AI leader Dolly Chitta shares her journey from childhood climate curiosity to quantum science, highlighting lessons on risk, problem-solving, and passion — inspiring the next generation to harness AI and quantum frontiers.
Salt Lake City, Utah — October 13, 2025
From Ozone Curiosity to AI Frontiers: Dolly Chitta’s Journey in Tech
When Dolly Chitta was eight years old, she sat glued to a BBC program about the ozone layer. What struck her wasn’t just the science — it was the idea that something as ordinary as hairspray could damage the entire atmosphere. “I felt like I needed to do something about global warming, greenhouse gas mitigation at large,” she remembers. That moment of childhood curiosity launched a lifelong passion: using science and technology to tackle the world’s toughest problems.
Today, Chitta is the CEO of Tek Holding, leading a team of scientists at the crossroads of AI, materials science, and national security. Their projects range from designing next-generation batteries to developing artificial spider silk for protective gear. “My career tells a story about myself I did not know before,” she says — a story that has taken her from a small Catholic school in India to the frontiers of quantum science.
She was also recently appointed as Science and Innovation Advisor (Quantum & AI) for the Nucleus Institute, whose launch late last month was recently covered by TechBuzz.
In recognition of her leadership and impact in technology, Dolly Chitta was named a finalist for the 2025 Women Tech Awards, which took place on October 3, 2025 at the Grand America in downtown Salt Lake City. The honor places her among a select group of top women innovators and executives shaping Utah’s technology sector.
See a list of finalists and awardees here.
Education Through Discomfort
Chitta’s journey was far from smooth. After excelling in her early studies in India, she came to the U.S. to attend Auburn University. For the first time, she struggled academically. Instead of backing away, she leaned into the discomfort. “I put myself in uncomfortable situations, and that helped me challenge myself,” she says. That grit carried her through to a PhD in materials science at the University of Utah, followed by roles in industry, academia, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship.
She founded Curie AI and Curie Lab before stepping into her current role at Tek Holding, where she blends expertise in chemical engineering, computer science, and materials science with cutting-edge AI tools.
Defining Moments
One of Chitta’s most vivid turning points came not in a lab, but at a UNESCO event for the International Year of Quantum. Surrounded by Nobel Prize winners, she was the only chemical engineer in the room. Intimidated at first, she left inspired — especially after a conversation with physicist William Phillips, who told her: “Schrödinger’s equation defines everything in quantum.”
Chitta was so moved she got the equation tattooed on her arm. “I wanted my first tattoo to represent something I’m passionate about — not just something like, ‘I love my dogs.’”
That tattoo marked her growing conviction that quantum science, paired with AI, would shape the next great wave of discovery.
Defining the Right Problem
If there’s one principle that drives Chitta’s work, it’s focus. “If you can define the right problem,” she explains, “the solutions — and the impact — will follow.”
She pushes her teams to pursue the hardest challenges. “Choose the toughest problem. That way you can eliminate the competition and get to the finish line faster.” For Chitta, AI isn’t about shortcuts — it’s about using machine learning to accelerate discovery, cutting years off the cycle of modeling, testing, and design. That mindset has earned her recognition, including the Utah Innovation Award.
Advice for the Next Generation
As a mentor and a mother of two daughters, Chitta is deeply invested in inspiring young problem-solvers. Her guidance is practical and direct:
Looking Ahead
Chitta believes the next frontier lies in harnessing AI and quantum technologies together — a pairing powerful enough to reshape industries, tackle climate change, and redefine what’s possible.
“Quantum science is no longer a futuristic dream,” she says. “Just as math and coding became essential skills, quantum literacy will soon be a foundation for solving the world’s hardest problems. The future will belong to those who can see the possibilities hidden in the uncertainty.”
Isabel Busse and Eva Leavitt are juniors at Olympus High School. Both were summer 2025 media interns for SheTech and TechBuzz. Isabel enjoys playing soccer and has a strong interest in both math and psychology. Eva is excited to learn more about influential women in Utah's tech scene. Her favorite class in school is math. She enjoys skiing, playing on a competitive soccer team, and wake surfing.