Denise Ruffner has dedicated herself to building inclusive pathways in quantum technology, following her early career at IBM and subsequent work as an executive at Cambridge Quantum (now Quantinuum), IonQ, and Atom Computing. She now works as a strategic business advisor to quantum startups, in addition to her focus on inclusion in the quantum industry for underrepresented groups. In 2020, she founded Women in Quantum, which has grown to over 9,000 members globally, providing mentorship, networking, and career advancement resources for women entering and progressing in quantum fields.

In 2023, Ruffner co-founded DiviQ.org (Diversity in Quantum), an international nonprofit established to support underrepresented groups to thrive in quantum careers. Women in Quantum was merged into DiviQ as a chapter to continue to focus on women in addition to other underrepresented groups. DiviQ offers mentorship programs, scholarships for attending scientific meetings, and affinity groups that provide professional support. The organization recently launched a global quantum needs assessment in collaboration with Quantum Flagship, the largest survey of quantum scientists to date.

Ruffner speaks regularly at international conferences and was recently named a Fellow at UC San Diego’s Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. Her work addresses systemic barriers in quantum technology access and career development, creating structures that connect underrepresented individuals with opportunities, resources, and community support within the quantum ecosystem.