Sophie Vandebroek facts for kids

Sophie V. Vandebroek is a smart and successful Belgian-born engineer and business leader. She used to be the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Xerox, which means she was in charge of all their new inventions and technology. Later, she became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at IBM Research, helping to manage their big research projects. After that, she was a special visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2021, she started her own company, Strategic Vision Ventures LLC, to help other businesses with their plans.

Early Life

Sophie Vandebroek was born in Leuven, a city in Belgium. Her dad was an engineer, and her mom was an artist. When Sophie was just seven years old, she watched the moon landing and was so amazed! She dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Even though there wasn't a specific degree for astronauts, she chose to study both electrical and mechanical engineering. She felt this was the closest she could get to her dream of exploring new things.

Education

Sophie Vandebroek studied very hard. She earned a master's degree in electromechanical engineering from KU Leuven University in Belgium. This type of engineering combines electrical and mechanical systems. In 1986, she moved to the United States. She continued her studies at Cornell University, where she earned her PhD in electrical engineering in 1990. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get.

Her Amazing Career

Sophie Vandebroek started her career at IBM's research labs in 1990. A year later, in 1991, she joined Xerox. She really liked working at Xerox because they supported women in their careers.

At Xerox, she became the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a corporate vice president. This meant she led all the new technology and innovation for the company from 2006 to 2016. She helped Xerox create many new and exciting things.

Sophie has also been on the board of directors for several companies, like Analogic Corporation and IDEXX Laboratories. Being on a board means she helped guide these companies. She has given many talks about important topics like artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and how everything is connected online.

In 2017, Sophie became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at IBM Research. As COO, she helped manage the daily operations of IBM's research division. She left IBM in 2019 and became a special visiting scholar at MIT's School of Engineering. She also joined the boards of Wolters Kluwer and Inari Agriculture.

Today, Sophie helps guide the Boston Museum of Sciences and the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. In 2021, her old university, KU Leuven, made her an Honorary Professor.

Personal Life

Sophie Vandebroek has three grown-up children. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a citizen of the United States.

Awards and Recognition

Sophie Vandebroek has received many honors for her work.

• In 2005, she was named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). This is a very high honor for electrical engineers.
• In 2010, she became a foreign member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts.
• She is also featured in the Women in Technology Hall of Fame.
• Her name appears on the Notable Women in Computing cards, which celebrate important women in computer science.