The Quantum Spin

HKA Marketing Communications
The Quantum Spin

The first podcast focused on PR and marketing communications for the quantum tech industry, by HKA Marcom, specializing in PR for startup, scaling and global quantum tech companies.

  1. Episode 16: Mentoring a New Generation of Quantum Tech Women

    2 DAYS AGO

    Episode 16: Mentoring a New Generation of Quantum Tech Women

    In this episode of 'The Quantum Spin by HKA,' host Veronica Combs discusses how to support women in the quantum industry with Biljana Rajevic, Head of Strategy, Corporate Development, and Public Relations at Quantum Brilliance and the founder of Quantum Women. The conversation explores the motivations and initiatives of Quantum Women, including mentoring, networking, and raising the visibility of women’s work in quantum sciences. Biljana also shares her strategies for building relationships, and her thoughts on responsible quantum computing. Tune in to learn about her efforts to create an inclusive, equitable environment in the quantum industry and her insights on the vibrant quantum ecosystem in Australia. 00:00 Introduction to Quantum Spin Podcast 00:36 Meet Biljana Rajevic: Quantum Brilliance and Quantum Women 01:18 Empowering Women in Quantum: Initiatives and Goals 05:00 Power and Influence in the Workplace 10:09 Building Relationships in the Quantum Industry 12:37 Responsible Quantum Computing 14:35 The Vibrant Australian Quantum Ecosystem 16:00 Communicating Quantum: Progress and Misconceptions 17:01 Conclusion and Call for Volunteers About Biliana Rajevic Biliana is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience across financial services, technology, and quantum technology.  She has held leadership roles in large organisations, boutique firms, and start-ups across Australia, the U.S., and Europe. Biliana began her career in New York as a B2B SaaS Product Manager before transitioning to Wall Street, specialising in capital markets, leveraged finance, and structured finance.  After 18 years in New York, she relocated to Australia, where she continued her impactful career.  Currently, she is the Strategy and Corporate Development Lead at Quantum Brilliance, a full-stack quantum technology company, directing strategic corporate and partnership initiatives.  She is also the Co-founder and Director of Quantum Women, a not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to empowering women in quantum technology.  Biliana serves as Co-Chair of the Australian Quantum Alliance, sits on the Swinburne Industry Research Advisory Board, and is a Working Group Member of the World Economic Forum’s Quantum Applications Hub initiative. Previously, Biliana led strategic engagement at QuintessenceLabs, an Australian quantum cybersecurity company and played a pivotal role at Sydney Quantum Academy as their inaugural Industry Engagement Manager. Biliana holds an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    18 min
  2. Episode 15: QED-C: The Power of Policy and Partnerships

    OCT 10

    Episode 15: QED-C: The Power of Policy and Partnerships

    In this episode of 'The Quantum Spin by HKA,' host Veronica Combs chats with Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C). They discuss how identifying the gaps – in technology, workforce and policy – can lay the groundwork for winning government funding and making significant advances in the industry. Early in her career, Celia learned the power of policy. She worked in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as an Assistant Director for Technology R&D and was a vice president at the Semiconductor Research Corporation. Now she is applying those lessons to the quantum industry as the executive director of QED-C.  Key topics include: The evolution of the quantum industry over the past five years Networking benefits for QED-C members, and efforts to expand internationally A discussion about practical applications of quantum technologies, potential uses, and the importance of being 'post-quantum' ready An examination of the impact of export controls, regional investments in quantum, and the upcoming reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative Act Looking ahead, Celia discusses QED-C's focus on outreach, education, and developing a roadmap for quantum network applications. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of consortiums in advancing the quantum sector. Dr. Celia Merzbacher is Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), a consortium that aims to enable and grow the U.S. quantum industry. QED-C is supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and approximately 250 industry, academic and other members worldwide and is managed by SRI International. Dr. Merzbacher is on the CSIS Commission on U.S. Quantum Leadership and is U.S. Co-Chair of the Quad Investors Network’s Quantum Center of Excellence. She also serves as an advisor to several quantum research organizations. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of Technology R&D at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology.  Dr. Merzbacher is a Fellow of the AAAS and served as Chair of the National Materials and Manufacturing Board of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

