Latinas in Tech
During the past Hispanic Heritage Month, I collaborated as an Latina Illustrator Latinas in Tech collaborated with Korbel California Champagne to pay tribute to 30 Latinas who excelled in the Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math (STEM) industries. These Luminarias revolutionized their fields and illuminated the way for younger generations.
Latinas in Tech (LiT) was a non-profit organization that advocated for inclusivity in the tech industry, while empowering latinas with the necessary tools to thrive, innovate, and lead.
Women comprise 28% of the tech workforce in the United States. Only 2% are Latina
Latinas in Tech, a non-profit organization with the aim to connect, support, and empower Latinas working in technology, has entered the metaverse in partnership with Korbel® California Champagne to present Luminarias, a virtual art exhibition spotlighting 30 Latina leaders in the STEM industries. Ranging from corporate executives to digital creators, the honorees will be represented as individual portraits and featured in a fully-immersive VR gallery.
Illustrated by myself Lucia Diaz, each Luminarias with all proceeds donated to Latinas in Tech. The metaverse exhibition will be accessible via VR headset, computer, tablet, or smartphone in Spatial Platform. While women represent 28.8% of the U.S. tech workforce, Latinas only make up 2%, according to a recent study. This notable disparity, as well as the highly-publicized Latina wage gap, have prompted community and professional leaders to advocate for more Latinas building careers in STEM. Empowering and connecting latinas since 2014, Latinas in Tech works hand in hand with top technology companies to create safe spaces for learning, mentorship, and recruitment.
“Luminarias shines a light on some of the extraordinary Hispanic women who are illuminating career paths for Latinas in STEM,” said Rocío van Nierop, Co-Founder and CEO of Latinas in Tech.” Latinas in Tech is incredibly proud to partner with Korbel to raise a toast to these pioneers and role models who are making tremendous contributions to their industries and our community as a whole.”
The first class of Luminarias, presented by Latinas in Tech x Korbel are:
- Beatriz Acevedo, CEO and Co-Founder at SUMA Wealth
- Julie Acosta, Senior Web Analytics Manager at AutoZone
- Cecilia Ambros, Director of Research, Data Sciences at Compass
- Deborah Berebichez, Lead Scientist in Microelectronics and Quantum Computing at VTT
- Luz Bratcher, Founder at Golden Repair
- Ana Bretschneider, Director of Sponsorship and Program Operations at Latinas in Tech
- Diana Centeno-Gomez, Chief, Smart Sensing and Electronics Systems Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center
- Melissa Cintrón-Muñoz, Events Producer at Meta
- Priscila Cordero, Principle Product Marketing Manager at Amazon Luna
- Cecilia Corral, Co-Founder and Vice President of Product at CareMessage
- Claudia Cruz, Director, Internships and Experiential Learning at University of Nevada, Reno
- Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, CEO and Founder at DREAMers Roadmap
- Adriana Gil Miner, Chief Marketing Officer at Iterable
- Veronica Gilliard, Deputy Director of Platform Services at the California Department of Technology
- Michelle Heng, CEO and Co-Founder at Everlaunch
- Catalina Laverde, Engineering Manager at Spotify
- Michelle LeClerc, Creative Director at LeClerc
- Heather Martinez, Senior Counsel at Uber
- Mariana Matus, CEO and Co-founder at Biobot Analytics
- Cynthia Maxwell, Director of Engineering, Animation Studio Technology at Netflix
- Hady Mendez, Director of Equality at Slack
- Alejandra Meza, Head of Product Design at Huckleberry Labs
- Lynette Midy, Senior Director Of Engineering at SpotHero
- Elaine Montilla, Chief Technology Officer for US School Assessment at Pearson
- Shannon Morales, CEO and Founder at Tribaja
- Sandra Mosquera, Vice President and Product Manager at JP Morgan Chase
- Maria Rubio, UX Lead at Keybank
- Monica SanMiguel, Head of Business at Enova International
- Diana Toscas, Director of Engineering, Developer Experience at PayPal
- Daniela Veloz, Senior Software Engineer at Expedia
The Luminarias exhibition was hosted on the Spatial metaverse platform and was inspired by the career journeys of its honorees. The custom-built space, which was a sprawling two-level venue, featured the collection on its ground floor and a sun-drenched gathering lounge on its rooftop. Visitors were able to enjoy the scenic view from the top, along with a closing remark from the Luminarias spanning the sky. To celebrate its grand opening, Latinas in Tech and Korbel hosted an exclusive launch event at the gallery on September 15. Click here for more details.
“Luminarias is a celebration of legacy, excellence, and innovation,” said Gary Heck, Korbel President and Owner. “For that year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, we not only wanted to recognize the historic contributions of the community but also showcase how they were also helping to shape our future. Korbel was honored to partner with Latinas in Tech for their very first entry into the metaverse that was both culturally-led and purpose-driven.”
