In The Community
Michelle Phan (@michellephan)
Remember when sci-fi shows and movies from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s showed us technology we never thought possible? This new food oven is basically a “Jetsons” food cooker, well, close to it anyway. National Technology Day (January 6th) recognizes all the ways technology has changed the world so far, from the invention of the wheel to artificial intelligence. It also looks to the future, highlighting new technological advances that will eventually change our lives.
And what’s cooler than the advent of new technology? We’d argue it’s the recent significant growth in the number of Latinas working in the technology industry.
They’re still underrepresented in comparison to their male colleagues but progress is progress. Latinas in technology face several hurdles and barriers, including discrimination and prejudices based on gender, race, and ethnicity.
Despite these obstacles, many Latinas have achieved success and made substantial contributions. Check out these 5 inspiring Latina tech entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place
Ariel Lopez
Urban Geekz
Ariel Lopez is an Afro-Latina entrepreneur, career coach, and speaker in tech. She is the founder and CEO of Knac, formerly 2020Shift, a talent management platform that promises to transform the job application process for professionals and businesses by reducing bias and improving the candidate experience while also making the hiring process much more efficient.
Passionate about the future of work, diversity, and inclusion, Ariel aims to create impactful solutions through technology and by coaching marketing, advertising, and tech professionals on ways to grow their businesses and careers.
Marcela Torres
Marcela Print
Marcela Torres, a researcher in social sciences, founded Hola Code in 2017 after identifying an urgent need for qualified personnel in the software development sector within her home country of Mexico, and tying that in with a growing migration crisis. Wanting to enact social change, she created a company that transforms forced migrants (returnees, deportees, and refugees) into skilled software developers, tapping into Mexico’s growing tech sector as well as the global demand for bilingual and bicultural developers, and helping them gain access to more, better jobs and opportunities.
Currently, Hola Code receives more than 400 applications each month from Mexicans and Central Americans seeking asylum. While they celebrate the accomplishments of their alumni, who quickly ascend into well-paid tech jobs across Mexico, the coding bootcamp is never short of work.
Dr. Maria Artunduaga
The Business Journals
Dr. Maria Artunduaga, a Colombian-born physician-scientist turned entrepreneur, graduated first in her class from Colombia's prestigious Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, which is ranked sixth among Latin American medical institutions. She moved to the United States for her postdoctoral studies, first at Harvard's Department of Genetics and subsequently at the universities of Washington and California in Berkeley-San Francisco, where she earned master's degrees in Public Health and Translational Medicine.
Inspired by her abuela Sylvia after years of witnessing her struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Maria went on to found Samay, formerly known as Respira Labs, a startup focused on enhancing the quality of life for people living with COPD through connected health and machine learning.
Laura I. Gomez
Techies
Laura I. Gomez is a Latina entrepreneur and technology executive. She is the co-founder and CEO of Atipica, a company that provides technology solutions for businesses to help improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She received her degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has worked in diverse leadership roles in the tech industry, including Google, YouTube, Jawbone, and Twitter, where she led the company’s product expansion into 50 languages and dozens of countries.
Laura has been recognized for her work as an entrepreneur and tech executive, having been named to Forbes' list of "Latin America's Most Powerful Women" in 2017. In addition to her work at Atipica, Gomez is also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) board of directors. She is currently working on Proyecto Solace, described as “a community focused on building safe spaces for Latinx peoples focused on collective healing and mental wellness.”
Dr. Graciela Chichilnisky
Dr. Graciela is an Argentine-American economist and environmental scientist known for her work on climate change and creating innovative technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She is the co-founder and former CEO of Global Thermostat, a company that developed a technology that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. The technology is designed to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Dr. Chichilnisky has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from the National Science Foundation, the Chaire d'Excellence from the French Government, and the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement. She is also a professor at Columbia University, where she teaches courses on environmental economics and the management of global environmental risks.
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You might have come across the descriptor “Latina-owned,” but have you taken a moment to truly grasp the profound meaning behind these two words? This form of self-identification is gaining momentum, symbolizing a powerful and continuously expanding Latina-led movement.
The label "Latina-owned" signifies a unique intersection of gender, ethnicity, and culture, shaping a distinctive identity within the entrepreneurial landscape. It goes beyond a simple ownership tag, blending economic and social realities.
In a landscape historically dominated by men, being "Latina-owned" challenges traditional gender norms and underscores the dynamic role played by women in steering businesses and the U.S. economy toward success. It’s not widely known that Latina-owned businesses are growing the fastest among all women. Latina-owned businesses grew 164% from 2007 to 2018, which is almost three times more than the growth of women-owned businesses overall.
Latinas also come in as the second-largest group of female workers in the United States, with a total of 12.8 million Latinas in the labor force. This makes them just over 17% of the overall female workforce.
The label also grounds itself on the diversity of Latine heritage - with roots in different Latine American cultures, each with its own set of traditions. This cultural backdrop not only adds a unique flavor to the business but also establishes a connection with consumers seeking diversity in their choices and supporting businesses with authentic cultural roots.
Culturally, the "Latina-owned" label transcends mere ownership status. It’s a symbol of community, shared experiences, and empowerment. It reflects a commitment to preserving and celebrating cultural values in business practices, whether it be through products, services, or workplace environments. This cultural infusion not only distinguishes Latina-owned businesses but also fosters a sense of pride and identity among the entrepreneurs and their customers alike.
Latina women are excelling in every way – creating jobs, sparking innovation, and tuning into what U.S. consumers of all backgrounds want.
This trend also serves to lift up Latina women, giving them the spotlight they deserve and giving them the inspiration and experience to grow into leadership roles. More Latina entrepreneurs are making their mark and bringing a whole new level of representation to the table.
The path to success for Latina entrepreneurs is inherently challenging and marked by a complex interplay of racial and gender biases, including a persistent wage gap that disproportionately affects many Latina women. Moreover, limited networking, mentorship opportunities, and a constant struggle for access to loans and investments further compound these challenges. Venture capital investments have been dismal for years, with less than a half-percent of billions of dollars of capital going to Latina-led start-ups.
Foreign-born Latina entrepreneurs, in particular, face an uphill battle with challenges like language barriers and limited access to information. Providing language support, along with greater accessibility to entrepreneurial resources, can significantly help these Latina women more effectively navigate the intricate landscape of entrepreneurship.
Actively acknowledging, supporting, and investing in Latina-owned businesses is a necessary step in building true Latino economic influence and power. As the label continues to gain recognition, it becomes not just a marker of ownership but a catalyst for conversations and action around inclusion, representation, and the evolving narrative of Latina identity.