    29 min
  3. Episode 14: Analyzing the Quantum Hardware Landscape

    JUL 30

    Episode 14: Analyzing the Quantum Hardware Landscape

    In his role as Chief Analyst at Global Quantum Intelligence, David Shaw combines a PhD in physics with years of advising executives in tech, healthcare, energy, and financial services. This understanding of quantum mechanics and the technology life cycle gives him a unique perspective on quantum hardware. In this episode, he explains how many “chips” it will take to build a quantum computer, how far we are from modularity, and why quantum sensing should get more attention. David Shaw has worked extensively across a wide range of sectors including Technology, Healthcare, Energy and Financial Services. He has held a number of senior executive roles in public and private companies. David studied Physics at Oxford, and has a PhD in Physics from UCL. He is a member of the Institute of Physics. David founded Fact Based Insight to provide insight and advisory services across the quantum technology sector. Now combined with the Quantum Computing Report and Interference Advisors, that journey continues as Global Quantum Intelligence. Chief Analyst - Global Quantum Intelligence www.global-qi.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkshaw/ https://twitter.com/davidkshaw Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠⁠

    28 min
  4. Episode 13: Telling Chicago’s Quantum Stories

    MAY 21

    Episode 13: Telling Chicago’s Quantum Stories

    The US has 10 federal quantum research centers and four of them are in or near Chicago (California has only two). That’s only one reason the city was named a U.S. Regional and Innovation Technology Hub for quantum tech. Science writer Meredith Fore covers the quantum scene including national labs, universities and startups for the Chicago Quantum Exchange. She shares stories of scientists and technical advances in the region. Meredith Fore is a science writer at the Chicago Quantum Exchange, a consortium of academic institutions, national labs, and corporate partners with the collective goal of advancing quantum information technology. She became a full-time science writer after leaving the physics PhD program at the University of Washington in Seattle, participating in the 2019 AAAS Mass Media Fellowship program at WIRED and freelancing for publications such as Physics, LiveScience, and Symmetry. She enjoys sci-fi television, anime, and hiking and backpacking with her partner and Brownie, their dog. You can find her on Twitter, LinkedIn and at her personal website. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠

    27 min
  5. Episode 11: How to Celebrate 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

    MAR 26

    Episode 11: How to Celebrate 100 Years of Quantum Mechanics

    Bard Professor Paul Cadden-Zimansky wants everyone from kindergarteners to CEOs to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025. One of his goals for the initiative is to illustrate the many pathways to jobs in science and technology. He shares his own story that includes both a C in high school physics and a successful career as a professor and superconductivity researcher. Paul Cadden-Zimansky is an associate professor of physics and director of the Physics Program at Bard College. A condensed matter physicist, Paul earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and has held research appointments at Columbia University, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.  Paul also has a background in the history and philosophy of science, holding a master's degree from the London School of Economics and is a former chair of the American Physical Society's Forum on the History and Philosophy of Physics.  He is currently a member of the International Year of Quantum Executive Committee convened by the Physical Society to coordinate a global celebration and public outreach campaign celebrating 100 years of quantum mechanics in 2025. Learn more at Quantum2025.org. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠ HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/

    26 min
  6. Episode 9: Accelerating Quantum Startups Worldwide

    FEB 27

    Episode 9: Accelerating Quantum Startups Worldwide

    QAI Ventures just celebrated its first anniversary as a $50 million, early-stage venture fund and startup accelerator. Anca Albu is the chief marketing officer at QAI Ventures and works with entrepreneurs to help them craft compelling stories about their work. She helped build the largest and most active angel investor network in Switzerland, so she knows what it takes to build a community of funders, mentors and supporters around a new industry. In this episode, she explains lessons learned after one year, the importance of storytelling for quantum leaders, and what’s next for her team.  Anca Albu is the CMO of QAI Ventures, a Quantum Ecosystem Builder empowering Quantum Technologies’ global transformation with strategic startup investments and collaborative ecosystem building.  With extensive knowledge in ethical marketing and vast multicultural business acumen, Anca works towards creating a more positive present and building a healthy future.   In her former role as Managing Director of the Swiss ICT Investor Club, she built Switzerland's largest and most active angel investor network of more than 500 members. She was actively involved in developing the tech-entrepreneurial revolution that engulfed the world starting in 2010 as part of the core Startup Weekend team.  She is driven by the understanding that the development of new technologies comes with significant new ethical challenges that have to be addressed alongside. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years. Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠ HKA Marketing Communications https://hkamarcom.com/

    24 min

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The first podcast focused on PR and marketing communications for the quantum tech industry, by HKA Marcom, specializing in PR for startup, scaling and global quantum tech companies.

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