#LatinaGeeks Gala Archives - #LatinaGeeks™

A Memorable Evening Celebrating #LatinaGeeks 10th Anniversary

Suzy Reyes — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 16:49:19 +0000

Nearly 150 guests gathered at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, on August 20th to celebrate nonprofit #LatinaGeeks 10th Anniversary and honor four individuals making a transformative impact in our world through technology. The memorable evening was a culmination of # LatinaGeeks’ 10 years of advocating for more diversity in the technology sector and educating and empowering Latinas working in or pursuing careers in technology. The glitzy gala began as attendees walked up the red-carpet photo for opportunities to capture the momentous occasion and were entertained by a professional mariachi upon entering the beautiful venue. As people found their seats, they joined friendly faces in the community they’ve connected with at previous events and met new individuals eager to make meaningful connections and support the mission of #LatinaGeeks. The event kicked off with a delightful array of appetizers and a hosted bar, followed by welcoming remarks from the #LatinaGeeks Board Chairwoman, Bracy Fuentes, who reflected on how far the organization has come, and the path to the future. Executive Director and Co-Founder LaLa Castro then took the stage and spoke passionately about her journey into tech and how taking non-traditional paths can still lead you to the career of your dreams. The Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening was Emmy-award-winning reporter Claudia Botero, who set the tone for the evening’s festivities and introduced the panel discussion, aptly titled “Latinas Shaping the Future of Technology.” Speakers included powerhouse women Valeria Martinez, Venture Capitalist at Vamos Ventures; Tanya Menendez, Co-Founder and CEO of Snowball Wealth; and Daniela Corrente, Co-Founder and CEO of Reel. These inspiring ladies were dropping some serious gems: “Knowing that if I’m suffering, ideally that makes it easier for the next Latina, because I am able to be a good representative for our community and that’ll make it easier for the next Latina coming.” – Tanya Menendez, Co-Founder and CEO of Snowball Wealth “You have to look in the mirror and know that you are the best that you can be, that nobody’s bringing this idea the way that you’re bringing that idea and you walk in and you own it because that’s the way that we can do it.” – Daniela Corrente, Co-Founder and CEO of Reel “Speak up, raise your hand for the projects that maybe seem hard, ask for that promotion. Really, truly advocate for your great work.” – Valeria Martinez, Venture Capitalist at Vamos Ventures After the dinner that boasted some cultural delights, guests had the opportunity for more networking and a stand-out Silent Auction (including a J-lo collectible, LA Dodgers signed memorabilia, a Prince collectible album, and a Mexico beach retreat for two) to help raise funds to support the work of #LatinaGeeks. It was then time for the gran final – the first ever Inspirada Awards ceremony, which honored fierce Latinas in the following categories: Rising Star in STEM: Liliana Rodriguez, Engineer I at LPL Financial Diana Segura, Intern at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Fernanda Sulantay Vargas, Graduate Student Researcher at Yale University Congratulations to the 2022 Inspirada Award Recipient, Diana Segura. Technology Entrepreneur: Cecilia Corral, Co-Founder & […]

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#LatinaTechHistory: Introducing Nina Vaca of Pinnacle Group

Suzy Reyes — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:04:16 +0000

As we continue to celebrate 10 years of #LatinaGeeks we’re highlighting Latinas in tech who have made history and continue to shape the technology field as part of our #LatinaTechHistory campaign. Today, we’re highlighting Nina Vaca, from Pinnacle Group. Nina Vaca personifies the American Dream as a trailblazing Latina entrepreneur, a world-changing philanthropist, and a dynamic global leader. Born in Ecuador, and as a child of immigrant parents her upbringing taught her the important skill to never give up. Since she was a child, she realized how technology changed her parent’s business when they arrived in the United States. She understands how technology truly supports progress in today’s world. For 24 years she worked on building an empire known as the Pinnacle Group, one of the largest Latino companies in the country. What started as a one-woman IT staffing firm has grown into a workforce solutions powerhouse providing multiple service lines to industry leaders in the telecommunications, financial services, transportation, and technology industries. Only two percent of directors serving on publicly traded company boards are Latinas, something Nina is dedicated to changing. As one of the few (and youngest) Latinas serving in this capacity, Nina is working to bring more women into the C-Suite and onto boards with organizations like 2020 Women on Boards. To give back, she has promoted STEM education through scholarships and programs which benefits those in Dallas, Texas and children back in Ecuador. If you know a Latina who deserves recognition for the impact they have made on the community, consider nominating them for an award at our upcoming #LatinaGeeks Inspirada Awards Gala where they can be recognized for their accomplishments. We will also bring together a room of 250+ powerful Latinas and supporters to celebrate our diverse community on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Click here learn more and to register ›

