulfi Alam

As CVP of Microsoft Quantum, I’m leading the development of Microsoft’s scalable quantum machine. Our revolutionary topological approach requires mastery at the intersection of theory and engineering. We’re paving the path toward the first topological qubit with a growing, international team collaborating to build a machine that has never been built before. Together at Microsoft Quantum, we are creating a full-stack that will drive advancements toward practical quantum computing. I’m proud of the team’s achievements for Quantum, providing optimization solutions in an open ecosystem of quantum partners and technologies on a trusted, scalable, and secure platform. Decades of quantum research lay the foundation for optimization solutions in the areas of medical, automotive, materials design and more. Since joining Microsoft in 2001, I’ve worked on numerous products, including Xbox and HoloLens. With HoloLens, I led the development of differentiated technology and state-of-the art fabrication innovations, which were a precursor to the techniques required in Quantum. Tolerances in hardware for quantum are within atomic monolayers—so it’s not just about solving problems, we’re solving for the biggest problems at the smallest scale. I believe culture is an enabler to achieving strategy and program direction. With 20+ years in leading product development, it’s really the people behind the engineering that makes shipping a product possible. Over the years, I’ve demonstrated repeated success mentoring and building high-performing teams with an execution-focused, delivery mindset. As an avid showjumper, I’ve spent hours in the company of horses and taken away a few life lessons. Horses are keen observers and can mirror emotions, conveying what is happening in the moment. To get a horse to jump, a complex set of actions must be triggered: the ultimate combination of hard work, cues, timing, positioning, and earned trust. Horse and rider as a unit, ‘all-in’ on getting over the fence and around the course. Driving to this ultimate combination is what makes the difference between participating as an individual, and performing as a team. This is my way of saying I’m ‘all-in’ on the amazing challenge we’ve taken on as the Microsoft Quantum team. It is a joy and a privilege to work alongside my team each day.

Experience

1. Corporate Vice President, Quantum

   Microsoft

   Dec 2021 — Present

Education

• Rochester Institute of Technology

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Electrical Engineering

• University of Rochester - Simon Business School

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

• Rochester Institute of Technology

  Master's degree, Materials Science and Engineering