When Swami thinks about his role in semiconductors, he sees an opportunity to change the world. It's that same attitude that attracted him to TI's Kilby Labs, Dallas, where he's working on technologies previously thought out-of-reach.

One example is a terahertz wave project intended to enable gesture recognition and data communication. Until now such technology has lacked the innovative architecture to produce performance and power at the levels required. But in the future these systems could be used to enable drastically less expensive and more cost-effective means for bio-molecular sensing, medical imaging and ultra-high-bandwidth data communication.

Swami brings an intense need to solve problems to his current team in Kilby Labs. He's done the same thing in his previous roles, taking on seemingly impossible challenges such as significant power reductions under tight design windows. Some may run away from such demands, but Swami runs toward them. They're what inspire him.

Swami also has a spiritual side. Meditation, he says, helps him keep an even head during and after working toward an intense deadline.