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#LatinaTechHistory: Brenda Salinas Baker of ABC News

Suzy Reyes — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 13:32:00 +0000

In continuation of our 10th-anniversary celebration, this #LatinaTechHistory campaign is focused on educating #LatinaGeeks on Latinas in tech who have made history and continue to shape the technology field. Today, we’re highlighting Brenda Salinas Baker, a trilingual Mexican immigrant who works as a Senior Producer, Podcasts, ABC News, the home of Start Here, The Dropout, Life Out Loud, and other award-winning journalism and lifestyle podcasts. Brenda edits and produces audio bits that impact listeners in profound ways. She is passionate about helping newsrooms tell sound-rich stories that reach new and diverse audiences. “Brenda is committed to building a media landscape where every woman of color has the power to tell her story. She is an NPR Next Generation mentor, a former board president of the Association of Independents in Radio and a coach to young women breaking into the world of radio and podcasting.” (https://brendapsalinas.com/). We are so grateful for women like Brenda who ensure Latinas are being represented. Brenda can inspire all of us to consider areas of our lives where we can cheer each other on and make sure our voices are heard. If there’s someone in your life who inspires you, we are honoring four Latina industry leaders who have pioneered innovation, fostered the spirit of entrepreneurship— and are using technology to create a transformative impact in our community, our companies, and our world. at our upcoming #LatinaGeeks Inspirada Awards Gala. We will also bring together a room of 250+ powerful Latinas and supporters to celebrate our diverse community on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Click here learn more and to register › Stay tuned for our next #LatinaTechHistory where we highlight a Latina who built one of the largest Latino companies in the country.

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#LatinaTechHistory: Introducing Diana Trujillo of NASA

Suzy Reyes — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 19:41:26 +0000

In honor of #LatinaGeek’s 10th anniversary, we’re launching a #LatinaTechHistory campaign focused on educating our community on Latinas in tech who have made history and continue to shape the technology field. We hope you find this series educational and thought-provoking as you continue your own journey in tech. We’re kicking it off with Diana Trujillo, Technical Group Supervisor for Sequence Planning and Execution and a Tactical Mission Lead for the Mars Perseverance rover at NASA. Diana is an aerospace engineer who always wanted to reach the stars. Being raised in Cali, Colombia, getting to NASA has been a dream she thought was unreachable. She immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 17 to pursue this dream and enrolled in English-as-a-second-language courses and worked full time to support her studies at Miami-Dade community college and later at the University of Florida and the University of Maryland where she earned her BS in Aerospace Engineering. She has held several roles for NASA and JPL, including Mars Curiosity rover mission lead, deputy project system engineer, and Deputy Team Chief of Engineering Operations on Curiosity. Diana also co-created and hosted #JuntosPerseveramos– meaning “together, we persevere,” NASA’s first-ever Spanish-language live broadcast of a planetary landing, for Perseverance’s arrival on Mars, which attracted millions of viewers worldwide. Diana is a fearless trailblazer of the unknown and if there’s anything to take away from her tenacity, continue to work for your dreams because the hard work will unlock your potential and make those dreams become a reality. We are proud to highlight Diana’s incredible achievements and legacy in our first #LatinasTechHistory series as we recognize and honor more Latina trailblazers at our 10th Anniversary celebration. We invite you to join us at our upcoming celebration at our first #LatinaGeeks Inspirada Awards Gala as we celebrate Latina achievements in technology on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. Click here to learn more and to register › Stay tuned for our next #LatinaTechHistory where we highlight a trailblazer in the radio and podcasting world who is re-imagining the future of radio.

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