Building Inclusive Innovation at Arm

IEEE Women in Engineering 2025: Susan Graham on Leading with Inclusion at Arm

From wire bonding on an assembly line at age 19 to leading CPU engineering at Arm, Susan Graham knows what it means to grow, adapt and lead with purpose. Based in Austin, Texas, she’s now driving innovation at the core of Arm’s compute strategy while shaping a culture where bold thinking, clarity and collaboration power everything we build.  

In her keynote at the IEEE Women in Engineering International Leadership Conference, Susan brought to life what inclusive leadership really looks like in action: intentional, energized and essential to building better technology. Her talk reflected Arm’s 10x mindset—a company-wide commitment to thinking bigger, moving faster and making more meaningful impact by focusing on what truly matters.  

Teamwork That Reflects Real-World Collaboration 

At Arm, we recognize that no two teams are alike. Susan shared two models to reflect how high-performing teams operate: 

• Rowing teams thrive on trust, timing and shared rhythm—just like our post-silicon and infrastructure teams that deliver with quiet precision. 

• Basketball teams rely on agility, adaptive roles and fast-paced decision-making—mirroring the dynamic culture in our AI, systems and R&D teams. 

Whatever your style, we believe in supporting the team dynamic that brings out your best. 

Leadership That Includes Everyone 

We know that when people feel included, they perform at their best. That’s why inclusive leadership is embedded in how we grow and support our people. As Susan put it: 

“Inclusive leadership actively seeks out and values diverse perspectives, and creates an environment where everyone feels respected, heard and empowered to contribute fully.” 

From empathy and curiosity to cultural intelligence and accountability, inclusive leaders at Arm are encouraged to lead with purpose- and supported to keep growing. 

 

Engineers Who Lead by Example 

Engineering culture can sometimes emphasize technical expertise at the expense of interpersonal growth. At Arm, we’re changing that. 

Susan shared why engineers are uniquely positioned to lead inclusively: they’re structured thinkers, process-driven collaborators, and deeply analytical. But inclusive leadership isn’t automatic—it’s a skill set we actively develop. 

“Inclusivity isn’t a natural outcome of technical ability. It requires self-awareness and intentional effort.” 

Through mentorship, inclusive design reviews, and our global communities, we help engineers grow beyond their code and into leadership. 

 

AI Can Amplify Leadership—If We Use It Well 

Technology doesn’t replace leadership - it can strengthen it. From feedback tools that enhance self-awareness, to AI-assisted writing and hiring support, Susan shared how intelligent systems can help us lead with more insight, fairness and clarity. 

But she reminded us: “AI is a powerful tool—not a substitute for human empathy, ethics or judgment.” At Arm, we use AI to amplify inclusive practices, never to automate humanity out of the equation. 

 

Why It Matters to Work at Arm 

At Arm, inclusive leadership isn’t a checkbox—it’s part of how we build high-performing teams, develop meaningful careers, and create technology that reflects and respects the world it serves. 

Whether you’re just starting out or driving what’s next, Arm gives you the space to grow, the tools to thrive, and a community that’s with you every step of the way. "We are building the future of computing - together, for everyone.” 

 

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