Title: Director of Program Management
Company: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Location: Carlsbad, California, United States
Sara Schleutker, Director of Program Management at Qualcomm Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Technology Industry.
Ms. Schleutker, a leader in the semiconductor industry, has enjoyed a long and successful career marked by her distinguished tenure at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Since 2001, she has served as the director of program management, where she is responsible for developing and launching new programs, connecting with stakeholders, collaborating with governments to build strategic “Make in Country” initiatives and overseeing budgeting processes. Ms. Schleutker’s expertise encompasses startup innovation challenges, cellular communications, program management, marketing, pre-Series A companies and ecosystem development, demonstrating a high level of proficiency and leadership in these areas.
Before being acquired by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Ms. Schleutker briefly worked at Unique Concepts from 2000 to 2021 as an account manager. In this capacity, she gained valuable experience managing client relationships and supporting business development initiatives.
Ms. Schleutker’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in high-tech management from the San Marcos College of Business Administration at California State University, earned in 2001. Notably, the high-tech management track was developed during the dot-com boom to distinguish the school from other universities in San Diego and modeled after master’s programs at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. The curriculum included a capstone project that functioned as an automatic internship with a local company, a feature Ms. Schleutker found particularly beneficial as she sought to remain in San Diego while pursuing her education.
Further enhancing her professional qualifications, Ms. Schleutker completed a program management certificate at Cornell University in 2023. She is fluent in both English and Indonesian, bringing a global perspective to both her work and community.
In addition to her professional involvement, Ms. Schleutker is actively involved in civic organizations. Since 2023, she has served as a mentor for STEM Advantage, supporting students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She has also served on the executive leadership committee of the San Diego/Imperial Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association since 2024.
During her tenure at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Ms. Schleutker played a pivotal role on a small global team that developed Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) roaming and connected networks worldwide. She was instrumental in launching CDMA technology in Southeast Asia, a milestone that brought cellular communications to regions previously without such infrastructure.
Among other significant achievements, Ms. Schleutker was pivotal in developing and implementing an innovation program at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Through this initiative, she has taught individuals to innovate and solve problems tailored to their unique needs. The program has led to profitable outcomes and transformative solutions across sectors, such as soil retention, security, financial institutions and health care, directly contributing to saving lives through technology. Notably, the initiative emphasizes the importance of patenting ideas and supporting startups in retaining equity. As a result, countries participating in the program have experienced measurable economic impact, with approximately 3-5% of patents filed in the startup category now originating from these efforts.
In recognition of her contributions to CDMA roaming, Ms. Schleutker was presented with an Outstanding Contribution Award by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., in 2013. She attributes her success to working alongside remarkable colleagues, inventors and mentors, as well as the inspiring women who have supported her throughout her journey. Looking ahead, Ms. Schleutker aspires to retire and devote more time to hobbies she has not been able to pursue due to professional commitments and travel obligations.
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