“I was thrilled to be part of such a timely and important conversation happening within the Hispanic community,” I said to the team, I had previously collaborated with global luxury fashion and beauty brands. “For this collection, my intention was to portray each of the Luminarias as relatable iconoclasts that were both inspirational and aspirational. I wanted guests coming out of this exhibition to feel like anything was possible.
About Korbel® California Champagne Established in 1882 in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, Korbel Champagne Cellars had produced the United States’ most popular méthode champenoise champagne. But the true measure of Korbel’s success during its 140 years could be seen in the impact it had had on American consumers and its presence at various celebrations throughout the years. Owned and managed by the Heck family since 1954, Korbel had currently made eleven California champagnes and a limited amount of still wine. In a separate facility, Korbel had also produced one of the country’s most respected brandies.
About Latinas in Tech was a non-profit with humble origins. What had started as two friends in need of career support had become a global community of almost 20,000 Latinx women. Their group had begun in Silicon Valley in 2014 and had since then expanded to 20 additional cities with a local footprint around the world. Their mission was ambitious, just like their members: they had sought to reshape the tech industry so that Latinx women were not only well-represented but also thriving in the technology ecosystem. For more information or to donate to their non-profit, please visit www.latinasintech.org.
Beatriz Acevedo, CEO and Co-Founder at SUMA Wealth
A proud immigrant from Mexico, Beatriz’s expertise sits at the intersection of media, technology, and social impact. She is a sought-after speaker who enjoys discussions around diversity as good business, female leadership, and the economic impact of Latinos in America
Julie Acosta, Senior Web Analytics Manager at AutoZone
Julie is a Brazilian-American digital merchandising and marketing leader who’s spent most of her career working for major Fortune 500 companies. She is a passionate advocate for Latinas in the tech space and works with several organizations to champion diversity and inclusion.
Cecilia Ambros, Director of Research, Data Sciences at Compass
Born in Argentina, Cecilia credits her Latin roots for her commitment to advancing diverse perspectives and broadening access to higher education. She’s taught design courses and lectured at Stanford, Farmingdale College, Harvard, Northwestern, and IIT Institute of Design.
Deborah Berebichez, Lead Scientist in Microelectronics and Quantum Computing at VTT
Deborah is the first Mexican woman to receive a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University. She is one of 120 female scientists selected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Ambassador and has a statue in the #IFTHENSHECAN exhibition in Washington, DC.
Ana Bretschneider, Director of Sponsorship and Program Operations at Latinas in Tech
Ana is passionate about advocating for Latinas, empowering them to become leaders, and bringing transformational changes. She collaborates with global organizations to develop innovative solutions for achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives.
Luz Bratcher, Founder at Golden Repair
Luz proudly comes from a line of Mexican women trailblazers. She has two decades of experience in the design industry and believes design is one massive exercise in hospitality: creating spaces and experiences where people feel like they belong.
Diana Centeno-Gomez, Chief, Smart Sensing and Electronics Systems Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center
Diana has earned prestigious awards throughout her career, including the Professional Achievement – Government Award from the Great Minds in STEM organization and the Verizon Nueva Estrella Latina Technology Award. She’s actively involved in the Cleveland Hispanic community.
Melissa Cintrón-Muñoz, Events Producer at Meta
Melissa is an accomplished Experiential Events Marketing Manager and Producer with over 16 years of experience in the industry. She is multilingual and fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
Priscila Cordero, Principle Product Marketing Manager at Amazon Luna
Priscila is passionate about defining the vision and strategy of emerging consumer technology products. She enjoys mentoring young women who seek to learn more about working in tech companies.
Cecilia Corral, Co-Founder and Vice President of Product at CareMessage
Cecilia credits growing up in a low-income Mexican-immigrant household for her incredible drive. Her advocacy for Diversity and Inclusion in the tech industry includes collecting and publishing data on Latina Tech Founders
Claudia Cruz, Director, Internships and Experiential Learning at University of Nevada, Reno
Claudia is an award-winning business and technology reporter of Dominican heritage. She is an expert in Latino-centric journalism, with much of her work focusing on the lack of Latino representation in business news and its impact, challenges, and opportunities.
Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, CEO and Founder at DREAMers Roadmap
A former undocumented student who once had to drop out of school to support her family, Sarahi’s personal experience informs her unwavering vision: to help hundreds of thousands of students eliminate educational barriers to success and achieve their full potential.
