By Christine Shelby | OBSERVER Staff Writer

In the heart of Rancho Cordova, a quiet powerhouse is making waves in the global technology landscape. Solidigm, an independent U.S. subsidiary of SK hynix, is rapidly establishing itself as a hidden gem in STEM, specializing in advanced AI storage solutions. The company, famously referred to as a “billion-dollar startup,” was acquired from Intel in 2020. While the public might associate artificial intelligence with flashy apps and digital art, Solidigm’s executives reveal a deeper, more fundamental role in the AI ecosystem: securely and efficiently storing the vast amounts of data that fuel it all.

To learn more about the billion-dollar company, technology reporter Christine Shelby visited with with three key executives – Gamil Cain, senior principal software engineer and product security architect; Michael Mamo, senior principal engineer and senior director; and Charles Anyimi, vice president, customer technical excellence – to uncover Solidigm’s impact, their leadership philosophies, and their vision for nurturing the next generation of tech talent in the Sacramento region.

The Unsung Hero Of AI: Data Storage

“If you think about it fundamentally,” explains Cain, a veteran technologist with nine patents to his name, “one of the things AI does is it takes a whole lot of data from a whole lot of different places, aggregates it all together, and tries to make sense of it. The fundamental thing behind all that is the data. We build storage. And storage stores data, and being able to have access to that data fast, reliably, securely – that’s what Solidigm builds.”

Cain, who spent 23 years at Intel before joining Solidigm on day one, emphasizes that while AI’s public face might be chatbots and image generators, these applications fundamentally rely on robust, high-performance storage. “All of those examples, they all rely on storage at the base,” he notes, positioning Solidigm as a crucial, though often unseen, player in the AI revolution.

Mamo, with 27 years of tech experience spanning Dell, AMD, and Intel, echoes that sentiment. His daily life at Solidigm revolves around “solving problems,” particularly in “customer enabling” and pioneering “innovation for the storage area.” This includes designing tools for future AI capabilities and resolving real-time customer issues.

Leadership That Fosters Curiosity and Embraces Failure

Solidigm’s success isn’t just built on cutting-edge technology; it’s rooted in a distinctive leadership philosophy that champions curiosity, diversity, and a willingness to learn from setbacks.

Charles Anyimi, who leads global high-performing teams, outlines his three-part approach: “People, process, props.” He emphasizes the importance of people, saying, “It starts with people. If you don’t care for the people, you’re not caring for the company. End of story.” Beyond focusing on people, a straightforward process is essential for the work to “coalesce and come together and, heaven forbid, create something of value.” Finally, “props” refers to equipping teams with the necessary tools and knowledge to ensure effective execution. Anyimi passionately advocates for diversity – whether in thought, background, or socioeconomic status – because it is through such diversity that innovation is developed.

Cain, as a product security architect, cultivates an environment where every idea is welcome. “I know that I do not have all the answers. And so I want my team to see me that way,” he shares. “There’s no wrong opinion. There’s no bad opinion. It’s about collaborating and challenging assumptions.”

A significant aspect of Solidigm’s culture, stressed by all three executives, is the acceptance of failure as a learning opportunity. “Failing in engineering specifically is very acceptable,” Mamo said. Anyimi added a crucial caveat: “Most of us coming in don’t think we’re allowed to fail. … You have to be willing to see it as a learning opportunity.” Such a mindset encourages risk-taking and discovery, vital in a rapidly evolving industry.

Nurturing Rancho Cordova’s STEM Ecosystem

Solidigm is deeply committed to embedding itself within the Rancho Cordova community, viewing it as crucial for long-term talent acquisition and regional growth. “One of the first things we want to go try to do at Solidigm is to embed ourselves in the community,” Anyimi explained. That includes engaging with local elementary schools to expose children to technology early, and partnering with other tech companies in the region, such as Kioxia and Micron, to sponsor local initiatives like hackathons.

Anyimi highlighted the importance of connecting Solidigm’s work to everyday experiences. Many consumers do not know that the cloud is “actually stored on a storage device, just like the ones we make.” He uses examples such as AI detecting credit card fraud or reminding elderly parents to take medication, illustrating how Solidigm’s backend technology impacts daily life far beyond creating “funny photos.”

Mamo emphasized how AI is changing our perspective on computing. He believes the next generation of technology experts must be flexible and open to adaptation. “AI is transforming not just how we compute but also how we approach various tasks,” he explains, stressing the importance of ongoing learning that extends beyond traditional education.

Cain advises aspiring tech professionals to look beyond the “splashy” end products. “There’s this whole back end of players as well, and they do cool stuff too,” he says, encouraging exploration in foundational tech areas such as storage infrastructure.

Embracing AI: An Opportunity, Not A Threat

Addressing the common fear that AI will replace human jobs, Cain offers a refreshing perspective: “AI is just like every other technology revolution that we’ve gone through over the years.” He argues that people should push past discomfort with newness and instead focus on influencing the direction of AI.

Anyimi points to the disclaimers often found on AI-generated content – “Please verify the integrity of the result” – as the key to opportunity. “It’s fallible, and someone has to know that, hey, this thing is false,” he says. “The opportunity is actually in that fine print.”

He believes there always will be a need for individuals who can critically analyze, improve, and ensure the accuracy of AI outputs. This, Cain concludes, circles back to the core principles: “Curiosity, asking questions, challenging assumptions.”

Solidigm is well-positioned to take the lead in our local STEM landscape because of its strong leadership, commitment to innovation, and dedication to the community. By actively supporting the foundation of the AI revolution and fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, Solidigm is not only developing advanced storage solutions, but also nurturing the talent that will shape the future of technology. While it may be a quiet force now, it is clear we will hear more from Solidigm.