In The Community
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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From school adventures to coming-of-age stories, we've got it all. So grab your amigas and get ready to be transported to new worlds, feel empowered, and maybe even shed a tear or two.
A Little Princess (1995), by Alfonso Cuarón / Mexico
Source: IMDB
This heartwarming tale follows the adventures of a young girl named Sara, who is sent to a boarding school in England while her father goes off to fight in World War I.
From the moment she arrives, Sara is treated like royalty, but when news of her father's death reaches her, she is forced to work as a servant in the school. However, with her wild imagination and unwavering spirit, Sara refuses to let her circumstances dim her light.
Filled with charming characters, sumptuous costumes, and a healthy dose of fairytale magic, "A Little Princess" will make you believe in the power of kindness and the importance of never losing your inner sparkle. So put on your finest crown, sit back, and prepare to be enchanted by this lovely tale.
Real Women Have Curves (2002), by Patricia Cardoso / Colombia
Source: MUBI
This feel-good film follows the adventures of Ana, a young Latina woman living in East LA who is torn between pursuing her dreams and pleasing her traditional family.
With a cast of strong, sassy, and inspiring women, this movie celebrates the beauty and power of diversity. As Ana struggles to find her voice and follow her heart, she learns that real women come in all shapes and sizes and that confidence is the sexiest thing of all.
Filled with humor, heart, and a whole lot of sass, "Real Women Have Curves" is a movie that will make you feel good about yourself, no matter what your body type. So if you're in the mood for a movie that will leave you feeling empowered and inspired, then this is the film for you.
Like Water for Chocolate (1992), by Alfonso Arau / Mexico
Source: IMDB
This magical realist film takes us on a journey through the life of Tita, a talented cook who expresses her forbidden emotions through her delectable dishes.
With a pinch of heartache, a dash of romance, and a heap of Mexican tradition, this film will make your mouth water and your heart ache in equal measure. If you're in the mood for a captivating movie experience that will leave you feeling hungry for love, "Like Water for Chocolate" is our go-to recipe.
Too Late to Die Young (2018), by Dominga Sotomayor / Chile
Source: MUBI
This beautifully shot film takes us on a journey through the lives of three teens living in a remote Chilean community in the 1990s.
As they navigate the challenges of growing up, our heroes find themselves falling in love, fighting with their families, and learning about the world beyond their secluded neighborhood. And through it all, they discover that growing up can be both beautiful and bittersweet.
If you're in the mood for a movie that will transport you to another time and place, look no further. With a lush, atmospheric soundtrack and stunning cinematography, "Too Late to Die Young" is a feast for the senses that will leave you feeling nostalgic and inspired.
Niñas Mal (2007), by Alfonso Arau / Mexico
Source: IMDB
This quirky comedy follows the misadventures of a group of misfits who are sent to a finishing school to learn how to behave like proper young ladies.
With a cast of characters that range from the delightfully ditzy to the charmingly clueless, this film is a masterclass in mayhem. As our heroes struggle to master the finer points of etiquette, they find themselves getting into all sorts of scrapes and misadventures.
From exploding toilets to flying fish, "Niñas Mal" is a whirlwind of laughter and absurdity that will leave you in stitches. So if you're in the mood for a movie that's equal parts silly and sophisticated, then "Niñas Mal" is the education you never knew you needed.
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