Veronica Gilliard, Deputy Director of Platform Services at the California Department of Technology
Veronica Gilliard was born and raised in California and is a 3rd generation Mexican American. She has 30 years of experience in the Information Technology platform ranging from Computer Operations, Service Desk, Systems Programming, Project Management, and management
Adriana Gil Miner, Chief Marketing Officer at Iterable
Adriana is a Venezuelan-born marketer who has worked at every level in multiple industries and various markets throughout her 20+ year career. She’s built marketing teams from the ground up, created thriving customer communities, and deployed campaigns across continents.
Michelle Heng, CEO and Co-Founder at Everlaunch
Michelle overcame homelessness and poverty and used her lived experiences to inform her journey and passion for entrepreneurship as a way to build generational wealth. She is a proud Afro-Latina and born and raised New Yorker.
Catalina Laverde, Engineering Manager at Spotify
Born and raised in Colombia, Catalina moved to the US by herself at 18 years old. She has a passion for quality and a track record of success leading compliance efforts for GDPR, publishing engineering Code Review Principles, and implementing company-wide reliability exercises.
Michelle LeClerc, Creative Director at LeClerc
Michelle is a Chilean-American graphic designer, illustrator, data visualist, and educator whose work focuses on social justice and representation. In designing for a diverse audience, she believes that every aspect of design – no matter how small – should have equity in mind.
Heather Martinez, Senior Counsel at Uber
A daughter of Mexican parents, Heather is a seasoned tech attorney and product counsel in the logistics industry. She has led organizations for the advancement of Latinos in her field, and provides pro-bono legal services to small businesses and people seeking immigration advice
Mariana Matus, CEO and Co-founder at Biobot Analytics
Originally from Mexico City, Mariana’s been recognized by publications like Newsweek and Boston Globe as a trailblazer transforming the world through technology. She earned her PhD in Computational Biology from MIT and specializes in the emerging field of wastewater epidemiology
Cynthia Maxwell, Director of Engineering
Cynthia is a Mexican-American from Texas. Her path has taken her from physics simulations for astronaut training at NASA to building products at Apple and Netflix. She holds a few patents and has contributed to several paradigm shifts in the software industry.
Hady Mendez, Director of Equality at Slack
Hady has held multiple roles in tech and financial services, served as a leader across various Employee Resource Groups, volunteered as an international champion for incarcerated women, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the Bronx
Alejandra Meza, Head of Product Design at Huckleberry Labs
Alejandra has been in the design field for the past 18 years, working at several early-stage startups as a Design Leader. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, her love of design came from her family of creative artisans who made beautiful and useful things with their hands.
Elaine Montilla, Chief Technology Officer for US School Assessment at Pearson
Originally from The Dominican Republic, Elaine is recognized as a dynamic IT Executive with 20+ years of progressively responsible experience. One of her main goals is to highlight the need for diversity in the tech field and expand STEM learning opportunities to all children.
Shannon Morales, CEO and Founder at Tribaja
Shannon is a proud Afro-Latina social entrepreneur and mother of 3 daughters. After experiencing bias in the workplace, she started Tribaja as a better way to connect professionals with inclusive brands. Now a global tech talent network, it propels the growth of major companies.
Sandra Mosquera, Vice President and Product Manager at JP Morgan Chase
A proud Afro-Latina immigrant from Colombia, Sandra is an expert in API products/gateways and technology modernization at large enterprises. She works to create opportunities for people from impoverished communities, inspiring them to overcome fears of pursuing careers in tech
Maria Rubio, UX Lead at Keybank
Maria owned a successful web design business in Venezuela, where she was born and raised. In the U.S., she built a career in user experience design and strategy for insurance and financial enterprise. She has mentored younger generations of practitioners in technology and design
Monica San Miguel, Head of Business at Enova International
Monica is a seasoned business leader who believes technology has the potential to expand access and improve the quality of services for underserved consumers. She is working to address challenges she experienced first-hand when she and her family emigrated from Mexico.
Diana Toscas, Director of Engineering, Developer Experience at PayPal
Diana’s journey in FinTech spans over 20 years. Born in Chicago with Puerto Rican and Honduran heritage, she has maintained various leadership roles throughout her successful career, and is passionate about helping young women and underrepresented groups realize their potential.
Daniela Veloz, Senior Software Engineer at Expedia
Daniela began as a software developer in Mexico before moving to the U.S., where she gained in-depth experience in her field for over 15 years. An I&D advocate at heart, she promotes inclusion for minorities and served as the first global president for the Latinx ERG at Expedia.
I’ve partnered with @latinasintechorg and @korbel_1882 to present 🔆 Luminarias, a virtual art exhibition and NFT auction spotlighting 30 Latina changemakers.
— Lucia Diaz 🇨🇴 | NFT NYC SPEAKER (@holaluciadiaz) September 12, 2022
It was an honor to create Individual NFT portraits of the luminarias, launching on September 15. 🥂 pic.twitter.com/ZXPioSsOUa